The road to Chiang Saen was much more colorful and richer scenery than the road from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. From the bus window we watched the mountainous terrain, a bit like the Caucasian places in the region of Gelendzhik, impassable jungle, with trees tangled vines, flooded fields and strips of bright orange clay along the road.
Chiang Saen is located in the very north of Thailand, near the borders Laos and Burma, on the banks of the sacred Mekong River. There is a place here called the Golden Triangle, where at one point The borders of all three countries converge, and from where one can see them. There There are excursions, but we went on bicycles.
The content of the article
- 1 Walking along Chiang Saen
- 1.1 Our impressions
- 1.2 Video
- 2 Where to stay in Chiang Saen
- 3 How to get to Chiang Saen and back
- 4 What to see in Chiang Saen
Contents
Walks around Chiang Saen
Our impressions
We arrived in Chiang Saen rather not for the Golden Triangle, but in order to just wander around the city. Although it is his city hardly called a town. Quiet, pleasant, calm, with light traffic where life is slow and unhurried.
Locals Chiang Saen
The seller of fruits and vegetables and you still play and sing
Minimum traffic on the roads
Chiang Saen city streets
Some sidewalks in Chiang Saen are already overgrown.
Moreover, not only moving elements are few on the road, but there are also sidewalks! That’s why the town, where 1.5 pedestrians, sidewalks? But how nice to walk the streets. The first thought was that it would be nice live here, especially after the noisy and dirty Chiang Mai. We are here even found a house by accident for 1500 baht per month, there really is nothing inside, except for the bed, but the prices are encouraging. Perhaps feasible next winter, since the second part of wintering this year, we on the sea we want to spend.
House for 1500 baht in Chiang Saen
Locals Chiang Saen
Locals Chiang Saen
How do locals live in Chiang Saen
Locals Chiang Saen
How do locals live in Chiang Saen
Bananas grow not only in trees
Sculptures in Chiang Saen
AirAsia Chiang Saen Office
Elephants here are always unhappy with something
Rose bushes capture the city
In the black pockets put seedlings
Moat surrounding Chiang Saen
Hay Machine or Machine Hay
Mekong River in Chiang Saen
Cafe on the banks of the Mekong River
Mekong River in Chiang Saen
Metallic paper new year in Chiang Saen
Chiang Saen is an ancient city, it is about 1.5 thousand years old. it felt by a lot of old dilapidated wool (Wat – the temple), meeting at every step. Some more with figures of the Buddha, and from some remained only brick sites chosen by our smaller brethren. Energy too corresponding – pacifying-relaxation. Probably it too left its mark on our impressions – have a weakness for antiquities and places of power.
Ancient wat in Chiang Saen Wat Pa Sak
Ancient wat in Chiang Saen
Ancient wat in Chiang Saen
Trees conquer territory from ancient Vats
Mekong River in Chiang Saen early in the morning
Video
Video about Chiang Saen and the Golden Triangle from the previous post, to This article is also relevant. For those who have not seen))
Where to stay in Chiang Saen
With housing here is not a lot. Therefore, it is better to look for hotels in advance. Chiang Saene, for example, on RoomGuru and book. By the way this the best service where you can compare prices at once in all existing reservation systems. Plus the most complete database of hotels what is relevant for this place.
I’ll tell you where we stayed. If you are unassuming traveler, and from the hotel you only need a bed, as it was in in our case, Tankun Hostel, located just 5 minutes from the bus station on the waterfront. Location can be seen on the map below. UPDATE. It seems like this there is no guesthouse anymore ((
In Tankun Hostel there are only a few rooms, with 4 beds in each, shower and toilet on the floor. Cost – 100 baht per person. Free coffee, water, bananas. There is a computer with internet and free Wifi. At 100 meters from the hostel rent a bike, ask the owner, he knows where. The hostel guests are given for rent without collateral. The telephone is 084-150-2624. The man at the reception from 9 am to 10 evenings
The owner is a friendly person, ready to tell you where to go and how, and not bad speaking in English.
Pointer to Tankun Hostel
Next to this pointer is another guesthouse, and guess that it is not much more expensive. The fact that he is there gives freedom of choice on place
How to get to Chiang Saen and back
From Chiang Mai, buses run directly to Chiang Saen a couple times day, one of them in the morning. Better to know on the spot, we left at 9.30 in the morning. We know that the last bus from Chiang Saen to Chiang Mai leaves at 5 pm. Travel time is 5 hours.
You can drive first to Chiang Rai, as it is a major city, and buses go there very often. Buses between Chiang Saen and Chiang Paradise go from 5.30 to 17.00 every half hour. Travel time around one and a half hours.
Buses from Chiang Saen to Chiang Khong run only until 12 o’clock of the day
Bus Chiang Saen – Chiang Rai
Bus station in Chiang Saen
What to see in Chiang Saen
Map of Chiang Saen, issued to us in the hostel. Picture clickable
Chiang Saen Sketch Map
And another very good map of the city.
Detailed map of Chiang Saen
- You should not expect anything extraordinary from this town. Here it’s good to just walk around the streets, sit by the ancient Vats, admire the views of the Mekong River from the seaside cafe. Maybe, for many there will be no incentive to go here on purpose, therefore for them would be the best options to see Chiang Saen passing through.
- The main attraction of Chiang Saen is the Golden triangle (Golden Triangle) where intersect in one place borders of three countries – Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar (Burma). Besides viewing platform right beside the river, there is another species point on near the hill, where several Buddhist temples are located. Here next to the Opium Museum. All this is located 7 km from the city.
- Another attraction is the Mekong River, where you can float on the same Golden Triangle or even to China. Not far away from the bus station there is the Boat Trip Service where you can find out everything on this occasion.
- Lake Chiang Saen – just a beautiful place
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Choosing insurance is now unrealistically difficult, therefore, to help everyone travelers, I make a rating. To do this, constantly monitor forums, I study insurance contracts and use insurance by myself.
Insurance Rating
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First, choose a hotel on Booking. They have a good base offers, but the prices are NOT the best! The same hotel is often possible find 20% cheaper in other systems through the RoomGuru service.
Discount hotels
