Chiang Rai Souvenirs: What to Buy, 21 Handmade Crafts and Local Foods, With Prices
Chiang Rai souvenirs are the handmade crafts and local foods you bring home from Chiang Rai: cotton keychains and bags, woven cloth, pottery, silver, tea, coffee and pineapple.
In Thai they are called ของฝากเชียงราย (Chiang Rai souvenirs) or ของดีเชียงราย (the best of Chiang Rai), and the big question is always what to buy. Here are 21 ideas, with prices for ours.
The first 10 are ours at Macrame by Nicha, handmade by Akha women in Chiang Rai, from 179 to 590 baht. Then come 5 local crafts and 6 local foods.
Buy them right here on our website, and we ship throughout Thailand and internationally.
Chiang Rai Souvenirs That Are Not Food: Cotton Pieces Handmade by Akha Women
These ten ideas are ours: Thai motif Christmas ornaments, cotton keychains, a small garland, two little bags and a pair of coasters, from 179 to 590 baht, designed by Nicha, our Akha designer from Chiang Rai.
All ten are handmade by Akha women, from one of Chiang Rai's ชาวเขา (chao khao, hill tribe) communities, through Akha Ma-De, our social program. It works with seven women in the Akha village where our cotton gifts are made, Asha village in Mae Yao district.
1. Thai Motif Christmas Ornaments, 179 to 229 Baht
These four Thai motif Christmas ornaments are handmade in cotton. Their collection page says they work on the tree and on the front door, and can stay up after the season.
They are our signature pieces: the phuang malai (garland), the mongkhon (boxing headband), the pla ta pian (woven fish) and the elephant, four Thai motifs turned into Christmas ornaments and handmade in Asha village. They are our own designs, a souvenir from Chiang Rai straight from our workshop.
The Christmas Malai, 199 baht, is inspired by the traditional Thai phuang malai (garland). Its product page says it carries wishes of love, respect, good luck and happiness.
The Christmas Muay Thai Mongkhon, 179 baht, is a 12 cm mongkhon in cotton for your tree. Its product page describes the mongkhon as the sacred headband a boxer wears in the ไหว้ครู (wai kru, paying respect to teachers) ceremony, standing for respect, gratitude, courage and spiritual protection.
Kee-Sao, the Christmas Pla Ta Pian, is 199 baht in red, green or off-white and gold, and 229 baht in premium white and gold. Its product page links the woven fish with prosperity, abundance and wishes for a child to grow healthy and strong, and says it has traditionally been hung above babies' cradles.
Santa's Elephant is 229 baht, 8 x 10.5 cm, in beige or red.
All four are made by Akha women through Akha Ma-De, their product pages say. They sell on pre-order: for Christmas 2026, our collection page gives delivery in October for business orders and in November and December for individual orders.
See all our Thai Christmas ornaments.
2. Elephant Keychain, 390 Baht
Our Elephant Keychain is 10 x 8 cm of handmade cotton, in six versions: Thai, LGBT, Pink, Blue, White and Army Green.
Its product page says the elephant is inseparable from Thai culture and stands for strength and wisdom, and that the white elephant stands for royal power and prosperity.
Delivery within Thailand takes about 5 to 10 working days.
3. Pla Ta Pian Keychain, 390 Baht
The Pla Ta Pian Keychain is a ปลาตะเพียน (pla ta pian, the Thai auspicious fish) handmade in cotton, 11.5 cm tall.
Its product page gives the meaning: hung over a baby's cradle, the fish wishes that the child will be easy to raise, grow quickly and prosper. A sweet souvenir for a family with a new baby.
It is ready in 5 to 10 working days.
4. Muay Thai Mongkol Keychain, 350 Baht
Its product page says a มงคล (mongkol, the headband a Thai boxer wears) goes on the boxer's head in the ring, and that a real one is blessed.
The Muay Thai Mongkol Keychain is a keepsake in its shape for a fan of Muay Thai (Thai boxing): 12 cm of handmade cotton, with a premium hook and our label.
It is ready in 5 to 10 working days.
5. Premium Muay Thai Mongkol Keychain, 390 Baht
Mongkol is a Thai word for something that brings prosperity, its product page says. Our Premium Muay Thai Mongkol Keychain is 12 cm of red, white and blue cotton, with a premium hook and our brand label.
The page reads the three colours this way: red for the blood given for the nation, white for the purity of the Triple Gem and the Dhamma (the Buddha's teaching), and blue as the King's own colour.
It is ready in 5 to 10 working days.
6. Phuang Malai Keychain, 350 Baht
A พวงมาลัย (phuang malai, Thai garland) is one of the most recognised Thai symbols, its product page says, first strung from fresh jasmine to worship, welcome and give thanks.
