The Ada House journal

Stories from Chiang Mai

Local culture, hidden corners and practical tips — from the people who actually live here.

Lanna-style illustration of a parked scooter with a Thai registration green book, a market and mountains behind

Move here · June 25, 2026

Buying & owning a scooter in Chiang Mai: is it worth it?

If you're here for the long haul, doing the maths on buying instead of renting often makes sense. Here's how owning a scooter in Chiang Mai actually works.

Lanna-style illustration of immigration paperwork done calmly — a passport, an inked stamp and a queue ticket on a teak desk

Move here · June 25, 2026

The 90-day report (TM47) in Chiang Mai, without the dread

If you're settling into Chiang Mai on a long-stay visa, the 90-day report becomes a quiet part of your calendar. Here's how to do it calmly.

Lanna-style illustration of a relaxed evening bar scene with friends sharing craft beer beneath glowing paper lanterns

Food & coffee · June 25, 2026

Chiang Mai nightlife & craft beer: a slow, good evening out

This isn't Bangkok or the islands, and that's the whole point. Chiang Mai's evenings are about good music, cold craft beer and actually hearing each other talk.

Lanna-style illustration of bamboo rafting down a jungle river in the Mae Wang valley, rice terraces and a waterfall

Things to do · June 25, 2026

Mae Wang: bamboo rafting and a slower side of Chiang Mai

An hour southwest of the city, the Mae Wang valley trades temples and traffic for bamboo rafts, rice terraces and forested hills.

Lanna-style illustration of floating bamboo raft houses on a calm reservoir ringed by jungle mountains, a kayak on the water

Things to do · June 25, 2026

Mae Ngat Dam & Sri Lanna: a night on the water

An hour north of the city, a jade-green reservoir hides bamboo raft houses you can sleep on. This is where Chiang Mai goes quiet.

Lanna-style illustration of a long mountain road trip — endless switchbacks climbing through misty peaks toward a small hill village

Things to do · June 25, 2026

The Mae Hong Son Loop: northern Thailand's great road trip

Six hundred kilometres, more curves than anyone has truly counted, and a whole northern province you'll otherwise never see. This is the big one.

Lanna-style illustration of Lamphun — the golden Hariphunchai chedi, a quiet moated old town, longan orchards

Things to do · June 25, 2026

A day trip to Lamphun: Chiang Mai's quiet ancient neighbour

Just 30 km south of the city sits one of Thailand's oldest towns — quiet, golden, and barely touched by tourists.

Lanna-style illustration of Lampang — a horse-drawn carriage, a wooden Lanna temple, ceramic chicken bowls

Things to do · June 25, 2026

Lampang day trip: horse carts, teak temples and chicken bowls

An hour and a half south-east of the bustle, a slower northern city still moves to the clip-clop of horse carts.

Lanna-style illustration of a khantoke dinner — a pedestal tray of Northern dishes, diners seated on floor cushions, Lanna dancers performing

Food & coffee · June 25, 2026

The khantoke dinner: a Northern Lanna feast in Chiang Mai

Low cushions, a round pedestal tray heaped with Northern dishes, music in the warm air. The khantoke is Chiang Mai's oldest way of welcoming a guest — and yes, you eat with your hands.

Lanna-style illustration of a leafy weekend organic market — produce stalls, brunch, plants, live music

Food & coffee · June 25, 2026

Jing Jai Market: Chiang Mai's loveliest weekend morning

Cool air, fresh coffee, a guitar somewhere under the trees. This is the greenest market morning in town.

Lanna-style illustration of Huay Tung Tao lake with bamboo huts on stilts over the water, a mountain backdrop, and people eating on woven mats

Things to do · June 25, 2026

Huay Tung Tao: Chiang Mai's lake escape

Some weeks ask a lot of you. This lake asks nothing at all — just bring an appetite and a swimsuit.

Lanna-style illustration of a remote worker at a teak desk beneath a Thai visa stamp and Doi Suthep skyline

Move here · June 25, 2026

The DTV visa: a remote worker's guide to staying in Chiang Mai

Five years, no more border bounces every two months. The DTV changed long-stay life in Chiang Mai — here's what it actually does.