🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Drive about 8 kilometers west out of Uttaradit town and you reach Laplae district. There are no high-rises or big malls here, just the easygoing charm of a valley town that rewards a slow walk. Most people come to Laplae for three reasons: to see the city gate and hear the legend, to wander the old wooden houses for photos, and to eat local specialties like khao kaep, mi phan, and khao phan phak. We'll take you through it point by point.
The legend of Laplae — why they call it the town where lying is forbidden
The name Laplae comes from the words lap (hidden) and lae (to see). The legend says this was once a mysterious town hidden in the forest, hard to find, inhabited only by women, with a single iron-clad rule: no lying, ever. It didn't matter how good your intentions were — a lie was a lie, and it was wrong.
The most famous version tells of a young man from the town of Thung Yang who stumbled into Laplae, married a local woman, and had a child with her. One day he carelessly told her a small lie to cover something up. She was heartbroken, because this town held truthfulness above all else. In the end he had to leave, and he could never find his way back in. That's where the nickname Town of Widows comes from — the idea that the women here would rather live alone than live with someone who lies.
Read this before you go and it hits harder
Read the legend before your trip. Then, when you're standing in front of the city gate looking at the Widow Monument — a woman holding her child, her husband sitting with his head bowed beside her — you'll understand at a glance exactly what the statue is telling you.
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The Laplae city gate — the first landmark to stop at
Before entering Laplae town, everyone passes under the city gate near the Si Phanom Mat municipal area. It's an adapted Sukhothai-style structure in a soft eggshell-yellow, around 10 meters tall and about 41 meters long, and it's the signature photo spot that everyone stops for.
- The Laplae Widow Monument — beside the gate stands a statue of a young woman holding her baby, with her husband sitting head-bowed and clutching a shoulder bag of turmeric. The base is inscribed with the words "Only truthfulness," and it tells the town's legend in a single image.
- Photo angles — morning or late afternoon light is softest and prettiest. In the harsh midday sun you'll be shooting slightly into the light.
- Parking — there's roadside parking around the gate, easy for a quick photo stop before you head into town.
Laplae Museum — understand the town in an hour
If you want to understand Laplae beyond just taking photos, head into the Laplae Museum. The building itself is a raised wooden house in the old Laplae style, and inside it tells the town's history, way of life, local wisdom, and traditions. There's also a wood carving of Phraya Phichai Dap Hak, the broken-sword warrior hero born on Uttaradit soil. It doesn't take long to walk through, but you come away with a lot of context.
Check the opening days
Community museums like this can be closed on certain days, especially Mondays or public holidays. If you're coming specifically to see it, call the Si Phanom Mat municipal office or ask locals nearby first to be sure.
Old wooden houses and community life — the real heart of Laplae
What sets Laplae apart from other old towns is its wooden houses. There are still old-style teak homes here, some decades old and some over a century, lined up through the community. A few are now local restaurants, while others are still lived in. Wander the small lanes and you'll see a way of life that still involves drying khao kaep in the sun, growing vegetables, and tending fruit orchards as usual.
Old Laplae House / Le Laplaeng
A traditional Laplae-style wooden house displaying old tools and household items in the atmosphere of a villager's home from decades past. A favorite for retro-style photos.
Mon Laplae
Local restaurants, a small folk museum, souvenirs, and seasonal fruit all in one spot. A good place to stop for a drink and a rest.
The Si Phanom Mat community
Walk or cycle through the lanes to see the wooden houses and orchards. The atmosphere is quiet and relaxed, and you get a real feel for everyday Laplae life.
Wat Don Sak — the carved wooden doors you shouldn't miss
Just outside Laplae town, in Fai Luang sub-district, is Wat Don Sak. The highlight is the wooden viharn doors, carved across their entire surface in the old Ayutthaya style with kanok-scroll patterns and Himmaphan creatures woven in. What people love is that the left and right doors have different designs — yet when you close them, the patterns line up and fit together perfectly. It's the kind of craftsmanship that leaves you impressed.
Si Phanom Mat morning market — start the day like a local
The Laplae morning market sits in a retro wooden building with murals painted across its facade. It's where locals do their shopping and have breakfast. Come early and you'll see plenty of local goods — khao kaep, mi phan, vegetables from the orchards, and seasonal fruit. During durian season (roughly June to August) it gets especially lively, since the Long Laplae and Lin Laplae durians come in right then.
Local bites worth trying
Mi phan and khao phan phak are local specialties that are hard to find elsewhere. The long-running shop people mention most is Mi Phan Pa Wang. If you want the full rundown of Laplae's local food, read on in our Laplae food guide.
A walking-and-photo plan for Laplae
Laplae is easy to see in half a day to a full day, depending on how long you linger over food and photos. Here are two plans to pick from based on the time you have.
Half a morning, hitting the main highlights
A full, unhurried day
How to get to Laplae and when to go
- Getting there — from Uttaradit town, drive toward Laplae district for about 8 kilometers, around a 15-minute trip. The easiest option is your own car or a rental.
- Best time to go — come in the morning for the market atmosphere and the prettiest light. Durian season (June–Aug) is the liveliest, when Laplae's fruit comes in.
- Getting around town — Laplae town is small, easy to see on foot or by bicycle, so there's no need to drive around much.
- Leave extra time — if you're already in Uttaradit, you can pair Laplae with nearby Wat Phra Thaen Sila At or Wat Phra Borommathat Thung Yang in the same day.
Plan your whole Uttaradit trip — where to stay, eat, and go
See the Uttaradit travel guide →