Our Phuang Malai Keychain retells it in tricolour cotton, 12 cm, to hang on your keys, a bag or a rear-view mirror, where it stays for a long time.
It is ready in 5 to 10 working days.
7. Malai Glin Rak, 499 Baht
The Malai Glin Rak is a small phuang malai in cotton and wood. Its product page calls it a Thai diffuser, for intimacy wherever you are.
The same page says a garland is how Thai people show respect, welcome, thanks and blessings, and suggests hanging it in the car, on a door or at a desk.
It measures 3 x 6 inches, comes in eight colours with a wooden box, and is made to order in 5 to 10 working days.
See all our phuang malai and Thai diffusers.
8. Blue Lady, 490 Baht
The Blue Lady is our little bag to walk light, in 100% blue cotton cord, 13 x 16.5 cm on a 50 cm strap.
Its product page calls it a handmade gift for someone who loves to travel light. It takes 10 to 20 working days.
See the whole range in our handmade macrame bag collection.
9. Pink Lady, 590 Baht
The Pink Lady is a little bag in 100% pastel pink cotton cord, 13 x 15 cm on a 50 cm strap.
Its product page says it is big enough for a phone, a lipstick and a small wallet, and small enough to take everywhere.
It takes 10 to 20 working days. If it shows sold out, contact us.
10. Cotton Coasters, Set of 2, 490 Baht
Our Cotton Coasters, Set of 2 are round, 10.5 cm across, and sold as a pair.
Pick your pair from five colourways: blue and green, black and ochre, green and yellow, dark grey and yellow, or red. Its product page says they absorb properly and are hand washable.
They are made on pre-order, in 5 to 10 working days.
Chiang Rai Handicrafts: Woven Cloth and Hill Tribe Crafts
Five more Chiang Rai handicrafts to look for when you are in town, from woven cloth to hill tribe silver.
11. Tai Lue and Hill Tribe Woven Cloth
Tai Lue woven cloth is the distinctive cloth of the Tai Lue people, handed down from ancestors who came from Sipsong Panna, says Chiang Rai's provincial tourism and sports office.
Its page on Tai Lue cloth names Hat Bai village, in Rim Khong subdistrict, Chiang Khong district.
For hill tribe cloth, one Chiang Rai guide says Akha clothing often combines dark fabric with detailed embroidery, coloured thread, beads, coins and silver ornaments.
12. Wiang Kalong Pottery
The Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre lists a pottery production site in the old town area of Wiang Kalong temple, in Wiang Kalong subdistrict, Wiang Pa Pao district.
It notes that local potters can make glazed ware close to the traditional pieces. One travel guide describes Wiang Kalong ceramics as having a long history, with simple, understated patterns.
13. Hill Tribe Silverware
A 2019 article from the Gem and Jewelry Institute data centre calls Chiang Rai a land of tribal silver jewellery culture.
The same article counts the Akha as the most numerous hill tribe in the province, and features a Mien silver group.
14. Woven Water Hyacinth
In Thoeng district, a community enterprise weaves water hyacinth, and a university study there describes new water hyacinth bags that mix in embroidered cloth patterns.
One Chiang Rai souvenir list includes it as a community product, turned from a water weed into pieces handmade one by one.
15. Chiang Rai Art
Chiang Rai joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in 2023 as a Creative City of Design.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand notes the province is home to national artists and many local artists specialised in Lanna (northern Thai) architecture and design. A piece of local art brings that side of the city home.
Chiang Rai Food Souvenirs
Six local foods to round out the list. Three of them carry a registered GI (geographical indication): the tea, the coffee and the pineapple.
16. Mae Salong Oolong Tea (Chiang Rai Tea GI)
Chiang Rai's tea is registered as a GI under the name Chiang Rai tea. Thailand's Department of Intellectual Property describes it as green and oolong tea from Assam and Chinese tea varieties, from nine districts of the province, Mae Fah Luang among them.
In Mae Fah Luang district, the Tourism Authority of Thailand lists a Mae Salong Tea Tasting Festival at Santikhiri village, a chance to taste Mae Salong's signature tea.
17. Chiang Rai Coffee (Doi Chaang GI)
Doi Chaang coffee is one of Chiang Rai's registered GI products: a provincial commerce office counted eight in January 2024.
The Department of Intellectual Property describes it as Arabica coffee, mainly of the Caturra, Catimor and Catuai varieties.
18. Chiang Rai Phu Lae Pineapple (GI)
Chiang Rai Phu Lae pineapple was registered as a GI on 8 November 2005. It grows in Nang Lae, Tha Sut and Ban Du subdistricts of Mueang Chiang Rai district, says the government's public relations office.
