Chiang Saen National Museum Historical Site

Chiang Saen National Museum is a regional museum in Chiang Saen, northern Thailand, that presents archaeological finds and religious artefacts from the town and surrounding area. The museum focuses on material related to the historical development of the local Lanna and earlier communities.

Chiang Saen was an early centre in the northern Thai cultural landscape and the museum conserves and interprets artefacts recovered from the area’s long sequence of settlement and temple use. Collections reflect continuity between pre-Lanna, Dvaravati-influenced and later Lanna-period material.

The museum is located in Chiang Saen town on the banks of the Mekong River in Chiang Rai province, close to the town’s archaeological remains and temple sites.

• Local collections: Sited close to the Mekong River and the archaeological remains around Chiang Saen, so many exhibits derive from nearby excavations and temple collections.

Located in Chiang Saen town, the museum is a short walk from the central area and the Mekong riverfront. It is accessible by local songthaew services or by car from Chiang Rai; arrange transport through local operators for day trips along the northern river towns.

• Combine a museum visit with a walk around the Mekong riverfront to see the town's riverside life.
• Check whether photographic restrictions apply to any sections of the collection.
• Speak to staff about local history tours; the museum often serves as a starting point for guided visits of Chiang Saen's ruins.