MAE HONG SON — The annual Bua Tong Blooming Festival officially opened on November 11, 2025, at the Thung Bua Tong Forest Park in Khun Yuam district, marking the start of the cool season in northern Thailand and drawing large numbers of domestic and foreign tourists.
The ceremony, held at the park’s octagonal pavilion on Doi Mae U-Kor, was presided over by Mae Hong Son Governor Chutiporn Sechang. The event celebrates the seasonal bloom of Bua Tong, or Mexican sunflowers, which cover the mountain slopes with vibrant yellow hues each year from November to December.
Doi Mae U-Kor, located at an altitude of 1,600 meters above sea level, spans roughly 515 rai (about 82 hectares). The area is managed by the Mae U-Kor Subdistrict Administrative Organization and has become one of Mae Hong Son’s most iconic natural attractions. Tourists are drawn by the mountain’s cool, crisp air, stunning floral landscapes, and panoramic views that showcase the province’s unspoiled beauty.
The Tourism and Sports Office of Mae Hong Son, in collaboration with the Khun Yuam Municipality and the Mae U-Kor Subdistrict Administrative Organization, launched this year’s festival as part of a broader initiative to promote sports, music, and cultural tourism. The project aims to strengthen the province’s tourism industry, enhance competitiveness, and improve infrastructure to accommodate the growing number of visitors.
Governor Chutiporn said the Bua Tong Festival not only highlights the province’s natural beauty but also plays an important role in boosting local income and supporting community-based tourism. “This event helps distribute revenue to local residents while fostering stronger connections between visitors and the community,” she noted. “It is an opportunity to make Mae Hong Son better known as a leading nature tourism destination in northern Thailand.”