Chiang Mai is 726km north from Bangkok Chiang Mai is possibly the second largest city in Thailand, a thriving commercial centre as well as a favorite tourist destination. Its attractions to the visitor are obvious: the city has rich and colourful history, still evident in the architecture of the city which includes over 300 wats; it is manageable and still relatively 'user friendly" (unlike Bangkok). It has perhaps the greatest concentration of handicraft industries in the country; it has also an excellent base from which to go trekking and visit famous hilltribe villages in the surrounding highlands.