About Pua in Nan province

Pua is a district in the northern part of Nan province, about 60 km north of Nan town. A group of 8 villages as Ban Prang makes Pua town. Nowadays Pua is a small provincial town but it is said that Pua was where the Tai Lue and other migrants settled first before settling in what is now Nan town. Although you not find direct remains of the old Pua some temples in Pua are said to be older as the oldest temples in Nan town. And the small city wall is 100% new, and one could even doubt if there has ever been a city wall. Pua town is along the Pua River in a valley surrounded by the mountains of Doi Phu Kha, that are part of the Luang Prabang mountain range. And although Pua at first does not look like a tourist destination it is a great base to stay while exploring the northern parts of Nan province like Manipruek, Doi Phu Kha and Bo Klua. Pua has all you need from simple Guesthouses & Homestay's to comfortable Resorts with swimming pool. And there are a few nice restaurants & pubs in town to enjoy the evening. For the market lovers there are 2 main fresh markets, the morning market (Pua Farmer Market) along route 101 and the evening market near the round-about. Then there is a Weekend Market (sometimes even 2), mostly at the round-about and also sometimes next to the Tesco-Lotus. Pua is the center for the Tai Lue & Hmong hill-tribe people who are living in small villages nearby like Pha Klang and in the mountains of Doi Phu Kha National Park. For more information about Nan province have a look at Destination Travel Guide Nan.

View from Wat Phuket in Pua

Orientation in Pua town

Pua town consists of what could be considered the old part of town where is the round-about with the clock tower and Pua Evening Market. Then there is the newer part of town along route 101 with the new center of town at the main T-intersection of town with the Morning Market, Pua Songtheauw Station and the old PTT Gasoline Station. There are 4 7-11's in town and a Tesco-Lotus supermarket. The most coffee shops, restaurants & pubs are along route 101 in the center of town.

How to get there & away?

🚌 By public transport take the bus from Nan town to Thung Chang and get off in Pua. Some inter-regional busses passing Nan town and Pua will also accept passengers from Nan town to Pua.

🚗 By private car or motorbike there are 2 routes from Nan town to Pua. The fastest is to just follow route 101 north of Nan town, passing Tha Wang Pha. The most scenic route would be route 1169 and 1081 via Santisuk. About same distance but more mountains and surely for motorbike riding highly recommended!

But Pua is public transport wise a bit weird place, there is indeed the Pua Bus Station. This bus station is openend in 2017 and now in 2020 it starts to be used more and more by all bus companies. But still it looks like an old & abandoned bus station. And some bus companies still stop near the T-intersection at route 101.

Then there is a kind of Pua Songtheauw Station, it is not really a station but a parking place where the Songtheauws park and wait for customers. It is along route 1081 about 100m from the main T-intersection in Pua town, opposite the old PTT Gasoline station. From here you can take a Songtheauw to place's within Pua district like Bo Klua and Pha Klang. But you can also rent a Songtheauw for a private trip to anywhere in Pua or even to Nan.

What to do in Pua?

Pua itself is famous for its beautiful views over Doi Phu Kha National Park and for visiting the Wat Phuket. And Pua is a great base to stay while exploring the northern parts of Nan province like Doi Phu Kha, Manipruek, Bo Klua and Chiang Klang. And for people who like to make selfies visiting the Wat Phuket or the remake City Wall of Pua are the places to go. Read more at my Travel-blog about Pua. And of course Pua is a great base to make motorbike tours in the Northern part of Nan province.

Points of Interest in & near Pua 🔯

1. Wang Sila Laeng : A kind of mini Grand Canyon
2. Doi Phu Kha National Park : Along route 1256 about 30 km from Pua town
3. Ban Tai Lue OTOP : Selling traditional cloths from Tai Lue & Hmong hill-tribes
4. Doi Silver OTOP : Factory & showroom of the famous silverware
5. Ban Sakad : Mountain village about 20 km from Pua
6. Tat Luang Waterfall : About 15 km from Pua
7. Hat Nam Pua : Along the Pua River and only in the cool & hot season

Markets in Pua

1. Evening Market : Near the round-about
2. Farmers Market : Along route 101
3. Wednesday Market : Along route 1081
4. Walking Street Pua : At the round-about

For information on anything about markets in Pua have a look at Markets in Pua.

Temples in Pua ☸️ 

1. Wat Phuket Sonthaya, with stunning view over the valley of Pua.
2. Wat Phrathat Beng Sakat, with a replica of the old city wall of Pua.
3. Wat Prang
4. Wat Hia
5. Wat Phra That Chom Cheang
6. Wat Ban Ton Leang, an old temple in Tai Lue style
7. Wat Phra That Sila Leng
8. Wat Rong Ngae, said to be the oldest temple of Nan province.
9. Old temple ruin

For more information on anything about temples in Pua have a look at Temples in Pua.

