School Break Trip: Eat Som Tum and Play at Warm Waterfall, Phu Sang Waterfall, Phayao

School Break Trip: Eat Som Tum and Play at Warm Waterfall, Phu Sang Waterfall, Phayao with mr.hotsia

When talking about school breaks and wanting to escape the chaos of big cities to experience natural atmosphere not far from Bangkok, Phayao is one of the options that mr.hotsia highly recommends without hesitation. Phu Sang Waterfall, a warm waterfall hidden in the embrace of mountains and the freshness of nature, awaits you to cool off with a refreshing swim, along with the spicy som tum recipe from the North that you must try when visiting here.

Set off to Phayao, a small city full of discovery

Phayao, a province that many may not be very familiar with, but for mr.hotsia, it has more charm than expected. It's easy to travel by car or bus from Chiang Rai or Chiang Mai, and if coming from Bangkok, you can plan a relaxed trip as well. Phayao is not just a pass-through city but a gateway to warm nature and culture, as previously shared in our articles.Phayao Morning MarketFull of the charm of local lifestyle

For those who love Northern-style breakfast, don't forget to check outPhayao Breakfastto gather ideas before your trip. mr.hotsia guarantees that Phayao’s local food is just as good as anywhere else.

Warm Waterfall, Phu Sang: A must-try destination

After driving not far from Phayao city, we arrived at the warm waterfall in Phu Sang district. This waterfall is unlike others because the water is naturally warm, making swimming during the hot season not only refreshing but also comfortably warm. mr.hotsia jumped in without hesitation. The feeling of mist rising and flowing into the cool stream is the charm of Phu Sang Warm Waterfall.

The area around the waterfall has large trees and a shady atmosphere, perfect for picnics or inviting friends and family to relax. mr.hotsia recommends bringing swimwear and water play gear to fully enjoy and lose track of time.

Eat spicy som tum with authentic Northern flavor

After swimming until exhausted, mr.hotsia needed to recharge with the most famous local dish, som tum. Here, som tum is not just the sweet, sour, and spicy flavor like in Bangkok but has a hot spiciness and fragrant spices unique to the North. For those wanting to try mr.hotsia’s recommended spicy som tum, look for small roadside stalls or visit nearby markets such asMae Chai Morning Market, Phayaofilled with fresh produce and local foods to sample

Besides som tum, Phayao has many local restaurants worth trying, such as Uncle Dam's Pad Thai, which no traveler should miss (Uncle Dam's Pad Thai, Phayao) or refresh yourself with traditional coffee and soft-boiled eggs, a city staple (Traditional Coffee with Soft-Boiled Eggs, Phayao), all unforgettable experiences for mr.hotsia.

Experience local lifestyle and culture

Besides playing at the waterfall and eating som tum, exploring the lifestyle of Phayao people is another favorite activity of mr.hotsia. Phayao has warm communities and kind people. Here you will see the morning market as a true center of cultural and culinary exchange, as mr.hotsia has previously written about.Ban Huak, Phayaowith interesting stories and beautiful nature. Additionally, there isKwan Phayaowhere you can boat among lotus flowers and observe the charming lifestyle of fishermen by the lake.

Summary of impressions from mr.hotsia

This school break trip to Phayao with swimming at Phu Sang Warm Waterfall and eating spicy som tum was perfectly balanced. mr.hotsia enjoyed both the freshness of nature and the delicious local food rarely found in big cities. The peace and lifestyle of Phayao people made me feel so relaxed that I wanted to stay for many more days.

If you are looking for a nature-close trip with unique local food, Phayao is the choice mr.hotsia recommends without hesitation. Prepare your camera and heart, then set off to experience the charm of the warm waterfall and authentic Northern som tum!

Watch the full atmosphere clip from this trip atSchool Break Trip: Eat Som Tum and Play at Warm Waterfall, Phu Sang Waterfall, PhayaoAnd if you want to know more about Phayao, mr.hotsia also has clips ofUncle Dam's Pad Thai, PhayaoandTraditional Coffee with Soft-Boiled Eggs, Phayaofor you to watch as well.