Doi Pui & the Hmong Village
A Hmong village and royal project gardens on the ridge above Doi Suthep, 1,400 metres up.
Doi Pui is the Hmong village and royal gardens 20 minutes above Doi Suthep. The Bhubing Palace gardens cost 200 baht and are the real draw; the village itself is a market street of textiles and souvenirs. Half a day covers both.
Prices and hours are our current best information, not a published rate. Confirm on the day before you travel.
A Hmong village and royal project gardens on the ridge above Doi Suthep, 1,400 metres up.
The Hmong community at Doi Pui was resettled here in the 1960s as part of a royal project that replaced opium cultivation with fruit, flowers and coffee. Bhubing Palace was built in 1961 as a winter residence for the royal family and the gardens — roses, ferns, orchids and a formal water court — are open to visitors whenever the royals are not in residence.
The drive up is beautiful, the climate is ten degrees cooler, and the royal project gardens are genuinely well kept. The village itself is touristy — go for the views and the coffee.
What you’ll actually see
- The Bhubing Palace rose garden and the fern grotto below the main terrace
- The Hmong market street with indigo-dyed hemp textiles
- The viewpoint over the Mae Sa valley from the road bend
- The coffee and strawberry plots behind the village
How to visit it well
- Combine with Doi Suthep in one morning.
- Buy coffee from the royal project shop, not the souvenir stalls.
- Bring a light jacket in December and January.
Mistakes worth avoiding
- Going on a day the palace is closed for a royal visit — check the gate sign at Doi Suthep
- Expecting an 'authentic' village; this is a market street with a real community behind it
- Wearing shorts or sleeveless tops — the palace has a strict dress code
Is it worth it?
A good add-on rather than a destination on its own. If you are already driving to Doi Suthep, the extra 20 minutes and the gardens are worth it; as a standalone trip it is thin. Best in December and January when the roses and cool air coincide.
Common questions
About 20 minutes by car, 8km further up the same mountain road.
No. It closes when the royal family stays and for maintenance. The gate at Doi Suthep posts the current status each morning.
No, but a guide explains which textiles are hand-dyed locally and which are imported from China, which changes the price you should pay.
You can — it is a steep 8km road walk with no shade in places. Most people take a songthaew or their own car.
Tours that include Doi Pui & the Hmong Village
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Last updated: October 2026 · Prices and hours checked by Kanya Pongsak