Chiang Saen District

Chiang Saen เชียงแสน
—  Amphoe  —
The Golden Triangle in Amphoe Chiang Saen
Amphoe location in Chiang Rai Province
Coordinates: 20°16′30″N 100°5′18″E / 20.275°N 100.08833°E / 20.275; 100.08833Coordinates: 20°16′30″N 100°5′18″E / 20.275°N 100.08833°E / 20.275; 100.08833
Country	Thailand
Province	Chiang Rai
Seat	Wiang
Tambon
Muban
Amphoe established
Area
- Total	554.0 km2 (213.9 sq mi)
Population (2005)
- Total	51,948
- Density	99.2/km2 (256.9/sq mi)
Time zone	THA (UTC+7)
Postal code	57150
Geocode	5708

Chiang Saen (Thai: เชียงแสน; IPA: [tɕʰīaŋ sɛ̌ːn]) is a district (amphoe) in the northern part of Chiang Rai Province, northern Thailand.

History

Wat Pa Sak

According to an ancient chronicle^[1], the original city of Chiang Saen was built in 545 in an area called Yonok, by Tai migrants from the Chinese province of Yunnan, and was an important city (mueang) of the Lanna Kingdom.^[2] No reliable written history of the city exists until the arrival of King Mengrai in the 13th century.

The city was sacked by King Kawila during the reign of Rama I because it had been the Burmese base of operations in the preceding years. The city was deserted, while its inhabitants resettled in other Bangkok-allied Lanna cities such as Lampang and Chiang Mai. Several ancient ruins are found in the old cities: for example, Wat Pa Sak hosts a well preserved Lanna style 'Prathat'.

The Mueang was converted into a district at the beginning of the 20th century, with an additional minor district (King Amphoe) also named Chiang Saen covering the central area. The minor district was abolished in 1925.^[3] The minor district was recreated two years laters, then named Chiang Saen Luang (เชียงแสนหลวง).^[4] In 1939 the minor district was renamed to Chiang Saen, while the former district Chiang Saen became Mae Chan.^[5] The minor district was upgraded to a full district on April 6 1957.^[6]

Geography

Neighbouring districts are (from the east clockwise) Chiang Khong, Doi Luang, Mae Chan, Mae Sai of Chiang Rai Province. To the north are Shan State of Myanmar and Bokeo provinces of Laos.

The area around the confluence of the Mekong with the Ruak River is called the Golden Triangle. This boundary region with Laos and Myanmar is now a popular touristical area, with several casinos on the Burmese side.

Administration

The district is subdivided into 6 subdistricts (tambon), which are further subdivided into 82 villages (muban). Wiang Chiang Saen is a township (thesaban tambon) which covers parts of tambon Wiang. There are further 6 Tambon administrative organizations (TAO).

No.	Name	Thai name	Villages	Inh.
1.	Wiang	เวียง	10	10,807
2.	Pa Sak	ป่าสัก	13	8,337
3.	Ban Saeo	บ้านแซว	15	11,444
4.	Si Don Mun	ศรีดอนมูล	14	8,120
5.	Mae Ngoen	แม่เงิน	12	8,463
6.	Yonok	โยนก	8	4,777

References

1. ^ Probably The Chiang Mai Chronicle, ISBN 974-7100-62-2
2. ^ "Yonok, the birthplace of Lanna", Welcome to Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai, accessed 2009-10-17
3. ^ "แจ้งความกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง ยุบกิ่งเชียงแสนเข้ารวมกับอำเภอเชียงแสนจังหวัดเชียงราย" (in Thai). Royal Gazette 42 (0 ง): 2159. October 4 1925. http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2468/D/2159.PDF. 
4. ^ "แจ้งความกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง ตั้งกิ่งอำเภอเชียงแสนหลวง" (in Thai). Royal Gazette 44 (0 ง): 1232. July 17 1927. http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2470/D/1232.PDF. 
5. ^ "พระราชกฤษฎีกาเปลี่ยนนามอำเภอ กิ่งอำเภอ และตำบลบางแห่ง พุทธศักราช ๒๔๘๒" (in Thai). Royal Gazette 56 (0 ก): 354–364. April 17 1939. http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2482/A/354.PDF. 
6. ^ "พระราชกฤษฎีกาตั้งอำเภอเชียงแสน พ.ศ. ๒๕๐๐" (in Thai). Royal Gazette 74 (36 ก): 565–567. April 6 1957. http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2500/A/036/565.PDF. 

External links

• Chiang Saen data (Thai)
• amphoe.com
• Birdwatching in Chiang Saen on thaibirding.com
• Yonok Wetlands near Chiang Saen