Bang Pakong River is the main river of the eastern region covering Chachoengsao and Prachinburi province, known as The Dragon River.  The 230 km long river is one of Thailand’s sacred rivers used for royal ceremonies and most abundant which has nourished people's lives along the banks for a long time for consumption, agriculture and fish farming. The river was used as a main transportation route for trading before the construction of roads and other public utilities during the years 1961-1971.  Explore the attractions and local life along the river of Chachoengsao province including the old Chinese community at Ban Mai, the most revered Buddha image of the eastern region, Luang Pho Phutthasothorn and popular places of worship with a mixture of Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism and animism. Visit to amazing spiritual sites and the old Thai and Chinese communities of the Dragon River.

Highlights

• Klong Suan 100 years old market

• Wat Sothon Wararam Worawiharn

• Wat Leng Hok Yi

• Ban Mai market

• Wat Paknam Jolo

• Ganesha Garden

• Wat Saman Rattanaram

The quieter neighbor of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai is a land of outstanding natural beauty, where visitors looking to avoid the hordes can visit remote hill tribes, spot exotic wildlife, and check out the golden triangle, the former center of the world’s opium trade.

Chiang Rai has been inhabited since the 7th century, but it was not until 1262 that King Meng Rai established it as the first capital of the Lanna Kingdom. The capital was later relocated to Chiang Mai and since that time Chiang Rai has lived in the shadow of its neighboring province, though for tourists this is a good thing.Today, Chiang Rai is a traveler’s paradise, endowed with abundant natural attractions and antiquities. Attractions range from ruins of ancient settlements and Buddhist shrines to magnificent mountain scenery and hill tribe villages. For those interested in the natural side of Chiang Rai, jungle trekking is a magical experience; explore the mountains of the north along various hiking trails, many of which access the villages of diverse hill tribes groups, many of whom maintain their traditional lifestyles. Chiang Rai town, which tends to be a little more ‘laid back’ than its more popular neighbor, now competes with Chiang Mai as a tourist attraction and is fast becoming a popular escape for tourists wanting to leave their troubles behind.

Chiang Rai, the former capital of the great Lanna Kingdom, is a fascinating province filled with cultural and natural wonders, including the Golden Triangle where Thailand, Laos, and Burma come together; an area that was once the hub of opium production, a trade that had much influence on cultural practices and lifestyles. Chiang Rai had stayed off the tourist radar for many years, its people enjoying very leisurely development and mostly traditional, rural lifestyles. Until this day, entire clans live together in bamboo houses and each village has its own individual character. Recently tourism has boomed in Chiang Rai, where visitors have come to explore the pristine natural beauty of the countryside and immerse themselves in the indigenous culture, including those of a variety of different hill tribe communities. Fortunately for tourists, Chiang Rai is also a center for community development projects, helping rural villagers develop their attractions without adversely affecting their natural and cultural assets.