Rong Tiew Reservoir

Rong Tiew Reservoir is a working irrigation reservoir in Phu Kamyao district, just outside Phayao town — not a natural lake, and not set up as a tourist site with facilities. The Royal Irrigation Department built it in 1988 to store water for local farming and the village supply. It covers about 400 rai, and entry is free with no gate or opening hours to work around.

An asphalt road circles the water, used by locals for walking, jogging, and cycling rather than by tour groups — this is a low-key local spot, not a developed attraction. The hills of Phu Kamyao rise around the reservoir’s edge, and the water surface stays calm enough to mirror them on still days. Locals treat it as a sunset spot: the light over the surrounding hills late in the afternoon is the main reason people make the trip out.

Watch out: There’s no swimming area, boat hire, or on-site vendor — if you’re expecting a developed lakeside park with facilities, this isn’t it. It’s a functional reservoir with a walking road, best suited to a short stop rather than a half-day outing.

The atmosphere is quiet and rural. You’re more likely to share the road with a jogger from a nearby village than another visitor, and that’s the appeal — a genuinely undeveloped stop rather than a curated one. Phu Kamyao district borders Phayao’s Mueang district directly, so it’s a short drive out from Phayao town rather than a remote detour.

Insider Tip: Time your visit for late afternoon. Without lighting or facilities, there’s little reason to linger after dark, but the hour before sunset is when the reservoir earns its reputation as a photo stop.

Bring your own water and sun protection — there are no shops or restrooms on site. A car or motorbike is the practical way to reach it; there’s no public transport route built around the reservoir itself. Pair it with Kwan Phayao (Phayao Lake), the province’s much larger and more developed lake near town, or Nam Chun Reservoir further north, if you’re touring Phayao’s waterways in one trip.