Originally, Chiang Mai has had one post office, which was on Wichayanon Road, but later demolished. The location became Suka Sala, which is currently Chiang Mai Municipal Hospital. In those days, local people called Chiang Mai’s first post office “hong sai” as it was the central office of telegram and telephone for which a large number of cables was connected into the building.  

In 1910, there was a construction of reinforced concrete building nearby (currently the Chiang Mai Philatelic Museum) in which cables were relocated here. Before the construction of this building, the area was used as the Office of Monthon Payap Court whereby prisoners were detained. As time went by, the building was continually converted from time to time. Each wing across both floors was extended to add working spaces, but became inadequate as the town grew larger. Later, a new post office was built in San Pa Khoi area on the left bank of Ping River and was used as Mae Ping Post Office until 1990 that the then Communications Authority of Thailand transformed the building into Chiang Mai Philatelic Museum as the centre for philatelists in the region.       

This 2-storey reinforced concrete building has 4 exhibition rooms with total spaces of 260 square metres and a 42-sqm finance room. The first floor displays communications tools used in bygone days, including a 12-volt Morse encoder, miscellaneous tools, desk and bench, old service counter. The second floor has collections of postage stamps dating back to the era of King Rama VIII, library and a meeting room. There are 5 old postboxes that were retrieved back from public places. Occasionally, the museum has collaborated with Chiang Mai philatelist club to hold talks for members, stamp collection competition, as well as arrange postage stamp exhibitions at educational institutions in Chiang Mai and Lamphun. There is also the production of a monthly newsletter which is being posted to members and those who are interested.