PHAYAO — A Buddhist monk in northern Thailand has launched a low-cost noodle initiative aimed at easing the burden of rising living costs, while also boosting local tourism and community income.
At Ban Pua Laeng village in Chiang Kham district, Phayao province, a newly opened attraction featuring “hanging-leg noodles” priced at just 5 baht per bowl has drawn growing interest from both residents and visitors.
Set against a backdrop of lush green rice fields, the site offers a relaxed dining experience where customers sit with their legs dangling over a wooden platform while eating. Despite the unusually low price, the noodles have gained praise for their taste, attracting a steady stream of visitors.
The project was initiated by Phra Chat Techavaro, acting abbot of Ban Pua Temple, in collaboration with local villagers. The initiative aims to create a distinctive identity for the community by combining affordable food, scenic surroundings and traditional rural lifestyles.
In addition to the noodle stalls, the area features photo spots overlooking rice fields, leisure areas and a small community market where residents sell pesticide-free vegetables and local products, helping generate sustainable income.
Phra Chat said the idea was developed to create a unique selling point for the village, highlighting both the temple’s distinctive blue tones and the low-cost noodles as attractions for tourists.
“We want to attract visitors while giving local people a chance to earn a living,” he said.
Local officials and residents believe that, with further development, the site could become a key landmark in Chiang Kham district.
