Huay Tueng Thao Reservoir — Attraction in Chiang Mai Province

Cannot understand the 5-star ratings and what’s all the fuss about this place. I don’t mind the 50 baht entrance fee and the taxi fare getting there if it was worth it; it’s not. It’s a large lake with brown murky water with restaurants serving food in huts around the lake. Our airbnb host recommended us to take our kids swimming here but all the staff there advised against it as the water is too dirty. We did not even dip our toes in the water. Maybe we just got unlucky in choosing the restaurant but the food was bad and came in cheap plastic plates that looked unclean. Our kids had fun running around and climbing up the straw model elephants and gorillas and other animals. The attractions seemed to lack attention and looked a bit disheveled, the kind you see in small towns, not fitting for a beautiful city like Chiang Mai. There are much better parks/gardens with well-kept ponds and attractions in the city. We felt like we wasted a day coming here. The area is spread out and certainly good for jogging or evening stroll but definitely not worth the entrance fee. Some stretches of barren land could be made into gardens/mazes. With better planning and management, this place can be made into a first class park. Also, we ordered Grab taxi from the animal sculpture spot to go back and waited, but the driver was not able to enter as the park entrance was already closed, so we had to walk like 2 kilometres to get to the gate. So make sure to order your taxi from the gate if...

Good for a run / walk around the lake, 3.2km approximately for one lap. There are a few nice trails for mountain bikes that start from here (quite a few that end here from the top of the mountain) and also some walking / hiking trails with some steep climbs, just do some research before you set off road and make sure you have a map or gps . Also a good idea to check in with the office before you set off if you plan on hiking. There is a number you can call on the sign posts on the entrance if going into the trails. Lots of restaurants around the lake, some better than others as you may expect. I don’t have a recommendation as there are quite a few. Can rent ATVs but I haven’t tried that, also there is a zip line across the lake which looks fun. Have seen lots of people fishing here but don’t know details on this. Have rented a canoe which is also okay but your limited to fairly small area for safety. Double charging for entry. ฿50 foreigner ฿20 for thai and it doesn’t seem make a difference if you work or live in Thailand. Also had to show my child’s Thai ID card or they weren’t prepared to let him in for ฿20 even though he is fluent in Thai. We go here now and then and it’s fine for...

I went to Huay Tung Tao Reservoir on one of the recent public holidays and understandably it was bit crowded. There are some allocated areas where you can swim but not a great place to have a swim. Most of the people come here to have a meal in one of the dining huts (there are lots of them around the lake) build almost at the very edge of the lake edge, so you are sitting almost over the water. The main reason you are going there is to have a relaxing time and good meal. It looks like meals are cooked/served by providers responsible for specific area and the system is functioning well. The food (our lunch) was very good. The service was also good (didn’t have to wait for long to get what we ordered although it was very busy). The price was reasonable. There are lots of activities you can do around this lake, cycling (electric bike rentals are also available close by), walking and visiting other parks such as Huay Tung Tao...