Chiang Rai


Chiang Rai is Thailand’s northernmost province. It is also known as the “Gateway to the Golden Triangle”.

Chiang Rai makes a great side trip from Chiang Mai. Chiang Rai is a very nice, laid back town. A lot of people come to Chiang Rai to trek, but there are also many wonderful places to visit.

Wat Rong Khun (The White Temple)

This modern temple is magnificent and unique. It is the lifetime project of artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, and is due to be completed this year (2008) after 10 years of work. The temple is entirely white and is decorated with small pieces of mirrored glass. It is designed to be viewed in the moonlight.

Golden Triangle

This is one of the most popular trips out of Chiang Mai. “Golden Triangle” refers to the vast areas extending across Thailand, Myanmar and Laos, and is also the meeting point of these three countries at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Ruak Rivers.

A small town called Sop Ruak is the official “centre” of the Golden Triangle. Here, it’s also worthwhile to visit the very fascinating Hall of Opium. The museum displays various exhibits about the story of opium, opium culture, and various implements used in planting, growing, harvesting and making opium. The Hall of Opium was actually one of the results of the Doi Tung Development Project introduced by the late Princess Mother (King’s mother) aimed at rehabilitating the forests and the lives of people dependant on growing and using opium. Here, you can also buy opium pipes.

Mae Salong

This town has the atmosphere of a small Chinese mountain village, and very different from other towns you’ll see in Thailand. Here you can find Akha, Lisu, Mien, and Hmong hill tribes, and Chinese-style houses.

Many of the people in Mae Salong are descendents of soldiers of the 93rd Regiment of the 5th Kuomintang (KMT) Army who settled in Mae Salong after being driven out of Burma following the victory of the Communists in China in 1949. Since then, ex-KMTs have been involved in the Golden Triangle opium trade in a three way partnership with the Shan United Army (SUA) and Khun Sa (an opium warlord).

In the past, frequent violent struggles between KMT, SUA and the Thai Government forces, isolating the area from the world. When KhunSa was finally driven out of the area in to Myanmar in 1996, and the SUA was ousted, the Thai Government made a deal with KMT, offering them refugee status in exchange for stopping the opium trade.

These days, the opium trade has changed to growing tea, coffee, corn and fruit thanks to the government’s crop substitution programs.

Attractions & Activities in Mae Salong

The weather can get quite cold here, especially at night in the cooler months, so you will need a jacket or sweater and socks!

Mae Sai

Mae Sai is Thailand’s northernmost border town. You can cross over to Myanmar by crossing the bridge to Tachileik (the town opposite Mae Sai on the Myanmar side).

There is an interesting large market in Mae Sai right at the bridge. Here, you can find Burmese goods eg. lacquerware, jade and gems, as well as cheap Chinese goods. Many Burmese people cross over to trade during the day and return before sunset.

Doi Tung

Doi Tung means “Flag Peak” and is situated between Mae Chan and Mae Sai, and is often referred to as the “Switzerland of Thailand”. It’s indeed very beautiful.

Attractions:

Doi Tung Royal Villa & Mae Fah Luang Gardens

The late HRH The Princess Mother initiated the Royal Doi Tung Development Project (conducted under the auspices of the Mae Fah Luang Foundation) to help alleviate the poverty the local people, to address social issues such as drug addiction and prostitution, and to help reforest the mountain and conserve the environment. More info here: Doi Tung.

In order to personally oversee the project, the Princess Mother built the Royal Villa here. Following the Princess Mother’s death in 1995, the house has been converted to a museum. The villa also looks over 4 hectares of botanical gardens, which have been described as the most beautiful landscaped garden in Thailand.

Wat Phratat Doi Tung

Built in 911AD, this is the oldest and most sacred of the Northern Thai temples. The collar-bone of the Buddha is said to be enshrined here. It is believed that the path leading up to the Wat is the same one taken by the Buddha during his travelled in order to preach to the local people.

Wildlife Conservation Centre & Open Zoo

The zoo covers a space of over 32 hectares. As a conservation centre, it helped to reintroduce many species to the reforested Doi Tung. Visitors can observe a variety of wildlife in their natural settings.

Hill Tribe Villages

There are 26 hill tribe villages in the Doi Tung conservation area.