Festivals in Pua

1. Hercules Festival
2. Hmong New Year

Food & Beverages in Pua

There is a good selection of restaurants, coffee shops and even pubs in Pua for lunch and dinner. Our favourite is Pla Ra Home. Most places are along route 101 that is going right thru town. Some places are a bit out of town. Thai style pubs are also serving Thai food for late dinner. My favourite coffee shop is Adonis Coffee Shop along route 1256 to Bo Klua. For best western food Little La Cuisine Restaurant & Coffee Shop is recommended. 

Restaurants & Pubs in Pua 🍻🍽

1. Baan Choeng Doi Restaurant
2. Baan Hua Nam Mushroom Farm Restaurant & Coffee Shop
3. Chomphu Phukha Restaurant 👍
4. Duen Pen Restaurant
5. East meets West Restaurant (in Ban Rong Ngae)
6. Food Center (near evening market)
7. Hang Out Cafe & Coffee Shop (along route 101)
8. Hom Duan Restaurant                       
9. IMF Restaurant (in town)
10. Kanom Jen Hoika Buffet Restaurant (best Kanom Jen Buffet in town)
11. Little La Cuisine Restaurant (in town, serving Western food) 👍
12. Linda's Restaurant (opposite the hospital, serving Thai food)
13. Laap Phed Yaso (near Shell station, best Isaan restaurant in town) 👍
14. Pua Steakhouse Restaurant (along route 101)
15. Pua Seafood (along route 101)
16. Pua 87 Restaurant (along route 1081)
17. Plara Hom Cafe (along route 101, serving Thai food) 👍
18. Rai Ton Rak Restaurant & Coffee Shop (1 km south of town)
19. Renu Restaurant  
20. Salad NAi SHANG คาเฟ่หลังอู่ (along route 101 about 3 km north of town) 👍
21. Seed Pub & Restaurant 
22. Sep Ilee Restaurant, selling the best Som Tam & Kai Yang! 👍
23. The Port Restaurant (Korean BBQ Mo Ka Ta, along route 101)
24. U-Turn Bar (opposite Tesco-Lotus)
25. 1990's Pub (along route 101)
26. 29 Healing Space

Coffee Shops in Pua ☕

Coffee Shops are serving of course Hot & Cold drinks and sometimes also cakes and other sweet desserts. Some coffee shops also serve Thai snacks or the very popular Italian spaghetti.

1. Amante Baristro Cafe @ Pua
2. Andreas Bar (along route 101)
3. Adonis Coffee Shop (along route 1256) 👍
4. Ban Tai Lue Cafe (along route 1081)
5. Baan Kang Hun Cottage (along route 1256)
6. Cacao Valley Coffee Shop (in town) 👍
7. Cafe De Pua (along route 101)
8. Dang Cafe (along route 1081)
9. Go High'O (almost along route 101)
10. Grey Cafe (along route 1081)
11. Maneepruek Coffee (in town)
12. Pink Corner (almost along route 101 just out of town)
13. Quan Pawin Coffee Shop
14. 90's Vintage (just out of town)

Other places for Food & Beverages in Pua

1. Pua Farmers Market Food Court Selling fresh made food + Cold drinks with limited tables to sit and eat. Open after 17:00.

Accommodation in Pua 🛌

There is a good selection of accommodation in & nearby Pua town from simple Guesthouses and nice Homestay's to luxury (Boutique) Hotels, even some with swimming pool. Although you will notice that Pua is not a place with city style hotels, but more upcountry homestay's and campings. In the budget section Pawinsin Resort is my favourite and in the luxury section C View Home is my favourite while Pua De View Boutique Resort is the best in between the previous two. Be aware that Pua is 60 km north of Nan town (it is not a suburb of Nan town) and that some accommodations are not within walking distance of Pua town. And in the cool season (November to January) many homestay's also offer a tent for sleeping.

💰Price category taking in account the low- & high-season prices :

      ฿     Under 600 ฿ (Hostels, Guesthouses & Homestay's)

    ฿฿    600 - 1.100 ฿ (Boutique style Guesthouse & Homestay's)

  ฿฿฿ 1.100 - 3.000 ฿ (Midrange Hotels & Resorts)

฿฿฿฿ 3.000 - 10.000 ฿ (Boutique Hotels & Resort)

