Border town: Border rules, opening hours and visa conditions can change. Check current information and the travel advice before you cross a border. Read the current travel advice (NederlandWereldwijd, Dutch) ↗
About Chiang Khong
Chiang Khong is a small border town on the Mekong in Chiang Rai province, opposite Huay Xai in Laos. It is mainly visited by travellers crossing into Laos, either by ferry or via the Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge. From Huay Xai the slow boats leave down the Mekong for Luang Prabang. The town itself is small and quiet, with wooden houses, riverside restaurants and a fishery station that breeds and releases large freshwater fish, including the giant Mekong catfish. If you stay a night you can see the Mekong in the evening sun and stroll through the old part of town. Chiang Khong suits travellers seeking calm and everyday life on the Mekong. Include the current visa rules for Laos in your planning.
Best time to visit (indicative)
Best from November to February: cool and dry, with chilly mornings in the hills. From February to April smoke and haze from agricultural burning can limit visibility; June to October is the rainy season, green and quiet. Weather varies from year to year; this is a guideline based on the climate.
Getting there
From Chiang Rai by bus (about 2 to 2.5 hours); from Chiang Saen about 1 hour along the Mekong. Distances and travel times are rounded estimates.
Things to do in Chiang Khong
- Mekong riverside Restaurants and walkways along the river with views of Laos.
- Crossing to Huay Xai By ferry or bridge into Laos, the start of the slow boat.
- Fishery station A station that breeds large freshwater fish and releases them into rivers.
- Old wooden houses A walk through the old streets along the river.
Chiang Khong on the map
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