The Hostelz.com Review - Genuine, independent review you can trust.
Located outside the central walled area of Chiang Mai, Bunchun is a really artsy place with a million paintings, sketches, and other art products covering all of its walls and surfaces. It definitely has more of a homestay vibe than a hostel; many of the guests are long-term residents and the central area is a fully equipped living room where you might feel too comfortable to travel on. While it is definitely cosy, do not expect high standards -- your bed might just be a mattress on the floor and most of the bathrooms are outside in the courtyard.
The Location
Bunchun is located in the western part of Chiang Mai, outside the city walls. It is an excellent location if you are looking for peace and quiet; if you are planning to participate in the one-day Monk Chat programme that is a unique opportunity to learn about Buddhism, you could not base yourself at a better place because it takes place right next door. It is also ideal for hikes up Doi-Suthep Pui National Park. However, if you arrive by train, you will have a fair distance to cover so if you only have a day or two to discover the city, you had better base yourself in a more central location.
Rooms and Bathrooms
Everything here is quite simple. The dorm is a big, empty room with a couple of mattresses scattered around the floor with an upper bunk structure above them. It is cooled by fans, but it does get quite warm inside. You also get a locker, even if it will only hold your smallest personal belongings. The bathrooms are colourful and trendy but quite basic, and you are likely to be stuck using the ones outside in the yard.
Common Spaces
The best thing about this hostel is the nice communitarian vibe. In fact, the place also functions as a co-working space and people continuously create and brainstorm together here. Inside the hostel, you'll find a living room area that is filled to the max with books, games, informational brochures, and other things you would find in a normal family home, while outside you have some rugged couches where you can sit as well as two bigger caged ares with cute cats and dogs. There is also a restaurant belonging to the hostel, which attracts a lot of local students, so if you want to socialise with Thai people, that's an ideal place for it.
Summary
Bunchun is a bit of a unique place among the backpackers of Chiang Mai that you should visit for its cosy and familiar atmosphere rather than for the comfort it offers. If you are an artist and you are ok with a bit of chaos, you will surely love this place hidden away from the touristy side of this Northern Thai gem of a city.
Photos taken by the Hostelz.com reviewer — Genuine photos you can trust.
+4
JudyM
Hostelz.com Staff Reviewer
Published on Oct 19, 2019
Location and Contact
Location
• Adress in English: • Go to behind wat saundok temple • 31/5 Stiwichai road soi 4 • T. Supthep A Muang Chiang Mai • Thailand 50100 • Adress in Thai: • อยู่หลังวัดสวนดอก • ให้โทรมาเบอร์นี้ถ้าไม่รู้ โทร • 31/5 ถนน ศรีวิชัย ซอย4 • 50100 • Tell your taxi to call the hostel ( The contact number is on your booking confirmation email)