Mae Hong Son vs Ubon Ratchathani
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More striking natural scenery
The mountain valley, lake temples and nearby hilltop views give the town a strong scenic setting. Another assessed advantage: a quieter setting.
A livelier nightlife scene
Local pubs, clubs and riverside bars provide worthwhile evening choice beyond food markets. Another assessed advantage: a broader food offering.
Side by side
What feels different
Our editorial assessments · Select a factor to see how we scored each place.
Why we rate Mae Hong Son 0/10
This inland mountain town has no sea-beach offering.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 0/10
This inland city has no sea-beach offering; riverfront areas are a different experience.
What we assess
Beach appeal, convenient access and variety during a beach-focused stay, within the destination itself.
Why we rate Mae Hong Son 8/10
The mountain valley, lake temples and nearby hilltop views give the town a strong scenic setting.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 4/10
Riverfront and temple settings add interest, but the dramatic Mekong landscapes require longer provincial journeys.
What we assess
The visual impact of natural surroundings and how central those landscapes are to a typical stay.
Why we rate Mae Hong Son 8/10
Distinctive lake and hill temples and local traditions give a short town stay substantial cultural interest.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 8/10
City temples and candle-making traditions provide strong Isaan cultural interest, with the festival adding a seasonal highlight.
What we assess
The variety, depth and practical access to historic places, temples, architecture, traditions and cultural experiences during a typical stay.
Why we rate Mae Hong Son 6/10
Shan-influenced dishes, markets and town restaurants provide worthwhile choice within a small-town scene.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 8/10
Isaan, Vietnamese-influenced and Chinese-Thai food gives independent city dining strong variety and character.
What we assess
Food quality, variety, distinctive local cooking and how readily visitors can find good places to eat, regardless of price.
Why we rate Mae Hong Son 3/10
Lakeside evenings and a small restaurant/bar scene suit relaxed nights, with limited late-night variety.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 6/10
Local pubs, clubs and riverside bars provide worthwhile evening choice beyond food markets.
What we assess
The choice, variety and liveliness of evening venues, their opening hours and how easily you can enjoy a typical night out.
Why we rate Mae Hong Son 8/10
A slower town atmosphere and quieter stays are easy to find away from market and road activity.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 5/10
Quieter hotel areas are available, but the normal stay is in a working regional city with busy roads and evening venues.
What we assess
How easily you can enjoy a peaceful stay, considering traffic, nightlife noise, crowds and practical quieter bases.
Why we rate Mae Hong Son 0/10
The town is inland and has no practical sea-island excursions.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 0/10
Ubon is inland and has no practical sea-island excursions.
What we assess
The variety of worthwhile sea-island trips, convenient departures, journey times and flexibility under normal operating conditions.
Why we rate Mae Hong Son 7/10
Walk around the lakeside centre and arrange rides or guided outings for hills and countryside.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 7/10
Airport, rail and local rides make a city stay workable without riding; dispersed sights and distant outings need transport.
What we assess
Freedom to explore without renting a scooter, using walking, public transport, taxis, tuk-tuks, ride-hailing or boats; transport price is assessed separately.
Why we rate Mae Hong Son 8/10
Simple guesthouses and local meals support modest budgets; drivers and private guiding raise excursion costs.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 8/10
Simple rooms and local meals suit modest budgets, with private transport for provincial sightseeing the main extra expense.
What we assess
How easily you can enjoy a typical stay on a modest budget, including simple accommodation, food, realistic transport and characteristic activities.
Scores out of 10 · Higher means more of that characteristic About these scores
How to read the scale
Scores run from 0 to 10 and describe how strongly a destination offers each characteristic.
Higher does not always mean better
A higher nightlife score means a livelier scene. A higher quietness score means a calmer atmosphere. The right balance depends on your trip.
Close scores mean similar experiences
Small differences should not decide your trip on their own.
Mae Hong Son
Choose Mae Hong Son if...
- Wat Chong Kham and Wat Chong Klang beside the lake
- Hilltop temple views at Doi Kong Mu
- Mountain-valley setting and nearby guided outings
The trade-off
Travel in and out takes planning, and countryside visits need transport. Dry-season visibility cannot be inferred from low rainfall alone.
Ubon Ratchathani
Choose Ubon Ratchathani if...
- Wat Phrathat Nong Bua
- Thung Si Mueang and city cultural life
- Isaan food and seasonal Candle Festival traditions
The trade-off
City sights are dispersed, and the best-known provincial nature attractions are not close to every city hotel.
