A quiet Mekong border town facing Houayxai in Laos — the embarkation point for the famous Slow Boat to Luang Prabang, with a beautiful riverside walking street and genuine local character.
Local tip: Don't make the 240 km round trip just to 'see another town.' But if you're heading to Laos, it's a lovely send-off. The two-day slow boat to Luang Prabang from here is a bucket-list journey in its own right.
ⓘ Researched online, not re-verified on the ground since 2026-08-09 — please double-check locally.
Most places on this list sit outside the city and have no return Grab, so plan the ride before you go — see how to get around Chiang Rai for what each option costs. If you would rather not work out the logistics, a local operator runs a shared day tour that links the main sights with hotel pickup: how a full day in Chiang Rai usually runs.