Chiang Saen and the Mekong River 

Day Trip from Chiang Rai to Chiang Saen and the Mekong River 

A day trip 60km Northeast of Chiang Rai saw us in Chiang Saen on the mighty Mekong River.
A unique place in Thailand where the borders of 3 separate countries come together – Thailand, Burma and Laos all share this stretch of the river.   

Chiang Saen itself was quiet and almost tourist free, we had lunch in a restaurant, where I had the best beef and peppercorn salad I have ever had.  Badru tried out a full body Thai massage to try to cure his aching back and we walked along the banks of the Mekong enjoying the sun.

We avoided the tourist trap of the Golden Triangle at Sop Ruak and just stuck with the views you get just from being beside the water. There are lots of crumbling ruined temple remains strewn around Chiang Saen town and a National Museum which are also worth a look. Long tail boat trips on the river are also available opposite the T-Junction.  

I enjoyed the day we spent there and would go back to Chiang Saen for a leisurely lunch and peaceful walk along the extensive Mekong River. 

View Day trip from Chiang Rai. Chiang Saen Mekong River in a larger map