What to do in Chiang Rai: guide to activities and visits in and around the city

What to do in Chiang Rai, guide to activities in the province and the city, markets, museums, temples, come and discover what not to miss!

It's a quiet town, not too touristy, but there's plenty to see and do in and around the town.

Chiang Rai Markets

The main market

Talat = market in Thai

It is a large covered market, open every day, where city dwellers and residents of neighboring villages come to do their shopping.

You will find everything there: food, food stalls, clothing, tools...

The night market or night bazaar (or night market)

Street food at Chiang Rai night market

Talat nat = night market in Thai

A good place to buy souvenirs with many craft stalls: clothes, wooden objects, incense...

People from the surrounding hill tribes come here to sell their products.

There is also music from food stalls and places to eat.

The night bazaar is located near the bus station, see map

Monuments and other curiosities

The city's foundation stone

On the right of Wat Phra Tat Doi Chom Thong , you will see a strange monument, it is the founding marker of the city, it was designed according to Thai cosmology.

The statue of King Mengrai

In homage to the founder of the city, the great king of the Lanna kingdom (see: History of Chiang Rai ).

The monument is located in a pleasant little park east of the day market ( see map ).

The Golden Clock Tower

Located between Phaholyothin Thanon and Banpaprakan, south of the day market, the Golden Clock Tower was created in 2008 as a tribute to King Bhumibol Adulyadej by Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat .

Chiang Rai Beach on the Kok River

Chiang Rai Beach

The Kok River runs through the city and locals enjoy gathering on its banks to relax and picnic, especially in summer.

The most popular stretch of shore is called “ Chiang Rai Beach ”.

The Temples

Wat Phra Kaeo and its Emerald Buddha

Wat Phra Kaew

This temple housed a magnificent jade Buddha that was hidden in a stucco stupa.

In 1434 the stupa was struck by lightning and the precious statue was discovered.

After a few adventures, passing through Lampang , Chiang Mai , Luang Prabang and then Vientiane , she finally landed in Bangkok where she is now in the temple of the same name: Wat Phra Kaeo (in Bangkok ).

But Chiang Rai still has a jade Buddha , as a replica of the original, just slightly smaller, was created as a replacement.

Emerald Buddha at Wat Phra Kaew

Wat Rong Khun or white temple

Wat Rong Khun or White Temple

Wat Rong Khun is a beautiful white temple located 13 km south of Chiang Rai .

See our article:
Wat Rong Khun, the white temple of Chiang Rai (The White Temple)

Wat Klong Wiang

Guardian of Wat Klong Wiang

Wat Klong Wiang is a beautiful little temple, very rarely visited, decorated in the Lanna style.

Wat Ming Meuang

Wat Ming Meuang ordination hall

Located at the intersection of Banphaprakan and Trairat thanons, Wat Ming Meuang is a small temple housing the city spirit (ming Meuang) superbly carved and decorated in Lanna style .

Wat Phra Sing

Entrance to Wat Phra Sing

Wat Pra Sing, like Wat Phra Kaew , housed a highly venerated image of Buddha , which was moved to another temple in Chiang Mai .

As with Wat Phra Kaew , the original statue was replaced with a copy.

Museums

The Baan Dam Museum

Baan = house; Dam = black

The Baan Dam Museum is a rather special place where a Thai artist named Thawan Duchanee built around 40 small black houses decorated with unusual objects and furniture and numerous representations of death.

The museum is located far away, north of the city, but you can easily reach it from the bus station by taking a local bus that will take you there in 30 minutes.

Video presentation of the Baan Dam museum

Address: 414 Moo 13 Nanglae
​​Open from: 9:00 to 17:00 but closed between 12:00 and 13:00
Free admission

The Oub Kham Museum

Located 1km from the city center, it is a museum that only offers guided tours, quite expensive, 300 baht but it is really worth it!

This museum has a superb collection of objects accumulated by a descendant of an ancient royal family of the Lanna kingdom , Mr. Suriyachai .

You will see precious objects, coins, crowns, often made of silver, which were used in the royal courts, representations of Buddha and other precious relics of craftsmanship from all the different populations of the region.

The name of the museum " Oub Kham " comes from the main piece, a magnificent, finely gilded throne.

Video presentation of the Oub Kham museum

Address:
81/1 Na Khai Road Open from: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Hilltribe Museum

Located in the city center, above (3rd floor) the Cabbages and Condoms restaurant , this museum was created to allow tourists to discover the way of life and culture of the different hill tribes of the region.

If you like tribal crafts you will enjoy the museum shop.

They also organize tours to mountain villages.

Address:
620/1 Tanalai Rd, Tel. +66 53 740 088 Open from:
08:30 to 18:00

The Hill Tribes

The region is culturally very rich with a significant number of mountain peoples, Akha , Karen , Padaung , Hmong , Lisu and Meo ...

People from the region or refugees from Burma (or Myanmar) and Laos.

To discover through an agency or alone by going there with your own means of transport after a visit to the museum above for example.

Young Padaung saleswoman in front of her stand

Padaung children

Young Padaung saleswoman

Lisu Village

Nature and health walks

Khun Korn Waterfall, Nam tok Khun Korn (in Thai)

A beautiful 70-meter-high waterfall located 30 km south of the city, in Khun Korn Forest Park . It is the highest waterfall in the province.

Hot springs

There are three hot springs Chiang Rai province :

• The first is located 8 km from the village of Mae Chan . There you will find a thermal spa which also offers accommodation.
• Mae Lao village , it is the hot spring of Ban Huay Zai Kao , but there are no facilities for bathing.
• The third is Wieng Pa Pao spring , located between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai , on road 1019, there is a project to build a Spa, but I don't know where it is.

Singha Park: (Rai Boon Rawd)

If you go to Wat Rong Khun , also take the opportunity to visit this park which is just 6 km from the White Temple.

It is a huge park, specializing in agrotourism, which belongs to the Singha company (tiger beer).

Aimed at nature lovers, you will see tea plantations, fruit trees, beautiful landscapes, giraffes, zebras, cattle and can practice various activities such as hot air ballooning.

For more information see: singhapark.com

See also:
Chiang Rai: the complete guide
All maps, plans, of the city and the provinces
Chiang Saen to the north of Chiang Rai, discover the golden triangle

You can find the best hotel deals in Chiang Rai with Booking.com .

Photos : White Temple: Justin Vidamo ; Khun Korn Waterfall: Nicolai Bangsgaard and Deror Avi; Golden Clock Tower: Roundtheworld, Statue of King Mangrai: Oatz; Emerald Buddha Statue: JFL; Wat Rong Khun: AN: D; Golden Clock Tower: Aranas; Wat Rong Khun White Temple: NorthThailander; black house of the Bandaam Museum: Guswandhi; Guardian of the Klong Wiang temple: Jpatokal; Wat Ming Muang: Jpatokal; Jade Buddha: Elgaard; Entrance to Wat Sing: Elgaard; Chiang Rai River: Jtaubrey; Night Bazaar: Jpatokal.