People of Chiang Mai

Located in Northern Thailand, the city of Chiang Mai and this entire northern region was previously known for centuries as Lanna, which means "land of a million rice fields".

Flanked by the mountains of Burma, the Mekong River, and the lush, green forests of Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai boasts of its amazing natural beauty and a unique, indigenous cultural background.

It is for this reason that local folk take after their ancestors when it comes to tradition and culture, despite the swift modernization of recent years.

Despite the influence of neighbouring areas of Myanmar and Laos, Chiang Mai still attributes most of its cultural and traditional heritage from the Lanna kingdom in its bountiful past.

Over the years, the people of Chiang Mai have developed their own beliefs and customs, which have given them the rightful distinction from other Asian relatives.

With their own dialect, a delectable cuisine, and even architectural standards, the people of Chiang Mai established themselves as a growing race of noteworthy significance.

Along with these unique customs is their innate excellence in indigenous handicrafts ranging from textiles to pottery and silverware.

Modern Chiang Mai can be considered as Northern Thailand's centre of tourism, culture, communications and economics. This region often plays host to quite a number of national and international events. And due to the rise in tourism, the province has become home to various races and sub-cultures.

This ultimately resulted in the presence of a wide variety (yet a good mixture) of people from many different cultural backgrounds and religious ideologies.

In addition to the melee of modern folk, there are still a number of indigenous hill-tribes that provide a taste of Chiang Mai ancestry

Buddhism is Chiang Mai's majority religion. Though westerners brought Christianity into the area in its late history, belief in the Lord Buddha and The Dhamma still widely prevails. In fact, during a male Thai's youth, he will most probably take on the role of a Buddhist monk for at least three months.

With this religious background, it is not surprising why these locals are among the kindest people in the world.

Chiang Mai people are said to be the some of the most accommodating, charming and gentle people you'll meet anywhere. Plus, the women of Chiang Mai are considered to be the most beautiful, approachable, and most polite throughout Thailand. Tourists and visitors are very seldom disappointed or disgruntled after interaction with these locals.