Get in

Looking to travel from Bangkok to Chiang Khong? You have several options to choose from! First, you can fly with Nok Air from Bangkok to Chiang Rai and then transfer to a minivan for the remaining journey to Chiang Khong. The total travel time for this option is approximately 3 hours. You can book this flight+minivan service directly from Nok Air's website. If you prefer a night journey, Sombat Tour Company offers overnight buses from Mor Chit in Bangkok. These buses depart at 7pm and arrive in Chiang Khong at 7am. The price for this option is 592 baht. If you don't speak Thai, it might be easier to arrange this through a tourist agency. If you are coming from Huay Xai in Laos, please note that the ferry boat crossing is no longer open to foreigners. The only crossing available is at the new border/bridge located 10 KM south of town. From Huay Xai town or the bus station, you can take a songtheaw/minibus to the border for 10,000/15,000 kip. Once you pass Laos Immigration, you can take a shuttle bus for 2KM to Thai immigration for 25 Baht. If you are traveling by bicycle, please be aware that cycling over the friendship bridge is not allowed. You will need to take a bus, and the cost of transporting your bike on the bus is 100B per bike. From Thai immigration, you can take a tuk-tuk to Chiang Kong for 50 Baht per person with a minimum of 4 people. If you are traveling from the main highway heading for Laos, you can ask the driver to drop you at the crossroad to the Friendship Bridge 4, which is located 5km before Chiang Khong. From there, you can either walk, hitchhike, or take a tuk-tuk for the remaining 2km to the border. There are also 4 buses per day from the new bus station close by, which go to Huay Xai. Please note that tuk-tuk drivers might charge higher rates, so be prepared. According to Thai border officials, the border does not close until 22.00 PM, but remember that no buses run after 20:00, so plan your timing accordingly. After 16:00, there is an overtime charge of $1 to pass through Laos immigration. If you are starting your journey from Chiang Mai, you have several options. You can take a minibus for 250 baht, a Green Bus (departure at 8.30am, 1pm, and 5pm) for about 200 baht, or a public bus for 150-270 baht. More buses go to Chiang Rai, and from there, it is easy to take a bus to Chiang Khong. For those who want to detour to Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai and see the White temple and Black temple, it is recommended to travel early to Chiang Rai. Make sure to catch the red bus to Chiang Khong (65 baht, 2 hours) before 3PM. Spend a night in Chiang Khong before crossing into Laos, where the slow boats to Luang Prabang depart from Huay Xai around 11.00 every day. If you are already in Chiang Rai, you can take the red non AC local buses, which go regularly every half an hour from 6.00 AM to 16:30 PM. The trip from Chiang Khong to Chiang Rai takes approximately 2-3 hours and costs 65 baht. It's a great way to experience real Thai life and is still accurate in terms of price. Lastly, buses from other major cities in Northern Thailand and Isaan also run directly from Bangkok's Northern Bus Terminal (Moh Chit) to Chiang Khong every day. There are daytime and overnight buses available, so you have plenty of options to choose from. Overnight buses depart from Moh Chit at 19.00 pm and arrive in Chiang Khong the next morning at 8.00 am, while one daytime bus leaves at 7.00 am and arrives in Chiang Khong at 20.00 pm.

Map & Climate

Popular Foods

Pad Thai: Pad Thai is a signature Thai dish consisting of stir-fried rice noodles with a uniquely balanced blend of sweet, sour, salty, and tangy flavors. It typically includes shrimp or chicken (though can be prepared with tofu for a vegetarian version), scrambled eggs, bean sprouts, and is garnished with crushed peanuts, lime wedges, and fresh herbs like cilantro and green onions. The dish is served with a side of som tam (green papaya salad) and mango sticky rice for a complete meal.

Tom Yum Goong: This spicy and aromatic soup is a beloved Thai classic that features a fragrant broth made from stock, kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass, galangal, lime juice, fish sauce, and chili paste. It's packed with succulent prawns, mushrooms, tomatoes, and other vegetables, with optional additions like snakehead fish or even chicken. The dish is often garnished with fresh cilantro and a sprinkling of pepper.

Mango Sticky Rice: This iconic Thai dessert is a delightful combination of sweet, creamy mango and glutinous rice. The sticky rice is cooked in coconut milk and sugar until it achieves a chewy texture, then served alongside ripe, juicy mango slices. The dish is sometimes garnished with toasted coconut flakes or sesame seeds for added crunch and flavor. It's typically enjoyed during the mango season (May to September) as a sumptuous, refreshing treat.

Historical Appearance

Traditional Male Clothing

Traditional Female Clothing