Lampang City in the namesake province, nestled in the Wang River Valley, was a center of the Lanna Kingdom from the 13th to 18th centuries.

Huong Tran of HCMC visited the city in early June as part of her northern Thailand trip.

“Bangkok and Pattaya are familiar to Vietnamese tourists, but northern destinations like Lampang remain new,” she says.

She opted for a custom land tour with a local guide to explore the city for the first time.

All-inclusive day tours including transport, a guide and entrance fees cost 8,000-14,000 baht (US$243 – $426).