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.
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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. For information about other places in Nan province click on their name below here.How to get there & away?

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.
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.- ATV riding with Siam ATV
- Paramotor flying over Pua with Pua Sky View
Points of Interest in & near Pua
- Wang Sila Laeng : A kind of mini Grand Canyon about 5 km east of Pua town
- Doi Phu Kha National Park : Along route 1256 about 30 km from Pua town
- Ban Tai Lue OTOP : Selling traditional cloths from Tai Lue & Hmong hill-tribes
- Doi Silver OTOP : Factory & showroom of the famous silverware
- Ban Sakad : Mountain village about 20 km from Pua
- Tat Luang Waterfall : About 15 km from Pua
- Hat Nam Pua : Along the Pua River and only in the cool & hot season
Markets in Pua
- Evening Market : Near the round-about
- Farmers Market : Along route 101
- Wednesday Market : Along route 1081
- Walking Street Pua : Only at Friday, Saturday & Sunday & at the round-about
Temples in Pua
- Wat Phuket Sonthaya, with stunning view over the valley of Pua.
- Wat Phrathat Beng Sakat, with a replica of the "old city" wall of Pua.
- Wat Prang (in town)
- Wat Hia (in Ban Hia)
- Wat Phra That Chom Cheang
- Wat Ban Ton Leang, an old temple in Tai Lue style (in town)
- Wat Phra That Sila Leng
- Wat Rong Ngae, said to be the oldest temple of Nan province (in Ban Rong Ngae)
- Old temple ruin
Festivals in Pua
- Hercules Festival
- 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
- Baan Choeng Doi Restaurant
- Baan Hua Nam Mushroom Farm Restaurant & Coffee Shop ๐
- Chomphu Phukha Restaurant ๐ ๐
- Duen Pen Restaurant
- East meets West Restaurant (in Ban Rong Ngae) ๐
- Food Center (near evening market)
- Hang Out Cafe & Coffee Shop (along route 101) ๐
- Hom Duan Restaurant
- IMF Restaurant (in town) ๐
- Kanom Jen Hoika Buffet Restaurant (best Kanom Jen Buffet in town) ๐
- Little La Cuisine Restaurant (in town, serving Western food) ๐๐
- Linda's Restaurant (opposite the hospital, serving Thai food) ๐
- Laap Phed Yaso (near Shell station, best Isaan restaurant in town) ๐๐
- Pai Pua Ma - เนเธ เธัเธง เธกเธฒ Restaurant (about 3 km north-east of town) ๐๐
- Pua Steakhouse Restaurant (along route 101)
- Pua Seafood (along route 101)
- Pua 87 Restaurant (along route 1081) ๐
- Plara Hom Cafe (along route 101, serving Thai food) ๐๐
- Rai Ton Rak Restaurant & Coffee Shop (1 km south of town) ๐
- Renu Restaurant
- Salad NAi SHANG เธเธฒเนเธ่เธซเธฅัเธเธญู่ (along route 101, 3 km north of town) ๐
- Seed Pub & Restaurant ๐
- Sep Ilee Restaurant (selling the best Som Tam & Kai Yang!) ๐
- The Port Restaurant (Korean BBQ Mo Ka Ta, along route 101) ๐
- U-Turn Bar (opposite Tesco-Lotus)
- 1990's Pub (along route 101)
- 29 Healing Space ๐
Coffee Shops in Pua
- Amante Baristro Hotel & Cafe Pua (in town)
- Andreas Bar (along route 101)
- Adonis Coffee Shop (along route 1256) ๐๐
- Ban Tai Lue Cafe (along route 1081) ๐
- Baan Kang Hun Cottage (along route 1256) ๐
- Baan Klang Na Cafe Pua
- Cacao Valley Coffee Shop (in town) ๐๐
- Cafe De Pua (in town) ๐
- Dang Cafe
- Go High'O (along route 101, behind Doi Silverware) ๐
- Wan Amoen (formerly Grey Cafe, serving best coffee in town, along route 1081)
- Maneepruek Coffee (in town)
- Pink Corner
- Quan Pawin Coffee Shop (at Pawinsin Resort) ๐
- 90's Vintage Coffee Shop
Other places for Food & Beverages in Pua
