Chiang Mai is a city in mountainous northern Thailand. Its Old City area still retains vestiges of walls and moats from its history as a cultural and religious center. It’s also home to hundreds of elaborate Buddhist temples.

Chiang Rai is Thailand’s northern most province, sharing borders with Myanmar and Laos. Its rugged and mountainous topography certainly feels more remote than Chiang Mai. One of the key differences is that Chiang Rai has an impressive diversity of ethnic minorities.