🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Lampang is a pass-through town on the northern route where souvenirs are very easy to find, both at old-school shops in town and at roadside souvenir markets along the Chiang Mai highway. The town's standout is khao tan nam taeng mo, which differs from ordinary khao tan because watermelon juice is mixed into the sticky-rice dough before frying for a soft aroma, then topped with looping drizzles of cane sugar or syrup. As for dried and fermented items like pork crackling, sai ua and green chili dip, these are classic northern souvenirs that Lampang does well. We've ranked them to make choosing easy, followed by the souvenir markets worth a stop.
Watermelon Khao Tan + Top Souvenirs, Ranked to Make Choosing Easy
This ranking covers both the watermelon khao tan makers people mention most and the all-in-one souvenir shops where you can grab pork crackling, sai ua and dried snacks in one stop. It's ordered by which ones come to mind first and are easiest to find — it doesn't mean the others aren't good.
Khun Mani Watermelon Khao Tan (Ratsada Road)
Many credit this as the original watermelon khao tan, selling since around 1989. The shopfront is in the owner's own house, with the drying yard and frying kitchen right next to each other. The crackers are crisp but not hard, the simmered syrup is drizzled in loops, sweet just right and not sticky on your fingers. There are small and large sheets to choose from, and you can buy in person or order online ahead of time.
Khao Tan Thani (Ban Pao)
Started by a farmers' housewives group in Ban Pao subdistrict back in 1995, they've made watermelon khao tan for over twenty years and become a well-known OTOP product. The draw is dozens of toppings to choose from — grains, black sesame, shredded pork, cane sugar, and bite-size pieces. Good for buying as a tidy gift box; it's well packed and ships far.
Mae Chamaiphon Shop (Asawin Market)
A Lampang souvenir shop open for over 37 years, selling pork crackling, sai ua, green chili dip, ta daeng grilled-fish dip and khao tan, with goods from Ko Kha. The highlight is pork crackling in both fatty and lean styles, freshly fried and crisp — you can buy several things and finish in one shop. They ship nationwide.
Lao Hua Kee Lampang Souvenirs (in town)
An old-school dried-goods shop in town, selling Chinese sausage, shredded pork, pork sheets, sweet pork, pounded pork and crispy pork sticks, plus sweets, khao tan and chili dips. Good for anyone wanting dried items that keep well to give to elders, with plenty of variety to choose from.
Pa Pi Lanna Park (Chomphu subdistrict)
A stop that's a cafe, restaurant and souvenir shop in one. The signature is Pa Pi's mu yo (pork loaf), plus naem, sai ua, fermented items and northern souvenirs to choose from. The shaded streamside setting makes it a nice place to stop, stretch your legs and grab souvenirs before moving on.
Mini Khao Tan Mae Chan Cha (front of Asawin Market)
Mini khao tan sheets fried fresh in front of Asawin Market, starting at 20 THB, with sweetness made to order. They're more snackable than you'd expect because the small sheets are easy to bite. Good to buy while strolling the market or to carry home for eating day by day. Open afternoon to evening.
Pork Crackling & Sai Ua, In-Town Morning Market
If you want fresh, made-daily pork crackling and sai ua, Lampang's in-town morning market has several vendors to sample. Prices are friendlier than the souvenir shops, making it a good fit for anyone staying in town who wants snacks to go with sticky rice. Go early to get the full range, freshly fried.
Thung Kwian Souvenir Market Shops (Hang Chat)
Thung Kwian market has dozens of souvenir shops in a long row, selling khao tan, pork crackling, sai ua, green chili dip, khao soi tat, and dried and candied fruit, so you can compare prices across several shops in one place. It's a popular stop for drivers on the Chiang Mai route because parking is easy and there's plenty on offer.
Make Sure You Get the Famous Names
Popular khao tan makers like Khun Mani and Khao Tan Thani produce in batches, and during some festival periods stock sells out fast. If you have your heart set on one particular maker, calling or messaging their page to reserve ahead is more reliable than showing up and risking it being sold out.
Want to taste deeper? Try a Lampang food tour or cooking class
Half a day with a local who knows the lanes — or cooking a dish yourself — teaches you more than just eating. Book ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide.
How Is Watermelon Khao Tan Different from Ordinary Khao Tan
Ordinary khao tan is sticky rice pressed into round sheets, dried, then fried until puffed and topped with cane sugar or syrup. The Lampang version "mixes watermelon juice" into the sticky rice before pressing the sheets, giving the crackers a soft aroma and a faint pinkish color, and a lighter crisp than you'd think when you chew. Toppings range from plain syrup and cane sugar to grains, black sesame, and shredded pork for those who like sweet-and-salty.
- Match the topping to the recipient — syrup/cane-sugar toppings are the original style that elders like, while grain or shredded-pork toppings suit those who enjoy a chewier snack.
- Check the production date and the crispness — good khao tan should have fully dry sheets, not soft, with no air leaking from the bag; it keeps for several weeks in a dry place.
- Large sheets vs bite-size — large sheets look like a full bag of souvenir, while the bite-size pieces are easier to share and pop in your mouth.
- Low-sugar options exist — some makers do a less-sweet recipe, good for anyone watching sugar; just ask at the shop.
Dried and Fermented Souvenirs Worth Carrying Home
Beyond khao tan, Lampang is also good at northern-style dried and fermented goods that keep well and are easy to transport — good for giving to elders or keeping for yourself.
Pork Crackling
Pork skin fried until puffed and crisp, in both fatty and lean styles, eaten with green chili dip or sticky rice. Choose a freshly fried bag that's crisp and not greasy.
Sai Ua
Herb-and-curry-paste pork sausage grilled until fragrant with northern spices. Buy it cooked and ready to eat, or raw to grill yourself at home. For long trips, choose the cooked kind and ask for vacuum packing.
Green Chili Dip + Ta Daeng Dip
Mild green chili dip pairs beautifully with pork crackling, while ta daeng dip is bolder. Packed in a tub it's easy to carry, and it's a souvenir northerners make to taste.
Shredded Pork, Chinese Sausage & Pork Sheets
The pork-family dried goods keep the longest and suit giving to elders. Find them at Lao Hua Kee and in-town souvenir shops; choose the vacuum-packed kind to last longer.
Northern Gifts That Aren't Food Work Too
Lampang is also known for ceramics. The rooster-brand bowls and Lampang ceramic pieces are souvenirs that won't spoil, found at Kad Kong Ta and ceramic shops in town — good for anyone wanting a gift they can actually keep and use.
Where to Buy Lampang Souvenirs — Sorted by Situation
- Staying in town, want the original maker — head straight to Khun Mani khao tan on Ratsada Road, then stop by Asawin Market in the evening for freshly fried mini khao tan and pork crackling at Mae Chamaiphon's shop.
- Want to finish in one place with plenty on offer — Pa Pi Lanna Park or an all-in-one souvenir shop in town gets you both snacks and dried goods, with an easy rest-stop vibe.
- Driving to and from Chiang Mai — stop at Thung Kwian market in Hang Chat, on the Chiang Mai highway; parking is easy and you can compare prices across several shops in one market.
- Want dried goods that keep, to give to elders — Lao Hua Kee and in-town dried-goods shops, choosing well-packed shredded pork, Chinese sausage and pork sheets.
Long Trip? Ask for Good Packing
If you're flying or facing a long drive, ask the shop to vacuum-pack or use a sturdy box — especially for pork crackling, which breaks easily, and sai ua, which should be kept cool — so it reaches home in good shape.
Keep planning your full Lampang eat-and-explore trip
See the Lampang travel guide →