Nong Han Kumphawapi Lake, or Red Lotus Lake (Talay Bua Daeng), is a beautiful destination located in the northeastern province of Udon Thani, home to thousands of lotus flowers. This lake is a unique tourist attraction that springs to life once a year during Thailand’s cool season.
“Feel All The Feelings” at Red Lotus Lake
The Tourism Authority of Thailand released a promotional image of Lisa, full name Lalisa Manobal, as part of its collaboration with the Thai popstar, under the Amazing Thailand Ambassador campaign, “Feel All The Feelings.”
The surreal image of endless pink water lilies stretching to the horizon sparked online debate of whether it had been generated via artificial intelligence. TAT officials explained that the image is the result of an actual photoshoot with traditional post-production color grading and “standard graphic design techniques.”
The renewed spotlight has brought a powerful wave of interest in the lake, with 50,000 visitors arriving since the season opened in December 2025, over half of whom traveled from overseas, especially Japan, China, and South Korea.
The “wooden boat experience” is currently in high demand, with boat operators reporting that nearly every visitor requests the same small, traditional wooden boats seen in the campaign for a more intimate and photogenic journey.
A sea of red lotuses
At approximately seven kilometers long and three kilometers wide, the freshwater lake at Nong Han Kumphawapi is an important water source and this destination is a combination of a tropical flower garden and the scenery of the lake.
If you plan to visit the Red Lotus Lake during the cool season, try hiring a boat to travel out into the far reaches of the lake for a better view, since it’s difficult to see the clusters of flowers from the shore. The cost of the boat hire varies depending on the type of boat and the length of the tour, which ranges from 60 to 90 minutes.
The best time of year to visit Talay Bua Daeng is usually from late November or early December to February. Generally, the best time of day is before midday (around 6 a.m. to 11 a.m.), which is usually the time that the flowers start to close up again.
Lotuses or water lilies?
At the lake, the lotuses that you’ll see are called bua daeng, which means “red lotus.” Although they’re called red lotuses, they’re technically pink tropical water lilies. Approximately during November and February of every year, these water lilies will grow above the water surface, produce new leaves, and bloom.
Both lotuses and water lilies bloom similarly, so the only difference between the two is that water lilies rise up to 15 centimeters (six inches) above the water and lotuses can only float on the surface.
How to get to Red Lotus Lake
Visitors can reach Udon Thani by train, bus, or plane from Bangkok. From there, you can hop on public transportation or rent a car to the Red Lotus Lake, which is approximately 40 kilometers southeast of the city. If you’re staying overnight in Udon Thani, your hotel can also make travel arrangements for you.