News Forum - Your perfect vacation guide to Chiang Mai

[Thaiger]

The travel season is here! As tourists flood in, you might wonder where to travel during this prime travel season in Thailand, either to escape the crowds in Bangkok or spend your remaining work vacation with family and friends. You’re reading the right piece if you’re looking for a relaxing vacation. Many (tourists and locals … …

The story Your perfect vacation guide to Chiang Mai as seen on Thaiger News.

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[Khunmark]

I wouldn’t recommend any of those places. Must sees are; wat Chedi Luang in the heart of the old city, (I know you’ve seen one temple you’ve seen them all) but this place is other-worldly. Jing jai market weekends only. The Whitehouse pub on the ping river for some rollicking nighttime entertainment. Lake Huai Tueng Thao for a pleasant lunch and afternoon relaxation. And a trip up to Doi Suthep and Wat Palat. 
 

Avoid the walking street market (penguin parade) and high profile restaurants and cafes such as Muen Jai, which are overcrowded and overrated. There’s plenty of good cafes and restaurants conveniently located without having to consult you guide.

[Polkadot]

24 minutes ago, Khunmark said:

I wouldn’t recommend any of those places. Must sees are; wat Chedi Luang in the heart of the old city, (I know you’ve seen one temple you’ve seen them all) but this place is other-worldly. Jing jai market weekends only. The Whitehouse pub on the ping river for some rollicking nighttime entertainment. Lake Huai Tueng Thao for a pleasant lunch and afternoon relaxation. And a trip up to Doi Suthep and Wat Palat. 
 

Avoid the walking street market (penguin parade) and high profile restaurants and cafes such as Muen Jai, which are overcrowded and overrated. There’s plenty of good cafes and restaurants conveniently located without having to consult you guide.

The whole old city is great. Walk every soi is my recommendation.

[ChrisS]

4 hours ago, Khunmark said:

Avoid the walking street market (penguin parade) and high profile restaurants and cafes such as Muen Jai, which are overcrowded and overrated. There’s plenty of good cafes and restaurants conveniently located without having to consult you guide.

Couldn't agree more Khunmark!

[Marc26]

5 hours ago, Khunmark said:

I wouldn’t recommend any of those places. Must sees are; wat Chedi Luang in the heart of the old city, (I know you’ve seen one temple you’ve seen them all) but this place is other-worldly. Jing jai market weekends only. The Whitehouse pub on the ping river for some rollicking nighttime entertainment. Lake Huai Tueng Thao for a pleasant lunch and afternoon relaxation. And a trip up to Doi Suthep and Wat Palat. 
 

Avoid the walking street market (penguin parade) and high profile restaurants and cafes such as Muen Jai, which are overcrowded and overrated. There’s plenty of good cafes and restaurants conveniently located without having to consult you guide.

White House is good but for that type of atmosphere I prefer Goodview

 

For me the best Thai pub/restaurant on the river is 

 

River Chic Bar

 

Very chill and some of the best live Thai music I have heard anywhere

 

Much different atmosphere than the lively Whitehouse or Goodview

 

Really laid back

 

 

 

River chic bar
+66 84 172 9998

https://g.co/kgs/dVft7nB

 

 

 

[Polkadot]

6 hours ago, Marc26 said:

White House is good but for that type of atmosphere I prefer Goodview

For me the best Thai pub/restaurant on the river is 

River Chic Bar

Very chill and some of the best live Thai music I have heard anywhere

Much different atmosphere than the lively Whitehouse or Goodview

Really laid back

River chic bar
+66 84 172 9998

https://g.co/kgs/dVft7nB

Whats the best bar to pick up 21yo women?

[Marc26]

14 minutes ago, Polkadot said:

Whats the best bar to pick up 21yo 

Zoe in Yellow

 

But you'd have to compete with 30yr old farang guys....

 

Goodview

But you'd have to compete with 30yr old Thai guys....

 

Go to Pattaya, @23RD will be your tour guide. 

