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Just south of the Golden Triangle tourist hell hole is Chiang Saen, a quiet and very historic town that sits by the Mekong River and was once an independent kingdom. Archeological finds in the area have placed development here in prehistoric times. More recent communities have been placed in the region of the 13th to 14th Centuries when one of the sons of King Mangrai, Saen Pu, on his father's orders commenced construction of a walled city with the Maekhong River being one of those borders. In its heyday the walled-in city had an area of 2.5 sq km and contained 76 temples within its walls and another 63 outside creating what must have been a spectacular city.

Unfortunately, development and looting have taken a disastrous toll on many of these ruins and precious little remains. Following King Mangrai's unification of Northern Thailand, Chiang Saen became a frontier town of the Kingdom of Lan-na until the entire Kingdom was conquered by the Burmese. It was not until 1782 that Chiang Saen returned to the Thai fold and it became a district of Chiang Rai Province in 1957.

There are enough historic sites and wats around town to keep you busy for a couple of days (if you take it slowly) and it is also close enough to Sop Ruak (the point where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Burma meet) that you can pop up at dawn, take your photo and get out before anyone you know sees you there.

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Name

Rate

Online rate

Anantara Golden Triangle
Chiang Saen
6,800B -- Promotion Check room availability
BW Premier Golden Pine Resort + Spa
Muang
2,500B Check room availability
Chiang Saen River Hill Hotel
Chiang Saen
1,000B Check room availability
Du Doi Suay Resort
Measai
1,700B Check room availability
Dusit Island Resort
Kraisorasit Road
3,200B Check room availability
Golden Triangle Paradise Resort
Golden Triangle
2,000B Check room availability
Imperial Golden Triangle Resort
Golden Triangle
2,100B -- Promotion Check room availability
Laluna Hotel + Resort
Samambin Road
1,000B Check room availability
Little Duck Hotel
Paholyothin Road
1,050B Check room availability
Phowadol Resort + Spa, Chiangrai
Rim Kok Sub district
1,950B Check room availability
Phu Chaisai Mountain Resort + Spa
Mae Chan
2,800B -- Promotion Check room availability
Rimkok Resort Hotel
Chiangrai-Thatorn Road
1,100B Check room availability
River Hill Resort
Mae Fah Luang
1,600B Check room availability
S.B. Hotel
Muang
600B Check room availability
Starbright Hotel
Muang
1,300B Check room availability
Suanthip Vana Resort
Mae Suay
2,250B Check room availability
Teak Garden Spa Resort
International Airport Road
1,400B Check room availability
The Legend Boutique Resort + Spa
Kohloy Road
3,200B Check room availability
The Mantrini City Hotel + Art Gallery
Muang
1,750B Check room availability
The Palm Garden Hotel
Muang
850B Check room availability
The River House Resort + Spa
Chiang Rai-Rimkok
3,700B -- Promotion Check room availability
Wang Thong Hotel Maesai
Chiang Rai
450B Check room availability
Wangcome Hotel
Pemawibhata Road
1,550B Check room availability
Wiang Inn Hotel
Paholyothin Road
1,800B Check room availability

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