I've heard about Saeng Arun Farm for a long time, but I haven't had the chance to go because it's quite far from the city. Even if I went, I wouldn't know where to go next. This isn't as important as the fact that the house I wanted was booked solid all year round. I wanted to go, but it wasn't easy. The timing had to be right for both me and the house. This year, I told myself, I'm going to do it. I'm going to find out (I don't know why I'm making such a big deal out of it). In short, I got a house during the rainy season, booking it 4 months in advance.

Paste GPS according to practice 20.396468, 100.299433

After booking the accommodation and transferring a 50% deposit, the accommodation provided the following travel instructions/precautions: Briefly, it is recommended to arrive at the farm before 5:00 PM because the road along the Mekong River is a rural road that is not smooth throughout the route. After 5:00 PM, the lighting on some sections of the road is less than normal, which may cause you to get lost and end up on the Lao side (the last paragraph was not mentioned by the accommodation, we mentioned it ourselves).

Another thing to keep in mind is that you should transfer the remaining 50% of the payment about 14 days before your stay. Otherwise, your room reservation may be canceled. (Just a friendly reminder.)

Here is a map of the resort. The resort is divided into two zones: the River Zone (Riverside Houses 123) and the Mountain Zone. The Mountain Zone is further divided into two sections: the Near Houses section (Lotus Pond Houses 123) and the Far Houses section. To reach the Far Houses, you need to walk across a large rice field/grassland and then climb a mountain. The farthest house is probably Baan Piang Or 4, as shown on the map.

The house we were aiming for is in the riverside zone. We got the Mekong River House 2 (but the best view is recommended for Mekong River House 1, but we didn't book it in time. I would like to ask how many months in advance you booked it?)

Regarding the map, I vaguely remember someone mentioning that Google Maps had placed a wrong pin for Saeng Arun Farm, either too far away or in the wrong direction. We've been using it for navigation, but we relied on the link sent by the farm via email for directions. It turned out to be accurate, so I'm not sure if it's been fixed. We can rest assured, but the entrance according to the map might lead us into a slightly confusing alley. We kept driving, wondering if it was the right way, until we saw the final sign a few hundred meters away, which reassured us that we weren't lost.

The sign for Rai Saeng Arun will be on the side of the house in the mountain zone. Coming from Chiang Rai city, the sign will be on the right hand side. Once you see the sign, turn left immediately as it is the parking lot. If you miss it, you can slowly back up. There are few cars, but watch out for dogs and cats, there are a lot of them.

There is parking for about 6-7 cars. The parking area is marked with small bamboo sticks that are difficult to see, but it's okay to park there for now. Once you have checked in, the owner will come and tell you where to park properly.

At the farm, a beckoning cat welcomes you at the counter. The welcome drink is a refreshing glass of roselle juice. The kitchen closes at 6 pm, but you can eat until 7 pm. We arrived at almost 4 pm, so they let us order food right away. But if you don't want to eat outside, there is also a lunchbox service available.

Okay, let's go see the room. Most of the staff are men because all the duties are heavy. Lifting luggage, cleaning, planting vegetables, delivering lunch boxes, etc.

The name "Baan Rim Khong" literally translates to "House by the Mekong River," and that's exactly where it's located. The first house you see in the picture is the one with the best view. It has a single bed and we requested an extra bed (which was a bit small and I almost fell off when I turned over). There's a corner with a desk, a dressing table, and a wardrobe. They also provide extra pillows and blankets, which would be useful during the cold season. (The lighting in the room is yellow, so be careful when putting on makeup, ladies!)

Everything in the refrigerator is edible.

The bathroom is semi-open, with a hot water system that works very well. However, if you shower during the rain, the water temperature will fluctuate between hot and cold, which can be a bit scary. At night, the open roof can also be a bit unsettling. Even the covered areas have transparent roofs with openings that allow you to see through to the outside. The surrounding area is filled with tall trees, so if you're afraid of ghosts, it's best not to look around too much, as it can be quite spooky.

There is no hairdryer here.

The outside is a balcony that extends out to the river (very little water, right?). When it rains, you have to bring in all the colorful pillows because the rain splashes in and gets everything wet. When we went, we could only take pictures because it wasn't really usable. After that, it rained all the time. There was even a broom provided (when you're at someone's house, don't just sit around and do nothing. Sweep the dead leaves off the balcony).

I was able to capture some photos of the view from the balcony behind the room before the rain started to fall. We had to hurry out of the room and head straight to dinner, fearing that if the rain got too heavy, we wouldn't be able to go out and would miss our meal. (The view was important, but eating was more important.)

The rain forced us to have dinner at the check-in building instead of the outdoor table with a riverside view. But for breakfast, if it doesn't rain, we'll be able to sit and enjoy the atmosphere. Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope it rains all night.

We arrived at the restaurant before the rain started. Oh well, let it rain. We won't go hungry tonight anyway. As for the beckoning cat, it's still sitting in the same spot, only it has changed its angle.

The kitchen was quite busy in the evening as we had to prepare food in lunch boxes for the guests who ordered it to be delivered to their homes. On top of that, it was raining, so things were a bit slow. Not only was it busy, but there were also a lot of mosquitoes. The staff will bring mosquito repellent to spray before eating (spray it on the food... I don't think so).

Let's take a look at the food. We ordered 4 dishes, and we didn't expect the portions to be this big.

Spicy minced pork salad, Tom Yum catfish soup, Northern Thai chili dip set, stir-fried vegetables, served with brown rice

You complain that it's a lot, but do you think you can finish it?

After the rain, the atmosphere is different. 5411 5541 5461

After the rain, the atmosphere is different.

Here are some photos I took at dusk.

It rained all night and then the power went out (I suspected it was strange when I checked the room that there was an emergency light installed, I didn't think I would win the jackpot and use it). I was worried that the power outage in the house on the mountain would be worse than ours (I felt a little better). But it turned out that the power was not out on the other side, it was out on our side. I took a shower in the light of my iPhone (after I finished showering, the power came back on...)

A picture of the morning with a light fog.

The rain has stopped this morning, and the staff have started setting up tables by the water. This means we will definitely be eating here today.

Breakfast here offers a choice between ABF and pork congee (request one without vegetables). Served with tea/coffee/ovaltine and finished with fruit. Both are delicious and very filling. If you don't finish it, you'll feel guilty because the vegetables are grown and prepared by the staff. You'll feel like you're wasting food. (Recommendation: If you normally eat less, ask them to reduce the amount of rice.)

Just as we started to feel full, the rain started to fall again. But our mission wasn't over yet. We still hadn't crossed over to capture the atmosphere on the other side. No way, don't let the accommodation review be incomplete (umbrella, camera).

The mountain zone houses offer stunning views of the lush greenery and the river from a high angle. To reach these houses, you need to cross a wooden bridge. The closest house is Bueng Bua, located by the first stream after crossing the field.

The other houses are a 1-field walk away, followed by a 1-hill climb (a lot of stairs, but you walk).

Opinion on Saeng Arun Farm

Advantages

1. Pleasant atmosphere, beautiful view

2. Delicious food

3. The service was excellent, from the owner of the farm (I think) to the staff.

Disadvantages

1. The road is a rural road and is not suitable for travel at night.

2. The open-air bathroom is quite difficult to use during the rainy season.

3. During the rainy season, there are a lot of millipedes (and I mean a lot). They have a high ability to penetrate, even climbing up the bathroom wall. They were so close to hiding in the hanging towels.