Chiang Mai

Royal Lanna Khantoke Dinner

We were told a traditional Lanna Khantoke dinner is a must. Many believe this north Thailand dinner with music and dance was invented for tourists, but the Khantoke dinner dates back many centuries. Locals celebrate festivals and holidays in their homes with the Khantoke dinner

We sat down to a well-presented meal of good and delicious food is something most of us enjoy. Eating with one's fingers? Considered as neither polite nor hygienic in some circles, eating with our fingers is as old as the human race. We sat with Westerners around us There is absolutely nothing wrong with it, as we all do it perhaps without thinking.

Khantoke is a Lanna Thai tradition, not just something invented for tourists' amusement. Thai Lanna was a civilized Kingdom that existed in the area of present-day northern Thailand. King Mengrai was the king who founded the capital and the dynasty. He accomplished and contributed to the prosperity of the kingdom in several aspects, e.g. political science, Buddhist religion, art, and culture.

A Thai hostess who followed a set etiquette when offering a meal that will be eaten with the fingers, and those eating will be polite and delicate as they partake of the meal

The total time takes about two hours to eat and enjoy the music and entertainment. This is a dinner you must do at least once while visiting Chiangmai.

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 We arrived before dark and don't know whether that was good timing or not

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Signage and had time to make pictures too

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Front garden of the Show place

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An ornamental bike for tourist picture

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Oh my favorite - very healthy looking

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The entrance - see nobody and no crowd

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Got inside

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Seated and see empty seats then, we were so near - good for making pictures

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Plenty of time to serve in o hurry and for us in taking our time to enjoy our dinner

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Simple but delicious food laid out

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 Surprised! Empty seats. Were there arrangement, where patrons only come for the show?

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Getting the sets ready

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Other feel more comfortable - seating on the regular height table and chairs for their meals

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Dinner finished and Dessert time

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Good that we needed to eat and watch! We were almost ready for the show

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Getting to know the Performers

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The opening was music - cultural music

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More from different ethnic groups

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Dances

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Then the show!

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After finishing the show on Football matches Getting ready to show their painting skills. Out with paint brushes

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Some personal touches as well

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Fruits after desserts

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A speciality

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Thank You and Farewell

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Main actress

We were very excited for this show, First off, the food was good. They provided a variety of food and 2 types of tea (lemongrass and butterfly pea). Everything was delicious and they came around asking if we wanted anything refilled

One thing that we were alone and not attached to any tour groups, finding seats for us was a much easirer task and we got the front seating. That night the crowd we had were well behaved and we enjoyed the whole show without a single compliant. For a first timer, of course the show and the dances were nice as we had no personal expectation. The finale was very well excecuted. We had a great evening