Chiang Mai Lai Thong Lacquerware

Chiang Mai Lai Thong Lacquerware

Chiang Mai Lai Thong Lacquerware
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles19 reviews
Excellent
6
Very good
8
Average
3
Poor
0
Terrible
2

davidwilliambarnes
Blackpool, UK1,532 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023 • Couples
This was actually very interesting at the start of our visit. A lady gave an informative talk about the different techniques of making lacquerware starting with eggshells progressing to sap and gold leaf. All items are handmade and take a long time to be the finished article. Away from the shop floor you got followed around in the hope of a sale. We are browsers and go back to things we like - pressure selling is a no no.
Written June 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Captain_Rob_D
Calgary, Canada4,666 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2012 • Couples
The San Kampaeng area of Chiang Mai is full of interesting arts and crafts factories that can be toured by the discerning traveler to Thailand. One factory that caught my eye was Laithong Lacquer, about two minutes away from the silk factory tour at Shinawatra.

Knowing nothing at all about how lacquerware is produced, I took the tour. After the usual friendly greeting by the smiling and wai-ing lady at the door, I was able to see several craftsmen and women busily working at making beautiful boxes, ornaments, picture-frames, bowls and other items...some intricately inlaid with mother-of-pearl and gold leaf.

The lacquer is actually the sap tapped from the varnish tree Melanorrhoea usitatissima or Thitsee that grows wild in the forests of South East Asia. It is straw-coloured but turns black on exposure to air. When brushed onto a base wood, it forms a hard glossy smooth surface resistant to the effects of exposure to moisture or heat. The process takes many coats of lacquer built up to form a think, glossy, smooth finish.

The tour is very interesting and you are free to take pictures or videotape the process. The lacquer is applied to various wood bases, from bamboo coils to various hard woods. Several coats of lacquer are applied and as the drying process is slow and lasts several days, the work is very intensive and time consuming. The store showroom after the tour affords you the opportunity of buying some of the pieces you have seen being made.

Needless to say, we left with some wonderful souvenirs and we highly recommend this tour as a highlight of the North. Along with teak-carving, silk-weaving and umbrella factories, the whole Chiang Mai-San Kampaeng Road region is full of delightful opportunities to observe arts and crafts, unchanged through the centuries.
Written May 20, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

M_Bloemhof
Kempton Park, South Africa413 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2012 • Couples
We wanted to visit the San Kamphaeng and Bo Sang handicraft areas on our own, so our guesthouse organised a driver for the day to take us where we wanted to go at our own pace without the pressure of a organised tour.

One of the places we had decided to visit was Lai Thong Lacquerware after reading good reviews on the factory and large showroom / shop.

On arrival, we were given an extensive overview of what lacquerware is and the entire process of crafting the unique pieces – this was well presented and very informative with opportunity to ask questions. The factory was quite big and very busy with work taking place at all the various work stations.
We then entered the huge showroom / shop where we were told that we were free to browse as we wished. There was no pressure to buy products, nor any staff following you around pressurising you, but there to assist when needed.

The product range was extensive, with small items for printers trays, to large boxes, plates and stationary holders – to name a few. The workmanship of the items was very good and the items high quality, but the prices were very reasonable and there were a lot of “buy so many and get one free” offers.

Lacquerware items make beautiful gifts and are unique to Thailand.
Written July 12, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ImDschungel
Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland35 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2013 • Family
As someone else already mentioned: all "factories" in this area are tourist traps. you will pay twice or thrice as much as in the city. the showrooms are huge but the "actual production rooms" are tiny.

i made this experience with a scarf. luckily i bought my scarf at the night bazaar. afterwards we went to such a factory and i saw the absolut identic scarf again - it was definitely the same - they wanted more than twice as much. the sellers in the showrooms are like blowflies when you enter the showroom!!

DON'T BUY ANYTHING FROM THEIR!!!
Written August 14, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Natascha B
43 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
Here you are shown how lacquerware is produced which is very impressive. The use of egg shells in the lacquerware - which is done by hand - ist beautiful artwork. It´s a nice place to buy souvenirs.
Written December 17, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Captain_Rob_D
Calgary, Canada4,666 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2016 • Couples
Well worth a stop of an hour or so. See the story of lacquer explained and ladies working on items and the very extensive showroom. All kinds of lacquered plates, boxes, bowls and elephant ornaments for example. Cheaper obviously than buying at a Night Bazaar and you learn a little bit about the craft.
Recommended.
Written August 1, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Don P
Dallas, TX13,757 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2016 • Friends
The explanation and simple demonstration of how Lacquerware is made is informative. The selection of lacquerware available to buy was quite good ranging from simple souvenirs to expensive artwork. The shop had traditional style goods as well as more modern. You may be able to bargain a slightly better price for the more expensive pieces. This was a fun place to browse and you will probably buy something to take home.
Written August 21, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lu-Shien T
Mid Coast Maine, ME345 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2013 • Family
The factory tour explained the process and showcased the craftsmanship and quality of the product displayed in the showroom, and unlike the silk and gem factories, the ladies here were sincere and looked happy.

Fabulous items on display for sale, and at every price bracket too.
Written January 10, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

davidwilliambarnes
Blackpool, UK1,532 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2019 • Couples
This was actually very interesting at the start of our visit. A lady gave an informative talk about the different techniques of making lacquerware starting with eggshells progressing to sap and gold leaf. All items are handmade and take a long time to be the finished article. Away from the shop floor you got followed around in the hope of a sale. We are browsers and go back to things we like - pressure selling is a no no.
Written February 19, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MikeHSFO
San Francisco, CA218 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2018 • Friends
We were blown away by the process to use two types of eggs (ducks and chickens) to create this incredible lacquerware. At this factory they also make other types, including gold leaf, but we enjoyed looking at the process and of course purchased a few eggshell items to take home!
Written December 23, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Chiang Mai Lai Thong Lacquerware - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

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