Top 7 Reasons You Should Visit Chiang Mai (2019 Guide) (2023)

FAQs

Why should you visit Chiang Mai? ›

It's a cool mountain town known for its hill tribes, lush rainforests, elephant sanctuaries, and interesting cuisine. If you enjoy going to Buddhist temples, then there are over 300 for you to visit in Chiang Mai. Night markets are aplenty as are digital nomads who've chosen to make this northern Thai city their home.

Chiang Mai (meaning "New City" in Thai) was founded in 1296 as the new capital of Lan Na, succeeding the former capital, Chiang Rai. The city's location on the Ping River (a major tributary of the Chao Phraya River) and its proximity to major trading routes contributed to its historic importance.

There are also numerous other local festivals celebrated with great enthusiasm in Chiang Mai which has gained the nickname, 'Rose of the North'.

November to February: This is the ideal time to visit Chiang Mai because the weather is perfect for all kinds of outdoor activities. While it does not get too cold, you should carry a jacket and some light woolens. January is usually considered the best month and sees a high influx of tourists.

The blissfully calm and laid-back capital of the North, Chiang Mai never fails to charm visitors with its mountainous landscape and lush farmlands. Formerly the capital of the glorious northern kingdom Lanna, the city still carries with it today a great number of cultural heritages.

Chiang (Thai: เชียง) is a Sino-Tai loanword, from Middle Chinese 城 d͡ʑiᴇŋ, meaning "fort, castle", by extension, “city”. Chiang is part of the names of certain ancient cities and other places located in an area stretching across Northern Thailand, Northern Laos, NE Burma and Southern China.

With beautiful nature blended with Lanna Culture and colours of contemporary perfectly Chiang Mai is, therefore, a province that has many tourists, both Thai and foreigners, come in many millions each year.

The vast majority of Thai people have two names: their full, official name, and a nickname. Unlike in many countries, however, the nickname is chosen by the parents and given at birth, often before the official name has been chosen and registered!

What's the full name? Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Yuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit.

Does Chiang Mai speak English? ›

Consequently, population centers that host many foreigners, such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and the islands have many people who can speak both Thai and English quite well. That said, visitors may experience difficulty picking up the Thai language as it is considerably different from many foreign languages.

Ideally four nights and five days will give you enough time to explore and get a true sense of Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai was founded in 1296 and is located in an area of majestic mountains. This city was the capital of the Lanna Kingdom and remains a religious and cultural centre.

Khob Khun (Thank You)

1. Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country that was never colonized by an European country. In fact, in the Thai language, the name of the country is Prathet Thai which means “land of the free.” Very fitting!

Howard (2009) , in his study on factors affecting Westerners to Thailand, found that most of these Westeners moved to other countries such as Thailand due to the country's lifestyle, low living cost, local culture, and job opportunities. ...

The hot season which runs from March to May is Chiang Mai's hottest time of the year with midday temperatures often climbing beyond 32°C. On average April is the hottest month with daytime temperatures can rise up to 40°C.

If you're looking to do nothing all day, read a book, sip a wine or cocktail and hang out on the beach then Phuket is your choice. However, if you're looking for more physical activity like hiking, Elephant Trekking and more cultural activities Chiangmai is the choice for you.

Chiang Mai can be as cheap or expensive as you want (like most of Thailand). But if you stick to the local markets, avoid the fancy organic restaurants that have popped up, and stay in the old city, you can save money easily!

In general, locals in Thailand dress very conservatively with knees and shoulders covered at all times. My husband's cousins in Thailand almost never wear shorts that I've seen, even when it's 90 degrees out. Though most locals turn a blind eye to what tourists wear except at temples.

Is Chiang Mai child friendly? ›

Chiang Mai is a fun-filled destination with something for the whole family, including impressive natural features, theme parks and zoos, among other options. This Thailand destination is particularly unique with virtually every notable spot having something special you won't want to miss out on.

นารี {noun} girl. เด็กผู้หญิง {noun}

In both a formal and informal situation, Thai people greet each other with the word 'sawadee' followed by 'kah' for females and 'kraap' (soft r) for males. It is normal to refer to someone of a perceived higher status by the title 'Khun' (Mr/Ms) followed by their first name.

Red represents the blood of life for the land and it's people, white represents purity and is the colour for Theravada Buddhism, the main religion in Thailand, and blue is the national colour of Thailand.

