• Get in
• Get around
• See
• Buy
• Eat
• Drink
• Sleep
• Get out

Chiang Khong (เชียงของ) is in Chiang Rai Province, Northern Thailand.

Chiang Khong is the Thai counterpart to the Lao border town of Huay Xai, just across the Mekong. Chiang Khong is a small, sleepy town with one main road and no night life. It has a Friday market, a lot of temples, a craft village with a busy market and a temple. The best time to visit is from October to January, or on the April 18 Giant Catfish Festival when baby giant catfish are taken to the Mekong river.

[edit] Get in

Buses arrive from Chiang Rai every 30 minutes from 5.00 AM to 16.00 PM and other major cities in Northern Thailand and Isaan. Daytime and overnight buses run directly from Bangkok's Northern Bus Terminal (Moh Chit) to Chiang Khong every day. There are also 5 overnight buses from Moh Chit which leave at 19.00 pm and arrive at Chiang Khong the next morning at 8.00 am, and one daytime bus which leaves Moh Chit at 7.00 am and arrives in Chiang Khong at 20.00 pm.

[edit] Get around

The riverfront area can be seen on foot but it's worth getting a tuk-tuk or taxi for the trip out to the bus station. Small ferries cross the river every few minutes for about 20 baht (50,000 kip). The border crossing closes at 20:00.

If you want to look around Chiang Khong the best way is rent a bike or motorbike to visit local villages and the banks of the Mekong.

[edit] See

• H'mong Village (10 km.)
• Nam Chang Dam for fishing and swimming (7 Km.)
• Thai Lue village with cloth weaving(15 Km.)
• Waterfall (near to H'mong village)
• Thai sauna at Baanrimtaling

• Learn Thai cooking at Baanrimtaling
• Visit the golden triangle by motorbike - 1 day trip(60 Km.)
• Visit a rustic village near the Mekong Village.

Temples in Chiang Khong:

• Wat Sri don Chai
• Wat Sob som
• Wat Prakeaw
• Wat Luang
• Wat Hat Krai
• Wat Hou weing
• Wat Tung Duk

[edit] Buy

There are several ATMs in the town - Kasikorn Bank, GSB, Siam Commercial Bank, Krung Thai Bank and a new machine in front of the 7/11 at the bus station. All banks are closed on Saturday and Sunday but you should be able to use the ATMs. If you are heading to Laos get your money first because there are no ATMs in Huey Xai, though there is a bank near the riverfront. Outside of banking hours it may be possible to cash a traveller's cheque with a local shop or hotel.

[edit] Eat

• Rimnam Guesthouse and Restaurant 166/1 moo 12 [1]. River view.

• Baanrimtaling Home stay & Restaurant have a Vegetarian food and good Thai curry, call 053-791613, 084-6155490 Learning Thai cooking How to make Curry, Pad Thai, Tomyam. After cooking you have your own dinner.

• Visit a small market at Baan Hat Krai village to see catfish for sale and some produce from the jungle, for example mushrooms and river weeds from the Mekong.

• Bamboo Riverside Guesthouse, a Mexican restaurant (and accommodation) run by a Thai hippie family is excellent! Love the quesadillas. When Thailand meets Mexico it takes a bit more time be patient- they don't use microwaves! And an amazing view of the Mekong and Laos!

[edit] Drink

There are no bars as such in Chiang Khong. Your best bet for evening entertainment is a Big Chang beer/Singha Beer at your guesthouse.

• • new teepee bar near Madam pub **

Untrue- The Tee Pee bar is kick ass! Best described as a "rat hole" By Jip at the Bamboo Riverside Guesthouse. (Where you should go for quesadillas before going out to drink.) At Tee Pee you can enjoy a range of live acoustic music from Eric Clapton to Bob Marley and Oasis. Just keep buying drinks- that is how they stay in business. On your walk back to where you are staying be careful as that is when the wild dogs come out.

[edit] Sleep

• Baan Rim Ta Ling Homestay and Restaurant ***Mekong River view Just walking from Bus stop or 7/11 shop on the way to Wat Sob som only 400 Metre tel. +66-53791613 mobile phone 084-6155490 Room with hot shower, Bungalow, price resonable start 80 baht/person to 450 baht email : maleewan_th@yahoo.com[2]

• Chom Khong Guesthouse tel. +66-53655661

• Chiang Khong River View Hotel 141 Moo 12; tel. +66-53791375 [3] Hot showers, river views, some rooms with air-con. 350-600 baht.

• Nam Khong Gueshouse 408 Moo 1; tel. +66-53655102

• Rimnam Guesthouse and Restaurant 166/1 moo 12 [4] 350-500 baht.

• SP Guesthouse 409 Moo 1; tel. +66-53791767 [5] Dorms, single and double rooms, and one two-person guest hut. 80-200 baht.

• Boom Guesthouse

Double rooms from 150 baht.

[edit] Get out

• Laos - most guesthouses can arrange a package deal with food and overnight accommodation in Pakbeng for the trip to Luang Prabang, but it is fairly simple to do as an independent traveller as well. It's worth crossing the border a day early and spending the night in Huay Xai to be up and ready to catch a boat down the river first thing in the morning.

• far from Chiang Saen 55 Km. by road not much Taxi or Song-teaw better to rent motorbike to visit on the way you can visit waterfall , Village along mountain or alone Mekong riverThe Golden Triangle