Local Food in Chiang Mai

Nam Phrik Ong
Chile paste made from minced pork and tomatoes. Normally it is eaten with soft-boiled vegetables, crispy pork rinds (Khaep Mu) or deep-fried crunchy rice cakes. It can also be served with plain white rice as a meat dish.


Nam Phrik Num
This green chili paste is very common cuisine for the locals. The chili paste is usually accompanied by boiled locally grown vegetables. The best condiment for the dish is Khaep Mu. Sai ua is normally eaten with Nam Phrik Num.

Sai Ua
A local Chiang Mai sausage that is very aromatic and spicy and usually is eaten with steamed glutinous rice.

Kaeng (curry)
A special feature of the northern-style curry is that it is coconut-free.

Kaeng Hang-Le
Northern style pork curry.

Kaeng Om
spicy curry of entrails.

Kaeng Khae
spicy curry of vegetables.

Khanom Chin Nam Ngiao
Khanom Chin Nam Ngiao is a very traditional noodle dish of the North. It is Thai rice vermicelli with spiced chicken curry accompanied with vegetables.

Khao Soi
Khao Soi is also a well known, not to be missed local dish. You can choose from chicken/ pork /beef in curry soup with noodles. It is different from other Kaeng dishes in that Khao Soi is a noodle dish mixed with meat and coconut cream and garnished with garlic and crunchy noodles. It has a sweet, but spicy taste.

Festivals in Chiang Mai

Yi Peng Festival
Yi Peng Festival is held annually on Loi Krathong day. It is a very interesting event of Chiang Mai. The festival features launching lanterns into the sky to worship the gods. There are also fireworks, lantern contests, and beauty pageants.


Bo Sang Umbrella Festival
Bo Sang Umbrella Festival is held in January in Bo Sang Handicraft Centre. The festival features paper products, paper parasols in particular, cultural shows, a parade showing traditional ways of life, and several contests.


City Pillar Inthakin Festival
City Pillar Inthakin Festival is held to invoke blessings of peace, happiness and prosperity for the city and its residents. Buddha images are paraded around the city. It is held at Wat Chedi Luang for 7 auspicious days and nights in the 7th lunar month.


Doi Suthep Pilgrimage
On the night of Visakha Bucha Day, worshippers gather to light candles and make the 7-kilometre pilgrimage up to the temple on Doi Suthep.


Flower Festival
Flower Festival is held in February. The festival includes ornamental garden flower contests, floral floats parade in the morning and beauty pageants. The parade begins at Chiang Mai Railway Station and passes Nawarat Bridge and ends at Nong Buak Hat Park.


Songkran Festival
Songkran Festival is held annually from 13 to 15 April. The 13th of April is the Great Songkran day featuring the revered Phra Phutthasihing Buddha image parade around Chiang Mai town for bathing, sand pagoda making, blessing of elders, and water splashing.

Map of Chiang Mai City


Map of Chiang Mai