Chiang Mai's crafts are not made in factories for the tourist trade; they are made in villages, by hand, by families who have worked the same craft for generations. A village of hand-painted umbrellas, a road of silk and silver and celadon workshops, a whole village of teak carvers, and a city quarter of silversmiths: this is the craft belt, where you can watch the skill up close and buy straight from the maker. This guide covers the handicraft villages and how to visit.
For the wider picture, see our culture and crafts hub.
Bo Sang: the umbrella village
Bo Sang, about 9 km east on the San Kamphaeng road, is the famous umbrella village, where artisans make hand-painted umbrellas and parasols from saa (mulberry) paper, silk, or cotton over bamboo frames. Watch the whole process, from splitting bamboo to painting the bright designs, buy umbrellas, fans, and crafts, and have your own bag or phone case hand-painted on the spot. The annual umbrella festival (usually January) fills the village with colour. A charming, easy half-day.
The San Kamphaeng craft road
The San Kamphaeng road (Route 1006) runs east through Bo Sang to San Kamphaeng town, lined with workshops and showrooms for:
- Silk and cotton weaving (watch the looms).
- Silverware and celadon ceramics (the distinctive jade-green glaze).
- Saa (mulberry) paper, lacquerware, and woodcarving.
- Umbrellas at Bo Sang along the way.
It is the best single route for seeing how the crafts are made, an easy half-day to full-day self-drive or private-car trip, often ending at the San Kamphaeng hot springs.
Ban Tawai: the woodcarving village
Ban Tawai, in Hang Dong about 15 km south, is one of the biggest woodcarving and handicraft centres in Thailand: streets of workshops and showrooms selling carved teak and hardwood furniture, decor, sculptures, and homeware, much of it made on site, plus crafts and antiques. A destination for anyone interested in woodcarving or furnishing a home, and fascinating to browse regardless. Shipping can be arranged for large pieces.
Wua Lai: the silver quarter
Wua Lai, just south of Chiang Mai Gate, is the historic silversmith quarter. Its centrepiece, Wat Sri Suphan (the silver temple), has an ordination hall covered inside and out in intricate silver and metal repousse work, a unique sight (the hall interior is traditionally open to men only; the exterior and grounds are for all). On Saturday evenings the Wua Lai Walking Street fills the quarter with a craft and food market, the best place to buy local silver. See our markets guide.
How to visit
| Village | Where | Best by |
|---|---|---|
| Bo Sang + San Kamphaeng | ~9 to 13 km E | Self-drive or private car (half/full day) |
| Ban Tawai | ~15 km S (Hang Dong) | Self-drive or private car |
| Wua Lai | In the city, S of the moat | Walk; Saturday evening for the market |
The bottom line
The handicraft villages are where Chiang Mai's craft heritage lives: watch artisans at work, buy directly (often better quality and value than market souvenirs), and see the skill behind each piece. Combine the eastern villages with the hot springs, browse Ban Tawai for woodwork, and time Wua Lai for the Saturday street. To make something yourself, see our craft workshops guide; to buy well, our buying-authentic-crafts guide.