1. Amante Hotel @ Pua
2. Baan Him Na Pua (little bit east of town)
3. Baan Suan Nai Fun Homestay (a few km east of town) ฿฿ 👍
4. Baan Pak Glang Toong
5. Baan Pak Chomdoi
6. Baan Suan Hin Hin (a few km north of town)
7. Baan Kang Hun Cottage ฿฿฿
8. Ban Tai Lue Homestay (along route 1081, 4 kms east of town)
9. Ban Klang Na Homestay
10. Ban Mai Plaina
11. Baan Ma Dee
12. Bee Bee Home (out of town between the rice fields) ฿฿
13. Chomphu Phukha Resort (in town) ฿฿
14. Cocoa Valley Resort (in town) ฿฿฿
15. C View Home (2 km east of town) ฿฿฿+ 🏊
16. Daidip Daidee Pua Nan (farm homestay) ฿฿ 👍
17. Earth House (south of town) ฿฿
18. Flower House Farm  ฿฿฿+
19. Green Hill Resort (in town) ฿฿
20. Golden Inn (just out of town) ฿฿
21. Hang Out Cafe Homestay (in town)
22. Hin Pha Homestay & Camping ฿฿+
23. Hug Pua Hotel
24. Huen Sala Homestay
25. Huen Tem Saeng - เฮือนเต็มแสง
26. HOMU Villa (in town) ฿฿฿+  🏊 New!
27. Hom Hug Gallery Homestay (1 km south of town) ฿฿฿
28. I'mbn Hostel & Cafe ฿
29. Jommy Cottage
30. Kin Lom Chom View (little bit North-East of town) ฿฿+ 👍
31. Loft Pua Homestay ฿฿+
32. Mon Pua Homestay ฿฿+ (a few km north-east of town)
33. Nala View Resort & Camping (2 km east out of town) ฿฿+
34. Nan @Pua Resort
35. Nakorn Nan Hotel
36. Nantra Kiri Resort (5 km out of town) ฿฿฿
37. Na Doi View ฿+ (near Wat Phuket)
38. Na Pua Homestay
39. Na Lao Khao Slay Homestay
40. Non Na Pua - นอนนา ปัว (at Ban Hia 4 km out of town between the rice fields) ฿฿+ 👍
41. No. 45 Homestay (at Ban Hia 4 km out of town)
42. Oopkeauw Resort
43. Pang Chompu
44. Pawinsin Resort (in town) ฿฿ 👍
45. Paisanae Faikeng Resort (5 km east of town) ฿฿+
46. Pan Fai Homestay (near Wat Phuket)
47. Pua Pattra Hotel (2 km north-east of town) ฿฿+
48. Pua Tranquil Vista Homestay (a few km north-west of town) ฿฿ 👍
49. Pua Good View Homestay (just north of town) ฿฿
50. Pua Valley Resort
51. Pua Green Leaf Homestay (a few km east of town) ฿฿+
52. Pua De View Boutique Resort (almost in town) ฿฿฿ 🏊
53. Phu Resort ฿+
54. Phuka Mountain View Resort (near route 101)
55. Parichart Place
56. Papua Bhuka Hotel (3 km east of town) ฿฿
57. Prang Thong Hotel
58. Ruen Mittrapap Homestay
59. Rai Ton Rak Farm Resort (a few south of town) ฿฿฿
60. Rong Ngae Villa (just north of town)
61. Shanti Retreat Hotel ฿฿
62. Sapoy Home ฿+
63. Sangaroon Hotel (in town) ฿ 
64. Sukja House (out of town)
65. Suan Ban Puean (2 km out of town)
66. Toob Nam Pua Beach & Camping (8 km out of town along the Pua River) ฿ 
67. Tai Lue Homestay (near Wat Phuket)
68. Tanong Homestay
69. Toobna Homestay
70. Ton Leang Homestay (near Wat Ton Leang)
71. Tanong Homestay
72. Vida Home
73. Vieng Pua
74. Wang Nam Pua Ban Nafang (out of town along the Pua River) ฿ 
75. Yod Kha Camping @ 90's Vintage (just out of town) ฿ 

Emergencies in Pua 🏥

• Crown Prince Pua Hospital, along route 1081 about 3km east from the main T-intersection
• Pua Police Station, along route 1081 about 1km east from the main T-intersection

Gasoline stations in Pua ⛽️

• PTT Gasoline station, along route 101 on the north side of town. Here is also an Amazon Coffee Shop, 7-11, Pharmacy, Kerry Express, OTOP shop and Five Star Chicken.
• Shell Gasoline station along route 101 in town when you go from Pua to Nan.
• Bang Chak Gasoline station along route 101, just 2 km before town coming from Nan.

Shopping in Pua 🛒

• Tesco-Lotus Super Market along route 101 (north side of town)
• There are 4 7-11's : Near the hospital, Near the T-intersection, Near the round-about and one at the PTT gasoline station.
• Near the round-about are a few local supermarkets
• Doi Silver OTOP, factory & showroom of the famous silverware
• Lamduan Woven Shop, selling traditional cloths from Tai Lue & Hmong hill-tribes
• Along route 101 near the T-intersection are most of the shops in Pua like motorbike shops, Gold Shops, 20 bath shops, Banks (Kasikorn, Krungthai, Bangkok Bank), Hardware shops, Telephone shops.

Where to go next?

Well of course where you came from, if you came from Chiang Rai or Laos it would make sense to go southwards to Nan, Na Noi or Phrae. But if you came from Nan then it would make sense to go northwards to Thung Chang, Manipruek, Bo Klua or even Laos. Or westwards to Song Kwae, Chiang Kham and Chiang Rai.

Map of Pua district

Map of Pua town

Disclaimer : All information is created in good faith and is an expression of fair comment.