>>2780958
Chiang Rai proper is a little disappointing. More sprawling than a Dallas suburb, and the city center is overrun with tourists going to and from Chiang Mai. I liked Mae Sai better, although it is full of traffic as well. Lots of Burmese cross into Mae Sai to go shopping. The Burmese girls can be very cute, but don't seem friendly toward white guys. The hilltop temples in Mae Sai are really cool. Chiang Khong is a quiet, neat and upscale Mekong River village perfect for bicycling around, much more pleasant than Houayxay across the river in Laos.