Phu Chaisai, literally translated means “Mountain of Clear Heart”, is one of the first boutique resorts of Thailand and the first to incorporate lifestyle and wellness into the holiday experience. Phu Chaisai has its own unique, rustic style and exemplifies the best of Northern Thai hospitality.
M.L. Sudavdee Kriangkrai
Founder & Originator
Phu Chaisai is family-owned and originated from the inspiration of M.L. Sudavdee Kriangkrai, Thailand’s leading interior designer. Mom Da, as local villagers call her, fell in love with the picturesque Doi Mae Salong Mountains and their breathtaking valley views. Her inspiration was to develop the bamboo forested hills into a holiday destination for weary urban dwellers who longed to reunite with nature and themselves.
A devoted nature-lover, Mom Da incorporated bamboo as the main construction material to utilize the renewable resources of the land. Technical specialists in Asia and Europe were consulted and with Mom Da’s striking design, a lush countryside resort emerged under her careful supervision. Close by but a world away, Phu Chaisai is a dedication to M.L. Sudavdee’s beloved mother, Mrs. Chaisai Chakrabandhu.
Jason M. Friedman
Managing Director
A native New Yorker, Jason has spent the past 2 decades in the hospitality industry working across Asia with brands such as Four Seasons, Raffles and Amanresorts as well as independent properties such as The Siam and Qualia Australia. He and his hotels have received many accolades including Best General Manager Worldwide 2015 by Gallivanter’s Guide and Best Hotel Manager Worldwide 2013 by Andrew Harper – The Hideaway Report.
In 2016, with a wealth of experience and a creative mind, he formed the hospitality and tourism consulting firm J.M Friedman&Co. Jason is no stranger to working in Chiang Rai having built and opened The Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle. He joined Phu Chaisai as Managing Director in 2015 because of his passion for Chiang Rai and in particular the Phu Chaisai Natural Estate. As a trained forest ecologist he saw the value and potential in the organic and chemical free estate that Mom Da has created over the last 2 decades.