Plan your trip
When to go
See how temperature, rainfall and travel conditions change through the year. Select a month to focus your comparison.
| Factor | Mae Hong Son | Ubon Ratchathani |
|---|---|---|
| Average daytime high | 30°C | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 11 mm | 3 mm |
| Rainy days | 1.4 | 0.6 |
| Crowds | Moderate | Unknown |
| Stay prices | High | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 33°C | 34°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 6 mm | 11 mm |
| Rainy days | 0.8 | 1.4 |
| Crowds | Moderate | Unknown |
| Stay prices | High | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 37°C | 36°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 19 mm | 29 mm |
| Rainy days | 1.9 | 3.7 |
| Crowds | Low | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Low | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 39°C | 37°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 60 mm | 83 mm |
| Rainy days | 5.6 | 6.5 |
| Crowds | Low | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Typical | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 36°C | 35°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 169 mm | 223 mm |
| Rainy days | 16.6 | 14.8 |
| Crowds | Low | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Low | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 34°C | 34°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 180 mm | 237 mm |
| Rainy days | 21.5 | 16.7 |
| Crowds | Moderate | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Typical | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 32°C | 33°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 226 mm | 294 mm |
| Rainy days | 24.2 | 19 |
| Crowds | Moderate | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Typical | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 32°C | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 259 mm | 291 mm |
| Rainy days | 25.5 | 20.6 |
| Crowds | Moderate | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Typical | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 33°C | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 201 mm | 314 mm |
| Rainy days | 19.9 | 19.1 |
| Crowds | Moderate | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Low | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 33°C | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 117 mm | 112 mm |
| Rainy days | 12.9 | 9.9 |
| Crowds | High | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Typical | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 31°C | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 40 mm | 22 mm |
| Rainy days | 4.7 | 2.9 |
| Crowds | High | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Typical | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 29°C | 31°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 11 mm | 5 mm |
| Rainy days | 1.6 | 0.8 |
| Crowds | High | Unknown |
| Stay prices | High | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Destination | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average daytime high | ||||||||||||
| Mae Hong Son |
30°C
|
33°C
|
37°C
|
39°C
|
36°C
|
34°C
|
32°C
|
32°C
|
33°C
|
33°C
|
31°C
|
29°C
|
| Ubon Ratchathani |
32°C
|
34°C
|
36°C
|
37°C
|
35°C
|
34°C
|
33°C
|
32°C
|
32°C
|
32°C
|
32°C
|
31°C
|
| Monthly Rainfall | ||||||||||||
| Mae Hong Son |
11 mm
|
6 mm
|
19 mm
|
60 mm
|
169 mm
|
180 mm
|
226 mm
|
259 mm
|
201 mm
|
117 mm
|
40 mm
|
11 mm
|
| Ubon Ratchathani |
3 mm
|
11 mm
|
29 mm
|
83 mm
|
223 mm
|
237 mm
|
294 mm
|
291 mm
|
314 mm
|
112 mm
|
22 mm
|
5 mm
|
| Rainy days | ||||||||||||
| Mae Hong Son | 1.4 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 5.6 | 16.6 | 21.5 | 24.2 | 25.5 | 19.9 | 12.9 | 4.7 | 1.6 |
| Ubon Ratchathani | 0.6 | 1.4 | 3.7 | 6.5 | 14.8 | 16.7 | 19 | 20.6 | 19.1 | 9.9 | 2.9 | 0.8 |
| Crowds | ||||||||||||
| Mae Hong Son | Moderate | Moderate | Low | Low | Low | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | High | High | High |
| Ubon Ratchathani | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Stay prices | ||||||||||||
| Mae Hong Son | High | High | Low | Typical | Low | Typical | Typical | Typical | Low | Typical | Typical | High |
| Ubon Ratchathani | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | ||||||||||||
| Mae Hong Son | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Ubon Ratchathani | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
Temperatures are historical average daytime highs, not the highest temperatures you might experience. Rainfall and rainy days are monthly averages, not a forecast. A rainy day need not mean rain all day.
Stay prices are relative to each destination’s usual rates. Holidays can bring extra crowds and higher prices. Sea conditions vary by beach and day; check local conditions before boat trips.
Mae Hong Son: Thai Meteorological Department - MAE HONG SON (48300), 1991-2020.
Ubon Ratchathani: Thai Meteorological Department - UBON RATCHATHANI (48407), 1991-2020.
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Copyright of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
Copyright of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)