"Kong City," a small, hidden town nestled behind Doi Luang Chiang Dao, has remained secluded for ages. This peaceful town boasts fresh air and friendly locals.

When it comes to Chiang Dao, most people think of this view at the Star Balcony.

But we will not stop here. We will continue.

Kong City is located in Chiang Dao District, hidden behind Doi Luang, and was once known as a closed city.

Due to the previous difficulty of traversing the area, Kong City has only recently been revealed to the public.

Travel

The same route as to Baan Na Lao Mai (Rabeang Dao)

The distance from Kong Lei to Ban Na Lao Mai is approximately 27 kilometers.

If you are driving your own car, continue straight ahead past the entrance to the Rabeang Dao viewpoint.

The entire road is paved, making for a smooth journey. However, the road is winding and narrow, so caution is advised when encountering oncoming vehicles.

Buses: There are shared taxis from Chiang Dao to Mueang Khong (the same ones that go to Rabeang Dao, the yellow ones you see).

Once or twice a day, but I'm not sure. I'll have to check the schedule again.

Khon Kaen is a city of rice fields, with vast stretches of paddy interspersed with mountains and waterways.

Doi Luang Chiang Dao is faintly visible in the distance.

However, we were a bit hasty on this trip, traveling during the Buddhist Lent period when the rice fields are not yet green.

Some plots have not yet been planted with rice, but it is expected that they are now lush and green.

The journey from Balcony Star to Kong City is no less beautiful.

Dense forests and crystal-clear streams are commonly found along the roadside.

Simple and ordinary lifestyle.

And... pink buffalo. Yes, pink buffalo.

In reality, it is the albino buffalo. However, the albino buffalo in this area have skin so light that it appears pink.

Chubby and adorable, with a friendly personality.

Even a buffalo can be friendly.

Adorable!

Kong Sa-at is truly a clean city.

In our opinion, this is a pristine and vibrant village.

There is no embellishment or artificiality. There is no trace of affectation or pretense.

If she were a young woman, she would be in the prime of her youth, like a flower in full bloom.

May this charm remain for a long time.

Both sides of the road are rice fields.

The rice planting season had just begun then, and the fields must be lush and green by now.

Let's take a look at accommodation options in the city of Kong.

To the best of our knowledge, there are two homestays available:

Ban Wang Rim Khong and Muang Khong Homestay (Baan Ai Dong)

Our trip did not include stays in both locations. We did not know much about the city of Kong.

The journey was based on guesswork, with only a small amount of information from reviews seen at the end of last year.

Unsure of the exact location, I did not make a reservation in advance.

Upon arrival, both locations were found to be full. However, permission was granted to take photographs.

Wang Rim Khong House

This location is situated directly by the river, close to the Mekong Friendship Bridge.

Upon crossing the bridge, a view unfolds to the right, extending along the edge of the canal.

Parking is available along the canal.

The accommodation consists of two houses. The smaller house can accommodate 2-3 people.

Large groups are welcome.

The hut contains clean bedding, pillows, and mosquito nets.

The balcony offers stunning views of the stars and moon, as well as the canal. The Milky Way is said to be particularly prominent in this area.

The owner is a beautiful and charming young woman with a bright smile.

We just stopped by for a visit, not to stay. The staff and your father were very welcoming.

The accommodation cost we inquired about is 250 baht per person per night, with shared bathroom facilities.

Coffee and snacks are available in the morning, while other meals are...

If you need anything, please inform the homestay. They will prepare it for you.

There are bicycles available for riding.

A beautiful and clear view in front of the house.

Surrounded by rice fields.

There is also an activity of floating down the Kong River on inner tubes for 150 baht per person, I think. I'm not entirely sure.

She told me, but I forgot. Haha. And what other activities are there, like tours or something?

Please inquire directly with the homestay. You can search for the name online.

Kong Homestay (Ai Dong's House)

This place has many reviews. It was fully booked when I visited.

We would like to take a few photos.

Deeper into the village of Ai Dong, cross this bridge.

A short distance past Nong Bua School, on the right-hand side, there is a small path leading to Ai Dong's house.

A beautiful view in front of Nong Bua School.

I have arrived at Ai Dong's house.

It also has a balcony for stargazing.

Aiai Dong's house offers a view of the rice terraces. However, as we visited during the Buddhist Lent, the rice had not yet been planted.

However, recent photos show that the area is now lush and green, with people visiting.

The signature dish of Baan Ai Dong is Krua Ka Krua, an open-air kitchen with stunning views of the rice terraces.

It's a shame I'm not staying in the area. Otherwise, I could enjoy a cup of coffee with the morning mist.

No worries, there will be another chance to improve next time.

The homestay in Ban Aan Dong has 4-5 houses, but I'm not sure about the exact number.

Each house can accommodate multiple people. The accommodation fee is also 250 baht per person per night. Shared bathroom.

Food and drink inquiries and requests can be made to Ai Dong.

The utmost warmth and kindness, endearingly delightful.

I see there are many activities available, besides tubing down the Kong River.

They also take you hiking, fruit picking, and fishing with a cast net.

If you're looking for a taste of authentic local life, give it a try! Next time, we won't miss out.

This trip was poorly planned, resulting in many missed opportunities.

This is where they take people for tubing, it's the bridge that leads to the village of Ai Dong.

I encountered a pink buffalo again.

Starting from here, let's drift along and see where we end up. You'll have to try it yourself to find out.

Kong Long, try it and you will really fall in love.

In addition,

Since we were passing by the Star Balcony on our way to Kong City, we decided to stop by for a bit.

A panoramic view from the balcony of the stars

While the official name of this area is Na Lao Mai Village, it is more commonly known as Chiang Dao, the "Star Balcony".

During the peak season (which is still ongoing), there has been a surge in the number of new accommodations.

However, when we went there, we saw that many of the stalls had been demolished as part of the government's efforts to regulate the area.

We stopped for lunch at Baan Rabeang Dao, which serves simple, made-to-order dishes that were surprisingly delicious.

The coffee was quite good, and we took a short walk and snapped a few photos.

Upon entering Na Lao Mai, the first building you will see is the Balcony of Stars.

A visit to the iconic landmark.

After having lunch, I took a walk around the village, which was peaceful and quiet.

The morning must be as beautiful as everyone reviews. We came at noon, and the sun was blazing.

Other accommodations

Ah, that's a comfortable sleep.

The route here is not difficult. Any vehicle can access it, and the incline is not steep.

The road is narrow in some sections, so please drive carefully.

I will come back again, Balcony of Stars. Maybe next time I can stay here overnight.

I've called many places, but they're all full.

However, when I visited, I noticed that many places were empty, which was puzzling.

However, we have already booked another place. We will plan better next time.

This concludes the review.

Thank you all for visiting.