Wiengthong Hotel — Lampang's Largest Old-Town Landmark, Horse Carriages Just Down the Road
Ask anyone in Lampang to name a landmark hotel and a lot of them will point to Wiengthong Hotel (Lampang Wiengthong) — the tall block on Phaholyothin Road that has stood with the town for decades. Let's be straight from the start: this is not a new or fancy place. The rooms still have carpet, the furniture is older-generation, and a few rooms even keep a boxy tube TV. What still pulls people in is the downtown location, walkable to the Five-Way Clock Tower, the markets and the old temples, paired with a rate that starts in the low hundreds of baht. It's the kind of stay you book for value and convenience, not for the photos.
Wiengthong is a large hotel — 235 rooms, which makes it the biggest in downtown Lampang. The building sits on Phaholyothin Road in Suan Dok, only a few minutes' walk from the Five-Way Clock Tower at the centre of town. The lobby is wide in that older-hotel way, high ceilings and a 24-hour reception desk. Several guests say the staff are friendly and genuinely helpful, especially when there's an event or festival on in the city — though English can be patchy, so keep a translation app handy.
On the rooms, let's not sugarcoat it. Most still have carpet floors, carved wooden headboards from another era, and 1990s-vintage furniture and lamps. A few rooms keep a tube TV. Lower-rated reviews tend to flag stained carpet, fairly hard beds, and tired bathrooms. If you're particular about newness and polish, this is your heads-up that Wiengthong may not be it. But if you can accept an old hotel that still does the job, the rooms run wider than a lot of places at the same price.
One guest recalls: "The room is genuinely dated like the reviews say, but it's spacious, the AC is cold, they slept fine — and they could just walk out for dinner in town. For this price in this location, that's fair."
Part of the charm of staying in this part of town is the Lampang horse carriages, the city's signature. The carriage station and stands are a short walk from the hotel, and in the evening you'll hear hooves and bells passing by. Walk out toward the Five-Way Clock Tower and you'll hit khao soi shops, old coffee houses, and an evening market. If you like the slow, small-town feel of Lampang, this location lets you explore on foot without calling a ride.
The hotel has an outdoor pool and an on-site restaurant. Honestly, the pool is an older one — some reviews say the water isn't always clear, so check it in person before you jump in. The restaurant, with its red tablecloths, has a proper old-hotel feel and is often used for local banquets and weddings — the Wiang Phana hall you'll see in the gallery is a real event held in this hotel. Breakfast is included on some packages, but a number of guests call it limited; heading out for khao soi in town is the more fun option.
For getting around, Wiengthong's edge is being right in the centre. Nakhon Lampang railway station is about 1.9 km away (under 10 minutes by car), so if you arrive on the northern train line you can grab a taxi or a horse carriage into town. Lampang Airport is roughly 5 km out. The hotel has its own parking, handy if you're driving. Wat Phra That Lampang Luang and the Thai Elephant Conservation Center are both an easy drive away, which makes the town a sensible base for exploring the area.
Overall scores sit around 6/10 on Trip.com and 2.6/5 from 75 reviews on Tripadvisor. The numbers aren't high, and most of them point at the same thing — age and upkeep, not location or price. Put plainly, people know what they're booking: an old downtown hotel at a low rate. Set expectations correctly going in and the odds of disappointment drop a lot.
Bottom line: Wiengthong Hotel suits travellers who want a central Lampang base on a budget, value a walkable location, and don't mind a dated room. It's a solid pick for a one-night stopover or as a base for exploring the old town. If you'd rather have newer rooms and a riverside setting on the Wang River, Lampang River Lodge is the alternative people tend to like.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Central location, walk to markets and temples
- ✓ Spacious rooms, cold AC, high old-hotel ceilings
- ✓ Friendly staff, helpful during city events
- ✓ Budget rate with on-site hotel parking
- ! Rooms and furniture are dated, still carpeted
- ! Beds fairly hard, bathrooms look old
- ! Breakfast selection is limited
- ✓ Right in central Lampang, easy to get out and explore
- ✓ Close to the horse-carriage station and clock tower
- ✓ Large hotel with its own pool and restaurant
- ✓ Good value for a stopover or old-town sightseeing
- ! Building and rooms are old, not renovated
- ! Pool is an older one, water not always clear
- ! Staff English can be patchy
- 💡If you care about newness — this is an old hotel, still carpeted, with older-generation furniture → for newer, sharper rooms try Lampang River Lodge or a riverside boutique on the Wang River instead
- 💡If you plan to use the pool — it's an older pool and some reviews say the water isn't clear → check it in person before swimming and don't expect resort standards
- 💡If old-town walking is your priority — the location is the genuine strength here, on foot to the Five-Way Clock Tower, markets and temples → request a higher floor for a city view and less street noise