Dhevaraj Hotel — A Long-Running Hotel in the Heart of Nan, Right by the Market
Ask a seasoned Nan traveller where to stay in the centre of town and Dhevaraj Hotel almost always comes up — a long-running hotel that's been part of Nan since 1980 · Its big draw is the location on Sumon Thewarat Road in the Nai Wiang quarter, directly opposite the fresh market, so you step out of the door straight into food stalls and shops · There are 150 rooms from Standard to VIP, part of them renovated in 2024, plus an outdoor pool, bicycle hire and free parking, from approx. THB 1,100/night.
Dhevaraj has been open since 1980 and has been the go-to central hotel for Nan travellers across several generations · The point every review agrees on is the location in the heart of the old town on Sumon Thewarat Road, directly opposite the fresh market · Step out and you're at the morning market, the evening market, the restaurants and a 7-Eleven right in front of the hotel, with Wat Phumin, Wat Phra That Chang Kham and the Walking Street all an easy walk away · It holds a 7.3 average from 407 reviews on Tripadvisor and a 9.0 from 49 reviews on Trip.com — numbers that reflect how happy guests are with the location and cleanliness.
The hotel is a six-storey building with around 150 rooms, from the Standard Double (20 sq m) up to the Deluxe Twin/Double (25 sq m) and the VIP Room · The rooms renovated in 2024 earn praise for being clean and more spacious than expected, with several guests noting fresh-looking bathrooms and cold air conditioning · To be honest though, this is an older building — some unrenovated rooms still feel like an old-school hotel, with a peculiar layout and traditional keys · Many guests recommend asking for a renovated room when you book or check in.
"Great location, right in the centre — walk to the markets, temples and Walking Street, and there are bicycles to borrow too. The renovated room was spacious and clean; good value for a spot like this."
What sets Dhevaraj apart from the small guesthouses in town is that it has an outdoor pool on the second floor — not something you find often in central Nan at this price · It's handy for families who want somewhere for the kids to cool off after a full day out · There are also bicycles to borrow for riding around the old town, free parking, an in-house restaurant and café, and an airport shuttle (Nan airport is just a few minutes away) · Staff get consistent praise for being friendly and helpful.
Breakfast is served daily and most reviews call it fine and filling, but several agree that it's fairly basic, canteen-style and Thai-focused · If you're used to a varied Western spread, it may feel a little plain · Given the location surrounded by markets and restaurants, many guests simply head out for khao soi, noodles or coffee at a local spot around the hotel instead — which is part of the appeal of staying in central Nan anyway.
To be straight about it, Dhevaraj is not a sleek, brand-new design hotel — if you're after a minimalist, photogenic room or a mountain-view resort, this isn't it · Its charm is being a traditional town hotel kept clean, priced within reach, and sitting right in the middle of everything · Some reviews do note the age of the building and the inconsistency between rooms (booking the same type but getting different sizes), which is worth knowing before you book.
The verdict from real guest reviews: if the heart of your trip is exploring the Nan old town, visiting the temples and wandering the markets, and you want a central base with a pool at an affordable price — Dhevaraj Hotel fits that exactly · With a 9.0 on Trip.com and a mid-table Tripadvisor ranking from 407 reviews, guests agree on the same points: an excellent location, clean rooms, friendly staff, and everything within walking distance.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Central location by the market; walk to temples and the Walking Street
- ✓ Renovated rooms are clean and more spacious than expected
- ✓ An outdoor pool and bikes to borrow at an affordable price
- ✓ Free parking and an airport shuttle
- ! Older building; some unrenovated rooms feel dated
- ! Inconsistent room sizes — the same type can vary
- ! Basic, canteen-style breakfast that's Thai-focused
- ✓ Right in the centre; the market is in front of the hotel
- ✓ Clean rooms, cold AC, fresh-looking bathrooms in renovated rooms
- ✓ Friendly, helpful staff
- ✓ A pool for the kids — good for families
- ! Peculiar building layout and traditional keys in some parts
- ! Plain room design compared to newer boutiques in town
- ! Breakfast lacks variety for those who prefer Western food
- 💡If you want a sleek, photogenic boutique room — Dhevaraj is an older town hotel where rooms are about function over design → consider an old-town boutique like Nan Nakara or Nan Boutique instead.
- 💡If you care about how new the room is — some rooms are still unrenovated → ask for a 2024-renovated room when you book or check in.
- 💡If you expect a varied Western breakfast — breakfast here is basic and canteen-style → with the market right across the road, head out for khao soi or a local spot around the hotel.