[Polkadot]

39 minutes ago, Marc26 said:

Zoe in Yellow

But you'd have to compete with 30yr old farang guys....

Goodview

But you'd have to compete with 30yr old Thai guys....

Go to Pattaya, @23RD will be your tour guide. 

Should I wear maga hat?

[Marc26]

1 hour ago, Polkadot said:

Should I wear maga hat?

In Pattaya

 

Red hat

Brown money....

 

You good!

 

@23RD will take you to places where they don't care about your political affiliation. 

 

[McTavish]

16 hours ago, Khunmark said:

I wouldn’t recommend any of those places. Must sees are; wat Chedi Luang in the heart of the old city, (I know you’ve seen one temple you’ve seen them all) but this place is other-worldly. Jing jai market weekends only. The Whitehouse pub on the ping river for some rollicking nighttime entertainment. Lake Huai Tueng Thao for a pleasant lunch and afternoon relaxation. And a trip up to Doi Suthep and Wat Palat. 
 

Avoid the walking street market (penguin parade) and high profile restaurants and cafes such as Muen Jai, which are overcrowded and overrated. There’s plenty of good cafes and restaurants conveniently located without having to consult you guide.

Good advice.  JJ Market is a must visit on weekends https://www.facebook.com/jjmarketchiangmai/?locale=th_TH

Forget other markets, especially the over-hyped night bazaar, and enjoy a more up-market (pun intended) experience.  There's great food available along with local produce in a clean, shaded environment.  Live music is low key and undercover seating is adequate.  Shops, stalls, and a supermarket cover a large paved area.  Get there early as coaches off-load tourists around 11am and queues can form at popular food stalls.

[Marc26]

The North Gate Jazz Bar is a great place as well.

 

I love how it spills out onto the sidewalk 

 

And it has a good mix of farang and Thai people 

Which is an aspect of Chiang Mai I have always appreciated

 

Many places are mixed and not segregated like most tourist areas in Thailand 

 

 

The North Gate Jazz Co-Op
+66 81 765 5246

https://g.co/kgs/Vn2CZ4K

 

[AussieBob]

On 11/9/2024 at 6:00 AM, Polkadot said:

Whats the best bar to pick up 21yo women?

Walk around near the University - check out the shops and cafes. If you are not too fat and too old, one of the lovelies will give you the eye - smile and talk to them and see what is what.  A few days away together at some resort/hotel all paid for by you - plus a bonus thank you payment - and all is good.  So I was told 

[AussieBob]

11 hours ago, Marc26 said:

The North Gate Jazz Bar is a great place as well.

I love how it spills out onto the sidewalk 

And it has a good mix of farang and Thai people 

Which is an aspect of Chiang Mai I have always appreciated

Many places are mixed and not segregated like most tourist areas in Thailand 

The North Gate Jazz Co-Op
+66 81 765 5246

https://g.co/kgs/Vn2CZ4K

I also noticed that a lot about Chiang Mai - there are a lot of places where both Thais and Expats mix together well. I have not seen that anywhere near as much in other parts of Thailand. Maybe in Udon somewhat. 

[Polkadot]

3 minutes ago, AussieBob said:

Walk around near the University - check out the shops and cafes. If you are not too fat and too old, one of the lovelies will give you the eye - smile and talk to them and see what is what.  A few days away together at some resort/hotel all paid for by you - plus a bonus thank you payment - and all is good.  So I was told 

How many unis are there? I saw one in the north.

[Polkadot]

2 minutes ago, AussieBob said:

I also noticed that a lot about Chiang Mai - there are a lot of places where both Thais and Expats mix together well. I have not seen that anywhere near as much in other parts of Thailand. Maybe in Udon somewhat. 

Not many good lookers in Udon. Khon Kaen has more.

[AussieBob]

19 minutes ago, Polkadot said:

How many unis are there? I saw one in the north.

Google mate - the combined campuses is the largest University in Thailand - it is the number one 'living away from home' University in the country - Thais and Chinese (and others) send their young men and women there, and sometimes that need a little extra money to pay their bills.  So I was told. 

