The First Residence Lamphun — a city hotel within walking distance of Wat Phra That Hariphunchai, on a budget
The charm of old-town Lamphun is that you can explore it on foot — the old city walls, Wat Phra That Hariphunchai and the town market are all close together · The First Residence Lamphun is a city hotel of around 30 rooms in the old town of Nai Mueang that stands out for its location — about 0.6 km, or roughly a 10-minute walk, from Wat Phra That Hariphunchai, and close to Lamphun railway station · Rooms have balconies, fridges, flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi, plus there's a bar and free parking · From approx ฿800/night
The First Residence Lamphun sits at 22/5 Soi Jakkam in the Nai Mueang sub-district of Mueang Lamphun, right in the old town · Its main selling point is location — it's about 0.6 km, roughly a 10-minute walk, from Wat Phra That Hariphunchai, the central temple of Lamphun · Also nearby are the Hariphunchai National Museum, the Queen Chamadevi Monument and the town market, all within walking distance · It's close to Lamphun railway station, handy if you arrive on the northern train line · Driving into Chiang Mai city takes around 30 minutes, so you can use Lamphun as a base for both towns.
The hotel opened around 2014 and was renovated in 2024, a city hotel of about 30 rooms · The rooms are simply furnished and practical · Many have a private balcony, and come with a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a fridge, free bottled water, a shower and free Wi-Fi · There are both air-conditioned rooms and cheaper fan rooms, which suits a tight budget · Shared facilities include a bar/lobby bar, an in-house convenience store, an ATM, laundry service and a 24-hour front desk · Real guest reviews often note the cleanliness and the location in a positive light.
"Great location — an easy walk to Wat Phra That Hariphunchai and close to the train station. Clean room, friendly staff, good value for a stay in Lamphun town."
The overall mood is that of a city hotel built around location and price, rather than a resort with full facilities · There's no pool, and pets aren't allowed · It's a good fit for anyone who wants to sleep close to the temple to head out early for merit-making or to walk the old town without driving · There's free parking for self-drivers · It's a sensible pick for a short trip — a one- or two-night stopover in Lamphun town.
On scores, Trip.com rates it around 8.6, though from a still-modest number of reviews (about 7) · As a small hotel in a secondary town, online reviews are still few and the score can swing from period to period · Most of the sentiment points the same way: good location, walkable to the temple, clean rooms and good value · Because reviews are limited, it's worth reading the most recent ones and comparing prices across a few platforms before you decide.
A few things to know before you book · Some reviews describe a difficult check-in with no staff at the front desk and phone lines that were hard to reach, along with an issue over a cancellation refund, which is worth being ready for · It's best to call or message the hotel to confirm your check-in time in advance, especially if you arrive late or outside normal hours · It's also a budget property — it doesn't lean on stylish decor or upscale facilities, so anyone expecting a boutique level should set expectations to the price.
In short, The First Residence Lamphun suits travellers after a stay in old-town Lamphun within walking distance of Wat Phra That Hariphunchai, in the ฿800-to-low-thousands range · If you're here to make merit, walk the old town, or arrive by train into Lamphun and want to be near the station, it fits well · But if you want a pool, a pet-friendly stay, or boutique-level styling, it's worth comparing other options in town too.
A tip from following the reviews here closely: always confirm your check-in time with the hotel in advance, especially if you'll arrive outside normal hours · If you want an air-conditioned room, specify it at booking, since there are both A/C and fan rooms · During festivals and merit-making events at Wat Phra That Hariphunchai, in-town rooms fill quickly, so book ahead and lock in a free-cancellation rate.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Old-town location, walkable to Wat Phra That Hariphunchai
- ✓ Close to Lamphun railway station for onward travel
- ✓ Clean rooms, friendly staff
- ✓ Good value, with free parking
- ! Some reviews report check-in issues and hard-to-reach phone lines
- ! No pool, no pets allowed
- ! Basic facilities, not boutique level
- ✓ Good location, near the temple and train station
- ✓ Clean rooms, good value for an in-town stay
- ✓ Balconies and fridges in the rooms
- ✓ In-house convenience store and bar
- ! Fan rooms have no A/C, choose the room type carefully
- ! Simple decor, nothing fancy
- ! Staff responses can be slow at times
- 💡If you'll arrive late or outside normal check-in hours — some reviews note there's sometimes no one at the front desk and the phone is hard to reach → always call or message to confirm your check-in time in advance.
- 💡If you want an air-conditioned room — there are both A/C rooms and cheaper fan rooms here → state the room type clearly at booking so you don't end up with a fan room by mistake.
- 💡If you want a pool or are bringing a pet — there's no pool and pets aren't allowed → compare other options in Lamphun that cover those two needs.