Dik Diem Tree at Wat Prang

Wat Prang, a working temple in Nan province’s Pua district, is home to a single tree that visibly reacts to touch: scratch or gently tap its trunk and the leaves on the branches above tremble, as if shaken by wind that isn’t there. Locals call it “dik diem” — Tai Lue for ticklish — and the temple has grown up around it as a minor pilgrimage stop rather than the other way round.

The tree is reckoned to be over a hundred years old and stands with its back to the sun, facing the temple buildings rather than reaching toward the light the way most trees do — the second oddity that gets it pointed out to visitors alongside the tremor itself. Neither trait has a widely agreed botanical explanation locally; it’s simply presented as what makes the tree unusual enough to be listed as an Unseen Thailand site. The tremor itself is real and repeatable — you touch the bark, wait a few seconds, and watch the canopy move, which is the entire point of stopping here.

Wat Prang itself is a modest village temple, not a major architectural draw, so most visitors are here specifically for the tree rather than passing through on a wider temple tour. A small shrine sits near the trunk where locals leave offerings. Outside the temple gate, Pua’s municipal market and the wider district — known for terraced rice fields and a cooler mountain climate than Nan town — make it easy to combine with a stop at Doi Phu Kha National Park, roughly 30 km further north.

Insider Tip: Ask a monk or temple caretaker to show you exactly where to touch the trunk — the response is more obvious with a firm scratch on the lower bark than a light brush higher up, and locals know the spot that works best.

Watch out: This is a working temple, not a tourist site built for crowds — keep voices down and don’t climb on the tree or its shrine for photos.