Its GI description: a small, round fruit with a large crown, with both the flesh and the core good to eat.
19. Sai Ua and Nam Prik Noom
ไส้อั่ว (sai ua, northern Thai herb sausage) and น้ำพริกหนุ่ม (nam prik noom, green chilli dip) are northern Thai foods that travel guides count among the most popular Chiang Rai souvenirs.
One guide calls nam prik noom a favourite that everyone takes home. Another ranks sai ua among the first picks for the real taste of the north.
20. Moo Yor
หมูยอ (moo yor, Thai pork roll) is sold as a souvenir in Chiang Rai. The province's tourism and sports office features it on its recommended souvenir shops page.
Guides praise it for firm pork with little flour, and suggest it as something to take home to family or friends.
21. Chiang Rai Honey
Honey is produced in Chiang Rai: a 2022 study in a Department of Medical Sciences journal looked at the quality of honey made in Chiang Mai, Lamphun and Chiang Rai from 2019 to 2021.
One travel guide points to wild honey from the hills of Chiang Rai, around Mae Sai and Mae Fah Luang.
Where to Buy Chiang Rai Souvenirs
For our ten ideas, buy them on our website: each product page has its price and an add-to-cart button, and we ship throughout Thailand and internationally through Thailand Post.
In Chiang Rai itself, travel guides point to the night bazaar and the shops at Chiang Rai airport before your flight home.
What to Buy by Budget: 179 to 590 Baht
Here are our ten ideas by price, from 179 to 590 baht, with the local crafts and foods in the last two rows.
| Budget | Ideas |
|---|---|
| 179 to 229 baht | Christmas Muay Thai Mongkhon 179, Christmas Malai 199, Kee-Sao pla ta pian 199 to 229, Santa's Elephant 229 (idea 1) |
| 350 to 400 baht | Muay Thai Mongkol Keychain 350 (idea 4), Phuang Malai Keychain 350 (idea 6), Elephant Keychain 390 (idea 2), Pla Ta Pian Keychain 390 (idea 3), Premium Muay Thai Mongkol Keychain 390 (idea 5) |
| 490 to 590 baht | Blue Lady 490 (idea 8), Cotton Coasters, Set of 2, 490 (idea 10), Malai Glin Rak 499 (idea 7), Pink Lady 590 (idea 9) |
| Your own budget, local crafts | Tai Lue and hill tribe woven cloth, Wiang Kalong pottery, hill tribe silverware, woven water hyacinth, Chiang Rai art (ideas 11 to 15) |
| Your own budget, local foods | Mae Salong oolong tea, Doi Chaang coffee, Phu Lae pineapple, northern herb sausage and green chilli dip, pork roll, Chiang Rai honey (ideas 16 to 21) |
Everything in the 179 to 229 baht row sells on pre-order, with delivery in November and December 2026 for individual orders.
Everything in the 350 to 400 baht row is ready in 5 to 10 working days.
In the 490 to 590 baht row, the Malai Glin Rak and the coasters take 5 to 10 working days, and the two bags 10 to 20.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Chiang Rai souvenirs are not food?
Our handmade cotton pieces at Macrame by Nicha: Thai motif Christmas ornaments (179 to 229 baht), elephant, pla ta pian, mongkol and phuang malai keychains (350 to 390), the Malai Glin Rak (499), cotton coasters (490 a pair) and the Blue Lady and Pink Lady bags (490 and 590), all handmade by Akha women in Chiang Rai.
Local crafts add Tai Lue and hill tribe cloth, Wiang Kalong pottery, hill tribe silverware, woven water hyacinth and local art.
Can I buy at the village in Chiang Rai?
Not yet. We are preparing a boutique and hope to open it soon.
For now, buy on our website and we ship to you.
Can I order online and have my souvenirs delivered?
Yes. Buy directly on our website: add the pieces you want to your cart and check out. We ship throughout Thailand and internationally through Thailand Post.
For shipping outside Thailand, message us on LINE or email hello@macramebynicha.com with the destination country, and we will confirm the options and rates. The keychains, the Malai Glin Rak and the coasters take 5 to 10 working days, the bags 10 to 20.
Can a company order Chiang Rai souvenirs in bulk?
Yes. Our keychain pages say we make them in sets, with no minimum order, and the Elephant Keychain has wholesale pricing from 50 pieces.
For company orders, the elephant takes an engraved name or a logo tag, and the coasters take your colours, an engraved name or a logo tag, on quotation. See our handmade corporate gifts from Chiang Rai.
Still choosing? Tell us who the souvenirs are for and your budget on LINE, and we will help you pick.