Ban Mani Phruek Security Development Project
Ban Mani Phruek Security Development Project is an agrarian tourist site in which there are projects of cold-winter climate fruit experimental farming open for sightseeing. There are also Nan’s provincial flower, Orchid trees, and Wild Himalayan Cherry in the area of the Project. The project is in the land of Hmong and Lua Tribes.It used to called “Ban Chong Pha” or “Chong Phai.” They are Hmong people whose ancestors migrated from China during the time of wars in which people had to wander around in order to make a living and when they reached fertile northern Thailand, they settled here. The place was fit for agriculture.The first point they settled was Doi Phu Wae in Nan Province. Then they moved from that point around 10 kilometers and built houses and shelters properly and earned a living mostly from agriculture. The village was named “Chong Pha” or “Chong Phai” and was under the leadership of Communist Party during 1968 to 1982.Later lieutenant colonel Anan Phruekalp and a police named Mani planned to subjugate the communist and finished the plan well. The villagers offered their services to the police in 1984 and renamed the village as “Mani Phruek” which derived from the lieutenant colonel and the police up until now.Ban Mani Phruek is located at Mu 11 Tambon Pon, Amphoe Thung Chang, Nan Province. It is a group of Hmong and Lua people villages on a high mountain at 1,200-1,400 meters above sea level so the climate is cold.They have their own traditions and customs. The main jobs of people here are farming ofrice, cabbage, winter fruits like pears, peaches, plums. Extra jobs in spare time from main jobs are weaving hemp thread. Moreover, there are gorgeousnatural tourist sites full of Chomphu Phu Kha flowers, Orchid trees, frost flakes on plants (Mae Kaning), Pha Phueng Cave, waterfalls, view point, fog sea (at Doi Pha Pheung) and experience extremely cold weather. In the old days it was a battle field between communists and democratic advocates so there are still soldier operation center and shelter caves of “comrades” left around the village.In addition, this Project is located on the hill (Doi) of Phu Kha, so there are several groups of Chomphu Phu Kha trees, but the beautiful ones that are worth seeing are 3-4 kilometers away from Tourist Service Center and vehicles can get only to the beginning of the way then you’ll have to walk in about 30 meters.Interesting activities-learning Hmong and Lua people’s ways of life-learning about coffee Arabica farming from how to grow the plant organically, cultivate and process (Arabica coffee bean here was awarded as the second best in the Thai Arabica Coffee Contest in Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2012) -sightseeing the 900-meter long natural route of Pha Ko-acknowledging experimental cold-winter climate fruit experimental farmingFor travelling guide, take Highway Number 1080 from Ban Na Nun Road at km. 77-78 then turn right into the route to Ban Mani Phruek which is an asphalt but steep and twisting along slopes of hills. It takes around 1 hour to get there.
