 Few people have heard of Chiang Saen, a sleepy little town along the Mekong River in the north of Thailand, but it’s one of the oldest and most historically significant towns in the country. Although its heyday is long past, visitors can still wander among the crumbled remains of Buddhist temples and pagodas built during the 13th and 14th centuries. There are enough historic sites in and around Chiang Saen to keep you busy for a day or two.
Not much else goes on in Chiang Saen, but that’s half the point. This riverside town embodies the laid-back ambiance of life along the Mekong, which in itself is the other main attraction here. Boats of all shapes and sizes ply its waters coming from as far as China, delivering goods and passengers to destinations in several countries. Hanging out along the Mekong’s banks and watching life float by is one of the great pleasures of visiting Chiang Saen.
 Just to the north of town is the notorious Golden Triangle, whose opium-laden past has made it into an interesting attraction. Renting a motorbike and driving around the quiet back roads in the area is the best way to see more of this corner of northern Thailand. A boat cruise along the Mekong is another magical highlight which should not be overlooked.
 Chiang Saen has just enough restaurants, shops and guesthouses to maintain its mellow tourism scene. It’s not the easiest town to get to, but for culture buffs it’s worth the effort. The accommodation experience in this town is intimate, with homely and affordable guesthouses taking precedence. There are, however, some luxurious resorts within driving distance for those who want their creature comforts.
History
 The history of Chiang Saen is shrouded in the mists of Southeast Asian migrations and power struggles. The one thing that is known for sure is that this quiet town along the banks of the Mekong River was once the centre of the mighty and illustrious Lanna Kingdom. Before the establishment of Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai, the kings of Lanna made their capital at Chiang Saen.
It is estimated that around 1,500 years ago an early Tai chieftain, King Singhanuwat led his army south from Yunnan province and set up camp at the site of today’s Chiang Saen. He called this new capital city Nakhapun Singhanuwat Nakorn, which within a century had expanded into a self-contained kingdom of its own. The next six centuries of Chiang Saen’s history are mostly unknown. This part of Asia was engulfed in tribal warfare and suffered from numerous earthquakes. Many cities rose and fell during these turbulent times.
 When King Mengrai appeared on the scene about 700 years ago, Chiang Saen once again reappeared in the annals of history. Although he chose to establish the capital of his Lanna Kingdom at Chiang Mai, whenever periodic troubles from warring clans arose he and his heirs would retreat and regroup in Chiang Saen, as this was his birthplace. As a result, Chiang Saen was fortified and developed into one of the strongest cities of its time. Kings Kam Fu and Saen Pu were essential to this development.
 Buddhism was always a driving force in Chiang Saen, and most of its important surviving buildings reflect this, though they are largely in ruins now. Most of these ruins were once magnificent Buddhist temples and chedis, and today they form the historical highlights of the modern city of Chiang Saen. With the mighty Mekong River forming a natural defence at the back and a strong wall along the front, the town was hard to capture.
Its proximity to the Golden Triangle has helped to keep it on the map in modern times, as has its role as a major shipping port for trade along the Mekong River. However, Chiang Saen remains as sleepy a town as you’ll find in Thailand, one of its greatest appeals for many.
Weather
 Chiang Saen has two distinct seasons with short periods of transitional weather in between. From June through October the monsoon covers northern Thailand bringing frequent rains to the area. At the beginning of the rainy season conditions are quite pleasant, as the rains come in the form of brief but dramatic afternoon thunderstorms. These showers help to rinse away dust and encourage the land to burst back into green life. By August the rains become more prolonged and the skies are often overcast, making this an unpopular time to visit.
By the end of October the rains begin to dissipate. November through April marks the dry season, bringing very little precipitation and the coolest temperatures of the year. November through January is a nice time to visit Chiang Saen. The skies are crisp and blue every day and the daytime temperatures are mild. Nights and early mornings can be quite chilly along the river, but by the end of February things start to heat up again as temperatures push towards 30°C.
March through May are the hottest and driest months of the year. Since virtually no rain falls between November and March, the earth becomes dusty and hard. Temperatures often reach 40°C before the first welcome thunderstorms finally appear sometime in May.
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