Things to do in Chiang Saen
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Jinda's Kitchen
This cosy roadside restaurant has been serving up local dishes for more than 50 years. Try the famous northern noodle dishes kôw soy or kà·nŏm jeen nám ngèe·o, or choose a curry or homemade sausage from the English-language menu. Jinda's Kitchen is roughly halfway between Chiang Saen and Sop Ruak.
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Song Fang Khong
In Sop Ruak, Song Fang Khong and Rim Khong are two sŏo·an ah·hăhn (food garden-style) riverside restaurants, off the river road from Chiang Saen. Both offer extensive menus of Thai, Chinese and Isan food. Bring your Thai-language skills.
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Angpao Chiangsean Tour
A good way to see the Chiang Saen–Mae Sai area is on two wheels. Mountain bikes (per day 50B) and motorcycles (per day 200B) can be rented at Angpao Chiangsean Tour which also provides a vehicle with driver, and conducts a variety of local tours.
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Kiaw Siang Hai
Serving the workers of Chinese boats that dock at Chiang Saen, this authentic Chinese restaurant prepares a huge menu of dishes in addition to the namesake noodle and wonton dishes. Try the spicy Szechuan-style fried tofu, or one of the Chinese herbal soups. The restaurant can be located by the giant ceramic jars out front.
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Ah Ying
This tiny family-run restaurant specialises in delicious hand-pulled noodles. Topped with a spicy minced pork mixture, they’re a great breakfast. There’s no English sign; simply look for the Chinese cooks busy stretching and flinging lengths of dough.
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Chiang Saen National Museum
Near the town entrance, this museum is a great source of local information considering its relatively small size.
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Wat Phra That Pha Ngao
Located 3km south of town in the village of Sop Kham, this Buddhist temple complex contains a large prayer hall built to cover a partially excavated Chiang Saen-era Buddha statue. The walls of the brick building are partially covered by stucco relief murals that have been painted, giving the surface the impression of polished wood or copper. There is a beautiful golden teak hŏr đrai, and a steep road leads to a hilltop pagoda and temple with views over the area and the Mae Nam Khong.
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Wat Phra That Chom Kitti & Wat Chom Chang
The remains of Wat Phra That Chom Kitti and Wat Chom Chang can be found about 2.5km north of Wat Pa Sak on a hilltop. The round chedi of Wat Phra That Chom Kitti is thought to have been constructed before the founding of the kingdom. The smaller chedi below it belonged to Wat Chom Chang. There is nothing much to see at these chedi, but there is a good view of Chiang Saen and the river.
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Wat Pha Khao Pan
Inside the grounds of Wat Pha Khao Pan, a living wát near the river, stands a magnificent Lanna-period chedi. The large, square base contains Lanna-style walking Buddhas in niches on all four sides. The Buddha facing east is sculpted in the mudra ('calling for rain') pose, with both hands held pointing down at the image's sides – a pose common in Laos but not so common in Thailand.
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Wat Pa Sak
About 200m from the Pratu Chiang Saen (the historic main gateway to the town's western flank) are the remains of Wat Pa Sak, where the ruins of seven monuments are visible in a historical park . The main mid-14th-century chedi combines elements of the Hariphunchai and Sukhothai styles with a possible Bagan influence, and still holds a great deal of attractive stucco relief work.
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Wat Chedi Luang
Behind the museum to the east are the ruins of the Buddhist Wat Chedi Luang, which features an 18m octagonal chedi in the classic Chiang Saen or Lanna style. Archaeologists argue about its exact construction date but agree it dates to some time between the 12th and 14th centuries.
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Mekong River Trips
Five-passenger speedboats leave from the waterfront jet to Sop Ruak , or all the way to Chiang Khong (per boat one way/return 2000/2500B, 1½ hours).
It's also possible to take a passenger boat to Jinghong, in China's Yunnan Province.
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Evening Food Vendors
During the dry months these vendors sell sticky rice, green papaya salad, grilled chicken, dried squid and other fun foods for people to eat while sitting on mats along the riverbank in front of Chiang Saen Guest House – a very pleasant way to spend an evening. Local specialities include fish or chicken barbecued inside thick joints of bamboo, eaten with sticky rice and sôm·đam (green papaya salad).
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2 be 1 Bar
By the river, this funky bar with inside and outside seating has colourful lamps and plays house music.
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