About Tha Wang Pha in Nan province
Tha Wang Pha is a little town along the Nan River and is located about 45 km north of Nan town and is the gateway to Nanthaburi National Park and Chiang Rai. The main attraction nearby is the Wat Nong Bua in a small Tai Lue village. Tha Wang Pha is a typical small provincial town, too big to be a village and too small to be a town. But there is a Bus Station, Daily Fresh Market, Hospital, 7/11, PTT gasoline station, etc. The village consists of 1 main street with a few side streets, I assume that this was the old main road from Nan to Pua (as there is now route 101 that goes along the village). For more information about Nan province have a look at Destination Travel Guide Nan.
![]() |
Old man playing music at Wat Nong Bua in Tha Wang Pha |
How to get to Tha Wang Pha?
- 🚌 By public transport you can take the Orange bus from Nan town to Thung Chang and get off at Tha Wang Pha.
- 🛵 By private car or motorbike just follow route 101 north of Nan town in direction of Pua.
What to do in Tha Wang Pha?
In Tha Wang Pha is actually not much to do but it is known for the small village Nong Bua, 2 km south-west of Tha Wang Pha, where you can visit the famous Tai Lue temple Wat Nong Bua. And from Tha Wang Pha in direction of Sila Phet you can visit the now famous Wat Sri Mongkol. Tha Wang Pha is also the gate-way to Phayao and Chiang Rai and along the way are Nanthaburi National Park, Caves, Waterfalls and Coffee Plantations. See my travel blog postings about Tha Wang Pha.Food & Beverage in Tha Wang Pha
- Khing Pho Restaurant (in Ban Nong Bua) Thai / Lunch & early Dinner 👍
- Baan Imm Sook Cafe, Thai & Western / Lunch & early Dinner + Hot & Cold drinks
- Nan Waterside Cafe, Thai & limited Western / Lunch + Hot & Cold drinks
- Ong Tong Restaurant, Thai / Lunch & Dinner (along route 101)
- Phu Phayak Coffee
- Wang Phang View Restaurant & Coffee Shop, Thai / Lunch + Hot & Cold drinks
- Wang Matcha Noodles Boat Restaurant, Thai Noodles / Lunch
Accommodation in Tha Wang Pha
Price category taking in account the high-season prices :
- Nan Napa Resort ฿฿
- Phu Pipat Resort ฿฿
- Wang Pha Chalet ฿฿฿ (3 km before Tha Wang Pha, along route 101)
- Wang Phang View Camping ฿฿ (10 km west of Tha Wang Pha, along route 1148)
- Nan Waterside Lodge (at Pha Kwang, 15 km south of Tha Wang Pha)
Where to go next?
Map of Tha Wang Pha
Route from Nan to Tha Wang Pha
![]() |
Route from Nan town to Tha Wang Pha |