Lab Lae is a small district in Uttaradit Province. Originally, it was likely a place with difficult and winding roads, making it easy for those unfamiliar with the area to get lost, hence its name, Muang Lab Lae, meaning invisible. Legend says only those with great merit can reach Muang Lab Lae. Its boundaries are: North, Den Chai District, Phrae Province; South, Tron District, Uttaradit Province and Si Satchanalai District, Sukhothai Province; East, Mueang Uttaradit District, Uttaradit Province; West, Si Satchanalai District, Sukhothai Province.

History of Muang Lab Lae: Historical evidence suggests that the area of ​​Muang Thung Yang was once a large city inhabited by the Lawa and Khmer people, flourishing for a long time, as evidenced by the discovery of bronze drums and artifacts in the area. Later, after the collapse of the Khmer Empire, the Thai people took over and established a city called "Muang Kambhoj." Historical evidence indicates that the first people to settle in what is now Muang Lab Lae migrated from the ancient Chiang Saen Kingdom. (Yonok Nakaphan) (Image: Traditional attire of the people of Lablae during the reign of King Rama V) To the north of the city of Kambhoj, the landscape is characterized by complex forests and mountains. The atmosphere is cool at dusk; even before sunset, it is already dark because Doi Mon Rueasi acts as a screen blocking the sunlight.

This forest was therefore called "Pa Lablaeng" (Laeng means evening). Later, the name was corrupted to "Lablae," which became the name of the present-day Lablae District. During the same period as the unification of the city of Kambhoj, people from the Yonok Chiang Saen Kingdom migrated to escape war and settled in a mountainous plain, naming their village "Ban Chiang Saen." Later, this group of people dispersed, clearing the forest and building settlements scattered across the plains and mountain slopes. After settling there for a while, they invited Prince Fah Ham Kumara from the Yonok Chiang Saen Kingdom to establish a city in the Lablae forest, naming it Lablae, and building a palace at Ban Thong Lablae, or the area of ​​Wat Chedi Khiri Viharn. When the Yonok Chiang Saen Kingdom collapsed. The Lanna Kingdom flourished, and Muang Lablae submitted to the Lanna Kingdom. In 1690, the Sukhothai Kingdom rose to prominence, and Muang Lablae became a vassal state of the Sukhothai Kingdom. In 1981, Muang Thung Yang prospered as a frontier town of the Ayutthaya Kingdom.

Muang Lablae was therefore incorporated into Muang Thung Yang. Later, during the Rattanakosin era, around 1901, King Chulalongkorn visited Uttaradit and arrived in Muang Lablae on October 24, 1901. He ordered the relocation of the provincial hall from Phichai to Bang Pho and merged Muang Thung Yang with Lablae, establishing Lablae as an district. The provincial office building remained in Muang Thung Yang, near Wiang Chao Ngo.

Later, Phra Phisal Khiri moved the office building to Mon Cham Sil in the same year (a distance from the office). The current district office is located approximately 1 kilometer to the north. In 1914, during the time of Phra Sri Phanommat (then known as Luang Sri Phanommat), it was deemed too far from the city for the people to access. Furthermore, King Chulalongkorn wished to preserve Mon Cham Sil as a place to enshrine Phra Luea (a Buddha image made from the leftover gold from casting the Phra Phuttha Chinnarat in Phitsanulok), as he found the scenery of Mon Cham Sil similar to Java. Therefore, the office building was moved from Mon Cham Sil to Mon Siamin (locally called Mon Samin), which had previously been the location of a royal pavilion for King Chulalongkorn's visits and is the current location of the district office. The Legend of Muang Lab Lae: This legend tells of a man (likely from Muang Thung Yang) who went into the forest and saw several beautiful women walking out. Upon reaching the edge of the forest, they hid the leaves they were carrying in various places before entering the city. Curious, the young man secretly took one of the leaves. In the afternoon, the women returned, each searching for the leaves they had hidden.

Having obtained the leaf, the young man walked away and disappeared. A young woman couldn't find the leaf because he had taken it. She was very distressed. The young man then reappeared and returned the leaf, on the condition that he be allowed to accompany her, as he wished to see the hidden city. The young woman agreed. She took him to the city, where he noticed that it was inhabited only by women. She explained that the villagers were all virtuous and kept their word; anyone who broke the vows had to leave the village. Most of the men broke their word and had to leave. Then she took him to meet her mother. The young man fell in love with her and asked to stay with them. Her mother agreed, but on the condition that he promise to live virtuously and never lie. The young man married the woman from the hidden city and they had a son.

One day, while his wife was away, the young man was taking care of their son. The child cried incessantly, looking for his mother. The father tried to comfort him by saying, "Mother is coming", Mother is coming!" His mother-in-law overheard this and was furious that her son-in-law had lied. When her daughter returned, she told her what had happened. The young man's wife was heartbroken that her husband had broken his word and told him to leave the village. Then she prepared a bag for her husband, filling it with food and necessities, and also adding a large quantity of turmeric roots. She then led him to the edge of the forest, showed him the way, and returned to the mythical city of Lablae. The young man, not knowing what to do, had no choice but to travel back home as his wife had instructed. Along the way, he felt the bag growing heavier and heavier, and the journey seemed endless. So he threw away almost all of the turmeric his wife had given him. Upon returning to his village, his relatives and friends questioned him about his long absence. The young man recounted the entire story, including the incident with the turmeric his wife had given him but which he had almost completely discarded With just one rhizome, and picking out the rest, the remaining turmeric had transformed into a solid gold bar. The young man was surprised and regretful, so he tried to go back to find the turmeric he had discarded. He found that those rhizomes had all sprouted, and when he dug them up, he found only ordinary turmeric rhizomes with a golden yellow color, but not the gold one he had obtained. He tried to find his way back to the mythical city but got lost and couldn't find his way. Finally, he gave up and returned to his village.

• From Uttaradit downtown, take Highway 102 (Uttaradit-Si Satchanalai route) heading northwest. Drive for approximately 6–8 kilometers, and you will see the prominent Laplae City Gate.

• Visit early morning to enjoy misty weather and cool atmosphere

• Durian season (May–August) is the best time to taste fresh Laplae durians

• Renting a bicycle is the best way to explore the local community

• Don’t miss the morning market for authentic local food like Khao Phan Phak

Admission Fees:

• Free admission

Opening Hours:

• Open for tourism 24 hours a day (most shops, restaurants, and community attractions are open daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM).