Chiang Rai City, today is mostly popular for its pleasant, relaxed atmosphere, and its rich cultural diversity. It is the best starting point for trekking tours to the tribal villages in the hills around the Golden Triangle and also for sightseeing tours to the region. Nevertheless, there are some nice spots in Chiang Rai that are worth a visit. They are all in the old part of the town and you can easily walk from one to the other, with the exception of the museums.

The town of Chiang Rai was founded in the 13th century (at least that is when it was first mentioned in the annals). It was founded by King Mengrai who also founded Chiang Mai further south), a very successful politician and ruler. He made Chiang Rai the first capital of his new kingdom and has  a fortress built to hold the Mongols at bay who kept invading the country from the north).