Chiang Mai Old City Traditional Craft Tour | Make Lanna Brass Craft with an Artisan

A single sheet of brass, in an artisan’s hands and through skills handed down the generations, turns into a small flower.

After visiting a temple linked to King Mangrai, the founder of Chiang Mai, and walking through the Old City, you will try Khua Tong, a brass craft handed down in the Lanna region.

More than looking at famous temples: on this tour of about three hours you learn the town’s history and touch Chiang Mai’s culture with your own hands, taught directly by a local artisan.

Three highlights of this tour

1. A temple linked to the king who founded Chiang Mai

We visit Wat Phra Chao Mengrai, said to be the third royal temple built by King Mangrai.

We walk the quiet grounds, uncrowded by tourists, home to a standing Buddha image said to be the same height as the king.

2. Walk the lanes of the Old City and meet everyday life

From the temple to the workshop we go on foot, passing old lanes and neighbourhood temples.

Walking with the guide’s commentary, ordinary street corners start to connect with Chiang Mai’s history.

3. Try a traditional Lanna craft alongside an artisan

Finally, at Wat Phuak Taem, you try Khua Tong, the brass craft of the Lanna region. Hear about its history and tools from the artisan, then make a Dok Mai Wai flower ornament with your own hands.

What are Khua Tong and Dok Mai Wai?

Khua Tong is a metal craft of the Lanna region in which sheets of brass are hammered into shape and finished with fine patterns.

It has been used in many scenes of faith and daily life: ornaments for temple roofs, ceremonial canopies, hair ornaments and the long fingernails worn in traditional dance.

Dok Mai Wai is a traditional flower hair ornament worn by women of the Lanna region.

Because the flowers are mounted on fine spring-like parts, they tremble gently as the wearer walks or dances.

Wearing flowers in the hair is also said to protect the khwan, the spirit that dwells in a person, and to wish for good fortune.

Today few artisans carry on the skills of Khua Tong. On this tour you learn directly from an artisan still active in the community, and come close to the craft and its background.

How the tour runs

* Times and content may change slightly depending on conditions on the day.

• 14:00 Meet at Wat Phra Chao Mengrai
  • Walking the grounds, we introduce King Mangrai and the history of Chiang Mai, and the story of the Buddha image kept at the temple.
• 14:30 Walk through Chiang Mai’s Old City
  • We walk towards Wat Phuak Taem, passing old lanes and neighbourhood temples.
• 15:00 Khua Tong experience at Wat Phuak Taem
  • Hear about the history and tools from the artisan, then try making a brass Dok Mai Wai. First-timers are supported by the artisan and the guide.
• 17:00 Finish at Wat Phuak Taem
  • You can take home the Dok Mai Wai you made as a memento of your trip.

Recommended for

• Those who want more than a round of famous sights
• Those who want to know Chiang Mai’s history and culture in depth
• Those who love handwork and traditional crafts
• Those who would like to meet a local artisan in person
• Those looking for a local experience that fits into half a day

Tour details

Time	14:00–17:00 (approx. 3 hours)
Price	900 THB per person (Backpack FESTA special price)
What’s included	Craft experience fee, materials and guide fee
Meeting point	Wat Phra Chao Mengrai
Finishing point	Wat Phuak Taem
Language	English / Japanese

* As we visit temples, please avoid clothing that leaves shoulders or knees uncovered, and wear comfortable walking shoes.

Your host

Khua Tong and Dok Mai Wai are little known among travellers, but they are traditional crafts of Chiang Mai going back more than 700 years. They are not mere metalwork: they are handmade art infused with devotion to Buddhism and the spirit of the culture.

Wat, a Khua Tong artisan, passes on these traditional skills. With mechanisation advancing, however, only two or three artisans who hold this skill remain in the temple, and the lack of successors is a serious issue.

I (Sakata of ManiTabi) have tried making Khua Tong myself and experienced how difficult and intricate it is.

I planned this tour hoping to share the appeal of craft made by Chiang Mai people themselves, and to build a little more understanding of traditional crafts.

Booking and questions