Bordering Laos, the rural province of Nan is attracting an ever-increasing number of visitors who come to enjoy the scenery and northern culture. The town has become particularly popular with Thai tourists from Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

In the town of Nan there are several beautiful temples to discover, and morning and evening fresh markets with a wide variety of northern cuisine. On the weekends there’s also a walking street which also has an area where you can sit down and eat.

I must say that unlike Chiang Mai the food in Nan is a bit of a disappointment and it’s hard to hunt really good northern food in the restaurants.

The main attraction for me is the produce in the fresh markets and the extremely friendly locals. It’s a pretty laidback town.

Of course, there’s always the standby of khao soi noodle soup, and some decent sai oua sausage in the evening market.

To get the lay of the land, hop on a tram that leaves from the tourist office and then head off on your own. It’s a good town to explore on foot or by bicycle.

If you are into motorcycling, the nearby Doi Phukha National Park includes several 2,000-m (6,500-ft) peaks and some of the best winding mountain roads in Thailand for motorcycling. Hire a bike in Chiang Mai and come via Phayao, a great little lakeside town en route.

My favourite local airline, Nok Air, flies from Bangkok to Nan.