Chiang Rai, or "City of Angles" as it is known among lovers of Thai cinema, is located in northern Thailand. The most visited part of Chiang Rai is its International Airport, which serves several flights to and from Bangkok. Here are some places to visit in Chiang Rai to indulge in some shopping or simply enjoy the laid-back atmosphere.
Chiang Rai National Museum is found in Chiang Rai. This museum is one of the best-preserved in all of Thailand. There are many antiques found here like weapons, coins, and paintings. The Navel City Pillar, Wat Phra Kaew, and Wat Mun Lavan are other important landmarks. Among the many things to do at Chiang Rai National Museum, the "Thai Tea Exhibition" is held once a month.
A must-visit for anyone visiting Chiang Rai would be the Chiang Rai Night Market. Chiang Rai Night Market is the largest in all of Thailand. Here you will find everything from electrical goods, garments, fruits and vegetables, and household appliances. It also houses some of the best shopping in town. Other things to do in Chiang Rai are the numerous bungee jumping spots found all around the city, and the elephant and horse tram rides at the Chiang Rai Park. Chiang Rai's night market is popular among both tourists and locals and there is never a shortage of great things to purchase.
The town of Chiang Rai has many temples to visit. Amongst the most famous temples in Chiang Rai are the temple of the Emerald God (Bophut), the Wat Khanath (Khanath), and the Golden temple of Trat. There is also the Wat Chalong, which is one of the most important Buddhist temples in all of Southeast Asia. The Wat Mahathat is another of the more popular temple located here. These and many more can be found throughout the city.
One of the places to go when in Chiang Rai would be the Samui International Airport. This airport was originally the former Bangkok International Airport. This airport is considered the Chiang Rai International Airport because it serves international flights coming into the city from all over the world. There are direct flights coming in every day to Bangkok. Another reason to fly into Chiang Rai is that this airport is one of the closest airports to all of the attractions in Chiang Rai. This includes the Chiang Rai National Park, Chiang Rai University, and the Chiang Rai Night Market.
The best time of the year to visit Chiang Rai would be the end of July and the beginning of August. This is known as the "rainy season" in Thailand. There is also a festival held during this time called "than Sao khaki". This is not too different than the actual festival. It is held to wish the rain on the land.
