Chiang Khan
เชียงคาน
Loei Province, Thailand · 17°53′51″N 101°39′33″E
A single street of teak shophouses along the Mekong opposite Laos, where morning alms rounds and river mist are the events of the day.
Chiang Khan is a Thai domestic holiday town, not an international one, which is why it kept its wooden riverfront. Chai Khong Road runs for 2 km parallel to the Mekong, lined with two-storey teak houses converted into guesthouses and cafés. At dawn residents kneel outside with sticky rice for the monks; by 8 am the mist on the river burns off and the Lao hills appear.
Kaeng Khut Khu, a set of rapids 5 km downstream, is the standard afternoon trip. Phu Thok, a hill west of town, is the sunrise viewpoint.
Why it stays quiet
Popular with Bangkok families on cool-season weekends, when the walking street fills. On weekdays and outside November to January the town is nearly empty of visitors.
Where it is
Before you go
Bring a jacket in December; it gets cold. The walking street runs Friday to Sunday evenings. Bicycle hire is the way to get around.
Updated 2026-09-06 · Suggest a correction