- 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.๐ฐPrice category taking in account the low- & high-season prices :
- Amante Baristro Hotel & Cafe Pua (in town)
- Baan Him Na Pua (little bit east of town) ฿฿฿
- Baan Klang Na Homestay ฿฿
- Baan Mai Plaina (between the rice fields)
- Baan Ma Dee
- Baan Na Chomjan (between the rice fields) ๐ ฿฿฿+
- Baan Pak Glang Toong
- Baan Pak Chomdoi
- Baan Kang Hun Cottage ๐ ฿฿฿
- Baan Suan Hin Hin (between the rice fields) ๐
- Baan Tai Lue Homestay (along route 1081, 4 kms east of town) ๐ ฿฿
- Baan Suan Nai Fun Homestay (along route 1081, a few km east of town) ๐ ๐ ฿฿
- Bee Bee Home (between the rice fields) ฿฿
- Chomphu Phukha Resort (in town) ๐ ฿฿
- Cocoa Valley Resort (in town) ๐ ฿฿฿
- C View Home (2 km east of town) ๐๐ ฿฿฿+
- Daidip Daidee Pua Nan (farm homestay between the rice fields) ๐๐ ฿฿
- Earth House (between the rice fields) ฿฿
- Flower House Farm (along route 101 & north of town) ฿฿฿+
- Green Hill Resort (in town) ๐ ฿฿
- Golden Hotel (formerly Golden Inn, along route 1081) ฿฿
- Hang Out Cafe Homestay (in town) ๐ ฿
- Hin Pha Homestay & Camping (between the rice fields)๐ ฿฿+
- Hug Pua Hotel (along route 101)
- Huen Sala Homestay
- Huen Tem Saeng or Huen Tem Saeng
- Huen Hug Homestay
- HOMU Villa (in town) ๐ ๐ ฿฿฿+
- Hom Hug Gallery Homestay (1 km south of town) ๐ ฿฿฿
- Iaun View Pua Na
- I'mbn Hostel & Cafe ฿
- InNaTaSri Camping
- Ing Doi Pua ฿฿+
- Jommy Cottage
- Koom Nadee Pua ฿฿
- Kin Lom Chom View (between the rice fields) ๐๐ ฿฿+
- Loft Pua Homestay ๐ ฿฿+
- Mon Pua Homestay (between the rice fields) ๐ ฿฿+
- Ming Tip Homestay
- Nala View Resort & Camping (2 km east out of town) ๐ ฿฿+
- Nan @Pua Resort
- Nakorn Nan Hotel
- Nantra Kiri Resort (along route 1081) ฿฿฿
- Na Doi View (near Wat Phuket) ฿+
- Na Pua Homestay
- Na Lao Khao Slay Homestay
- Non Na Pua Villa (4 km out of town between the rice fields) ๐๐ ฿฿+
- No. 45 Homestay (at Ban Hia 4 km out of town)
- Oopkeauw Resort
- Pak Ping InNa Homestay
- Pang Chompu
- Pawinsin Resort (in town) ๐๐ ฿฿
- Paisanae Faikeng Resort (5 km east of town) ๐ ฿฿+
- Pan Fai Homestay (near Wat Phuket)
- Pua Pattra Hotel (2 km north-east of town) ฿฿+
- Pua Tranquil Vista Homestay (a few km north-west of town) ๐๐ ฿฿
- Pua Good View Homestay (just north of town) ๐ ฿฿
- Pua Valley Resort
- Pua Green Leaf Homestay (a few km east of town) ๐๐ ฿฿+
- Pua De View Boutique Resort (almost in town) ๐๐ ฿฿฿
- Phu Resort ๐ ฿+
- Phu Khu Chan Homestay
- Phuka Mountain View Resort (near route 101)
- Phukha Homestay (along the Pua River)
- Parichart Place
- Papua Bhuka Hotel (3 km east of town) ๐ ฿฿
- Prang Thong Hotel
- QQ Home ฿
- Rai Ton Rak Farm Resort (a few south of town) ๐ ฿฿฿
- Rong Ngae Villa (just north of town)
- Shanti Retreat Hotel ฿฿
- Sapoy Home ฿+
- Sangaroon Hotel (in town) ๐ ฿
- Sukja House (out of town)
- Suan Ban Puean (along route 1081)
- Sleep & Fishing Pua (between the rice fields) ฿฿
- Toob Nam Pua Beach & Camping (8 km out of town along the Pua River) ๐ ฿
- Tai Lue Homestay (near Wat Phuket)
- Tanong Homestay
- Tong Loung Pua Camping (Glamping)
- Toobna Homestay
- Ton Leang Homestay (near Wat Ton Leang)
- Vida Home
- Vieng Pua Homestay (between the rice fields)
- Wang Nam Pua Ban Nafang (out of town along the Pua River) ฿
- Yod Kha Camping at 90's Vintage (2 km east of town) ฿
- Yonyapa's Home ฿฿
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 of town)
- There are four 7-11's :
- Near the hospital
- Near the T-intersection
- Near the round-about
- 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.