Unless treated by means of an in-home water purification system, the municipal water that supplies Chiang Mai is best considered not safe to consume direct from the tap (faucet) and should therefore be sourced from elsewhere.

Chiang Mai is far from beaches.

If you want to get from Chiang Mai to a beach, you'll have to fly to Phuket, Krabi, or Koh Samui. If you're going by bus or train, though, it will take you one 12-hour bus or train to Bangkok, followed by another 12-hour bus or train to the Andaman Coast or the Southern Gulf Coast.

You can expect a max temperature of around 28°C (82°F) during the days with little or no rain and the nights starting to get chilly with around 15°C (59°F) but from December on (and lasting until February) is the most popular time to visit Chiang Mai, weather-wise.

The respect for elders within Thai culture is something that is lacking within Western culture. The proper term of address for anyone who is older is Pee (placed before their name), which literally translates as older brother or sister, and anyone younger is Nong, which translates as younger brother or sister.

first name {noun} TH. ชื่อ ชื่อตัว

Many Thai nicknames are derived from English words. They may be English sounding names (such as 'Anna') or more obscure words that are chosen for their meaning, e.g. Book (symbolising intelligence), Bank (symbolising wealth). There is a traditional belief that nicknames protect children against jealous spirits.

Why do Thai people have 3 names? ›

The evolution of Thai nicknames dates back to the Sukhothai era, when names were used to mark the order of children. Nicknames such as Ai, Yee, and Sam designated children as 'one', 'two', and 'three'.

How Rhoshandiatellyneshiaunneveshenk Koyaanisquatsiuth Williams Got Her Name. Basically, her mother had two main reasons for naming her the longest name in the world: She wanted to set a Guinness record.

LLANFAIRPWLLGWYNGYLLGOGERYCHWYRNDROBWLLLLANTYSILIOGOGOGOCH, WALES. This village on the Ynys Môn island off the north-west coast of Wales has 58 letters. It is the place with the second-longest name in the world.

Chiang Mai is a safe place to visit—as long as travelers are aware of a few safety considerations. Locals helped us put together this guide to safety in Chiang Mai. It covers everything from COVID to tips for solo travelers. Work with a local to build your trip to Chiang Mai.

Although Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand, it's very walkable—especially the Old City, surrounded by the moat and remains of the defensive wall. Take advantage of the cooler morning temperatures to wander around the small streets and visit ancient Buddhist temples and small markets.

One fact that comes as a surprise to those that are not familiar with Thai culture is that Thai people generally use forks and spoons instead of chopsticks. This is contrary to what you would expect considering the ubiquity of chopsticks among East Asian countries.

If you're looking for a peaceful, quaint town where you can relax and always be close to the mountains, jungles, and greenery, you'll always choose Chiang Mai. On the other hand, if you want to explore a vibrant city where you'll never run out of things to do, you'll definitely choose Bangkok.

Chiang Rai has three biggest highlights that you cannot experience in other cities in Thailand: The Golden Triangle: You will see the border of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, which used to be the chaotic opium trade area, but now is a peaceful place with green mountains and rivers.

While Chiang Mai is still on the warm side, it's considerably cooler than Bangkok. It's situated in the mountains at a high altitude, so temperatures are much more bearable than other Thai cities on the southern end of the country.

Ideally four nights and five days will give you enough time to explore and get a true sense of Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai was founded in 1296 and is located in an area of majestic mountains. This city was the capital of the Lanna Kingdom and remains a religious and cultural centre.

Which part of Thailand is most beautiful? ›

Cost of living in Chiang Mai (Thailand) is 27% cheaper than in Bangkok (Thailand)

Chiang Mai is far from beaches.

If you want to get from Chiang Mai to a beach, you'll have to fly to Phuket, Krabi, or Koh Samui. If you're going by bus or train, though, it will take you one 12-hour bus or train to Bangkok, followed by another 12-hour bus or train to the Andaman Coast or the Southern Gulf Coast.

Set in the mountainous area of Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai's climate is very seasonal, with temperatures reaching up to 40°C in summer, and down below 10°C in winter. Compared to Bangkok and the other southern cities of Thailand, Chiang Mai is slightly cooler and enjoys a relatively lower humidity.

Both cities are worth visiting, but it depends on what you're looking for in your trip. If you're interested in culture, history, temples, and street food, Chiang Mai is the best choice, while if you're looking for natural beauty and a more relaxed atmosphere, Chiang Rai is the better option.