The small Thai town where you cross into Laos for the slow boat. One main street, guesthouses by the river and, opposite, the houses of Huay Xai.
Photo by Gerd Eichmann on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo by Gerd Eichmann on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo by mohigan on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo by Kanonnapop Methawanitch on Unsplash
Photo by mohigan on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo by mohigan on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo by Jakub Hałun on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo by mohigan on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Chiang Khong is a small one-street town on the Thai bank of the Mekong, facing Huay Xai. The district has about 64,000 people. Few travellers stop: since the Fourth Friendship Bridge opened in December 2013, about ten kilometres south, and the ferry closed to foreigners, most head straight for Laos. This was the home of the pla buek, the giant Mekong catfish, whose fishing ended in 2006.
Photo by Gerd Eichmann on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Guesthouses and restaurants on the main street overlook the river; opposite are the stilt houses of Huay Xai, less than 2 km away. The market is held on Fridays.
Photo by mohigan on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
In Ban Hat Khrai, fishermen gave up catching the pla buek in 2006, when it had already vanished from this stretch, and replaced it with a festival at Songkran. The species is critically endangered; a Chiang Khong fishery station breeds it and releases fry.
Photo by mohigan on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
The Fourth Friendship Bridge is about ten kilometres south, 150 to 200 baht by tuk-tuk; a compulsory shuttle crosses it. For Laos, the e-visa is accepted at this checkpoint, or get a visa on arrival for about $40.
Thailand's arrival card: since May 1, 2025, every foreigner entering Thailand by air, land or sea fills in the TDAC online within the 3 days before arrival. Since September 15, 2026, the visa exemption has been 30 days, for tourism only.
A hotel with pools facing the river, rooms in a large garden, and homestay bungalows.
Photo: Chiangkhong Teak Garden Riverfront Hotel
A four-star hotel facing the river, with two pools, two restaurants and rooms with balconies; bikes for rent.
≈ $92 a night
Photo: Baan Sakuna Hotel
Air-conditioned rooms in a rolling garden, with a restaurant, bar and tour desk; American, Asian or vegetarian breakfast.
≈ $44 a night
Photo: Panna Kalong
Colorful homestay bungalows with mountain views, a garden and bikes to borrow.
≈ $17 a night
Booking affiliate links · average nightly price checked in October 2026
Bus · about 2 hours
Local buses hourly until 3 pm: 90 baht to town, 140 baht to the border. Chiang Rai airport is about 110 km away.
Greenbus · 5.75 to 7 hours
Two morning departures, 311 to 476 baht depending on class in 2026; the bus drops you by the road, then a 5-minute tuk-tuk to the border.
Night bus · over 13 hours
Night buses leave Mo Chit station around 7 pm and arrive around 8 am.
Times and prices from the Gibbon Experience (September 2026) and Wikivoyage: check again before you travel.
November to February are the most pleasant months: 26 to 29 °C in the afternoon, 15 to 18 °C at night and little rain. April tops 33 °C. The monsoon peaks in July and August at over 370 mm a month.
| Month | J (current month) | F (current month) | M (current month) | A (current month) | M (current month) | J (current month) | J (current month) | A (current month) | S (current month) | O (current month) | N (current month) | D (current month) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airhigh / low | ||||||||||||
| Rainmm | ||||||||||||
| Daysof rain | 3 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 20 | 25 | 28 | 29 | 25 | 16 | 6 | 3 |
| Mekonglevel | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Rising | High | High | High | High | Falling | Low |
| Our take | Ideal | Ideal | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Difficult | Difficult | Fair | Good | Ideal | Ideal |
| Month | Low – high | mm | River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan (current month) | 24 | Low | |
| Feb (current month) | 14 | Low | |
| Mar (current month) | 38 | Low | |
| Apr (current month) | 97 | Low | |
| May (current month) | 221 | Low | |
| Jun (current month) | 261 | Rising | |
| Jul (current month) | 371 | High | |
| Aug (current month) | 383 | High | |
| Sep (current month) | 263 | High | |
| Oct (current month) | 113 | High | |
| Nov (current month) | 44 | Falling | |
| Dec (current month) | 27 | Low |
Tour · Chiang Rai – Huay Xai – Luang PrabangGetYourGuide
The transfer from Chiang Rai to the pier, the border crossing with a local guide, then two days on the slow boat to Luang Prabang.
Sources: climate, Open-Meteo (ERA5 archive, 1991-2020 averages); town and temples, Wikivoyage; population, Department of Provincial Administration (2015); giant catfish, IUCN and National Geographic (2025); bridge, Wikipedia; transport, Gibbon Experience (September 2026), Wikivoyage (2024) and Hobomaps; visa and TDAC, Royal Thai Government Gazette (August 2026) and France Diplomatie; activities, GetYourGuide (checked October 11, 2026). Updated on October 12, 2026 by Pierre-Marie Coupry.
Photo by Tango7174 on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo by Tambe on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo by Jim Holmes / AusAID on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0