Huen Him Kong Hotel Phrae — a small, homey stay in the Phrae old town, walk to Khum Chao Luang
If your Phrae trip wants a small, homey stay with spacious, clean rooms, right in the old town, within walking distance of Khum Chao Luang and Ban Wongburi, all at a comfortable mid-range rate, Huen Him Kong Hotel is a pick many guests come away loving. It is a tiny boutique stay of just 9 rooms in the Nai Wiang / Wat Luang community, with the feel of staying at a relative's house rather than a big hotel. What guests mention again and again is the spacious, clean rooms, the warm and attentive owner and staff, the central old-town location within walking distance of temples and heritage houses, and the value. There are free bikes, free parking, and a shared lounge to relax in. It scores 8.8 from real guest reviews · from approx. ฿850/night.
Huen Him Kong Hotel, or Huen Him Kong Phrae in Thai, is a tiny boutique stay of just 9 rooms in the Nai Wiang / Wat Luang community at the heart of the Phrae old town. The name "Him Kong" is northern Thai for riverside, hinting at the warm, easygoing feel of the place. Because there are only a handful of rooms, it feels more like staying at a relative's home or a family-run guesthouse than a busy hotel. Many reviews say the same thing: what they like most is the quiet, the spacious clean rooms, and an owner who looks after guests with genuine care.
There are three main room types: the Superior King with a large bed for couples, the Double Room with Balcony, and the Twin Room with Balcony with two single beds, good for friends or family. Every room has air-conditioning, a flat-screen TV, a fridge, a kettle and a hairdryer, with an en-suite bathroom and shower. What guests praise most is that the rooms are bigger than expected and spotlessly clean — several compare them to a small apartment that feels more comfortable than the price suggests. The rooms with a balcony are the ones many recommend, since you can sit out and take in the quiet old-town air.
"The room was very spacious and clean, the owner was friendly and looked after us well, and you can walk straight out to Khum Chao Luang and the temples. Parking was easy. Great value for Phrae."
The things guests praise most are the cleanliness, the spacious rooms, and the warm, personal care. With only 9 rooms, the owner and staff can look after guests properly, speaking Thai, English and Mandarin, with a 24-hour front desk. Common areas include a lounge and terrace to relax in, there are free bikes for riding around the old town, free parking, and free Wi-Fi throughout. There is an a la carte breakfast you can order — not a big buffet, but a small morning bite before heading out to explore. Overall, this is a stay that leans on homey comfort and location rather than resort-style facilities.
Location is the biggest draw here. It sits in the Nai Wiang / Wat Luang community at the heart of the Phrae old town, within a few minutes' walk of Khum Chao Luang, Ban Wongburi, Wat Phong Sunan and Wat Luang. The streets around are lined with cafes, local restaurants and old-town photo spots to wander. From here it is about 15 minutes by car to Wat Phra That Cho Hae and roughly 10 minutes to Phrae Airport. It makes an easy base for exploring the old town without much driving, since the main sights in town are within walking or cycling distance.
To be honest, there are a few things to set your expectations on. First, it is a very small place with only 9 rooms, so it fills up fast over long weekends and festivals — book ahead. Second, breakfast is a simple a la carte affair rather than a buffet, and some reviews score the morning meal lower; if you are particular about breakfast, the old town has plenty of cafes and noodle shops within walking distance. And being a small stay, there is no pool or gym like a larger hotel. This is the voice of real guest reviews, and it reflects a small homey stay that leans on spacious clean rooms, an old-town location and personal care rather than full resort facilities.
Overall, Huen Him Kong Hotel suits anyone looking for a small, homey stay in the Phrae old town with spacious clean rooms, temples and heritage houses on your doorstep, all at an easy mid-range price. If you value a central old-town location, cleanliness, roomy good-value rooms and a quiet, friendly atmosphere over the full facilities of a big hotel, this place delivers. It works well for couples, small groups of friends, and families exploring the Phrae old town at a relaxed pace.
A tip from reading lots of reviews: ask for a room with a balcony so you can sit out and enjoy the quiet old-town air. Book ahead, especially over long weekends, since there are only 9 rooms. Borrow one of the hotel's free bikes to ride out to Khum Chao Luang, Ban Wongburi and the old-town temples in the cool of the morning. And if you want a proper breakfast, head out to the cafes and khao soi shops in the old town that are within walking distance.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Spacious, clean and tidy rooms · great value
- ✓ Warm, attentive owner and staff
- ✓ Central old-town location, walk to Khum Chao Luang and temples
- ✓ Free bikes and parking · quiet, peaceful setting
- ! Very few rooms (9) · fills up fast over long weekends
- ! Breakfast is simple a la carte · some reviews score it lower
- ! No pool or gym like a larger hotel
- ✓ Clean rooms, more spacious than expected
- ✓ Great location, easy to walk the old town
- ✓ Caring owner, warm and homey atmosphere
- ✓ Convenient parking, free bikes to borrow
- ! Small stay · not full resort-style facilities
- ! Simple breakfast · head into town if you want more
- ! Limited rooms · book ahead
- 💡If you want full resort-style facilities — this is a small 9-room stay with no pool or gym → it suits people who value spacious clean rooms, an old-town location and a personal, homey feel over luxury amenities.
- 💡If you are particular about breakfast — the morning meal here is a simple a la carte affair, and some reviews score it lower → head out to the cafes and khao soi shops in the old town, which are within walking distance and plentiful.
- 💡If you plan to visit over a long weekend or festival — there are only 9 rooms and they fill fast → book ahead, ask for a room with a balcony, and lock in a free-cancellation rate in case plans change.