Visit Muang Pon eco-village (Mae Hong Son)

The small village of Muang Pon in Mae Hong Son province, is about 10 kilometers south of Khun Yuam and therefore about 40 km from the famous Thung Bua Tong Fields. Here, the inhabitants mainly live from agriculture, rice, soybeans and tobacco crops. A stream runs through the community, providing water for domestic use via a small canal that pass through the wooden houses on stilts. The rice fields are just on the range of the village. Even though I visited it for 2 hours during the day and was able to participate in activities like making a local dessert made from sesame and sticky rice, making basketry and harvesting rice, I think the real interest of this village is its homestay program, if and only if you do not get afraid by the language barrier because most of the families speak little or no English.

It is a Shan community that populates Ban Muang Pon. If you can, visit it during the Poy Ong Jod festival which marks the end of Buddhist Lent and usually takes place in October. Come a few days before to see them making their traditional lanterns and decorations. You will hardly experience a festival that is more authentic and off the beaten track in Thailand.