Chiang Mai, the gem of Northern Thailand according to guide books and the Thais themselves, is situated near the Golden Triangle, in the border area of Thailand, Laos and Burma (nowadays called Myanmar). It is a tidy, relatively modern town which has no air pollution problem like Bangkok. As Chiang Mai is in the highlands, its climate is pleasantly temperate. Chiang Mai is also a magnet for the back-packing crowd, so it is easy to find affordable accommodation.
There is much to see in Chiang Mai, e.g. 300 Buddhist temples or “wats”, the old town walls, a big zoo with giant pandas (a gift from China) and of course the night markets full of noise, lights, odors and much more.