[Marc26]

32 minutes ago, AussieBob said:

I also noticed that a lot about Chiang Mai - there are a lot of places where both Thais and Expats mix together well. I have not seen that anywhere near as much in other parts of Thailand. Maybe in Udon somewhat. 

It is a huge reason why I really like Chiang Mai 

 

From my very 1st visit I never felt any fakeness

 

And I never felt that people were treating me any different 

 

I know a lot of people like the extra attention 

But I like to just walk in a place and no one treats you "special "

 

Even these places we are talking about

Goodview and White House 

 

There aren't Thai girls just waiting for a farang guy

They just out having fun

[Polkadot]

48 minutes ago, Marc26 said:

It is a huge reason why I really like Chiang Mai 

From my very 1st visit I never felt any fakeness

And I never felt that people were treating me any different 

I know a lot of people like the extra attention 

But I like to just walk in a place and no one treats you "special "

Even these places we are talking about

Goodview and White House 

There aren't Thai girls just waiting for a farang guy

They just out having fun

I like the food. 

[AussieBob]

34 minutes ago, Marc26 said:

It is a huge reason why I really like Chiang Mai 

From my very 1st visit I never felt any fakeness

And I never felt that people were treating me any different 

I know a lot of people like the extra attention 

But I like to just walk in a place and no one treats you "special "

Even these places we are talking about

Goodview and White House 

There aren't Thai girls just waiting for a farang guy

They just out having fun

All good.   The main downsides I found to Chiang Mai were the smoke during the Nov/Dec to Feb/March periods, and the remoteness of the City - long way to drive and planes mainly go to Bangkok first and then to the rest of the country.  One of the things that needs to change in Thailand, is it's Bangkok Centric mentality. Planes should be going from the larger cities direct to each other - not always via Bangkok. Same with so many other things. Take a look at good used cars in Thailand (one2car is the biggest) - most of them seem to be shipped to Bangkok.  There are heaps of Mercedes and BMWs here - but SFA used ones for sale.  The other thing that was annoying about CM, not so much now I hear, was the annual influx of the ignorant rude loud Chinese Tour groups, because of that Chinese movie 'Lost in CM'. Thais would always give way to them when walking - I stopped doing that and started walking straight in the direction I was going - they quickly backed down and got out of my way - knocked a few over, but they always ran away. IMO never give way to dogs - stand your ground or path.  

[BigHewer]

7 minutes ago, AussieBob said:

One of the things that needs to change in Thailand, is its Bangkok Centric mentality. Planes should be going from the larger cities direct to each other - not always via Bangkok.

Amen. I flew direct from Osaka to Chiang Mai in July and started my trip from there. Makes more sense to me to leave from Bangkok rather than enter the country there. 

I’ll be doing that from now on. 

[Polkadot]

19 minutes ago, AussieBob said:

All good.   The main downsides I found to Chiang Mai were the smoke during the Nov/Dec to Feb/March periods, and the remoteness of the City - long way to drive and planes mainly go to Bangkok first and then to the rest of the country.  One of the things that needs to change in Thailand, is it's Bangkok Centric mentality. Planes should be going from the larger cities direct to each other - not always via Bangkok. Same with so many other things. Take a look at good used cars in Thailand (one2car is the biggest) - most of them seem to be shipped to Bangkok.  There are heaps of Mercedes and BMWs here - but SFA used ones for sale.  The other thing that was annoying about CM, not so much now I hear, was the annual influx of the ignorant rude loud Chinese Tour groups, because of that Chinese movie 'Lost in CM'. Thais would always give way to them when walking - I stopped doing that and started walking straight in the direction I was going - they quickly backed down and got out of my way - knocked a few over, but they always ran away. IMO never give way to dogs - stand your ground or path.  

Can fly hua hin, khon kaen, surat to cm.

[Polkadot]

There should be direct flights to rai but they only fly bkk