Thailand » Introduction

"If you haven’t been to Chiang Mai, you haven’t been to Thailand!"

Chiang Mai is the cultural heart and unofficial capital of Northern Thailand. A vibrant and welcoming city of about 700,000 people, Chiang Mai offers students the chance to experience the best of Thai society far more easily than they might in the anonymous metropolis of a larger Thai city.

Today, Chiang Mai is home to some wonderful contrasts. A relatively small city, especially by Asian standards, it is a surprisingly diverse melting pot of ethnic Thai, Thai minorities, ethnic Chinese, Burmese, and Laotians. Chiang Mai is also home to a broad spectrum of international non-governmental organizations as well as a surprising number of non-Asians who appreciate the city’s accessibility. With this unique combination of traditional Thai culture and moderate economic and social globalization, Chiang Mai offers students fascinating opportunities to learn about the old and the new.

The Oregon University System International Programs are cooperative programs to which all students in public universities in Oregon and select private partner universities have access. The programs are predominately reciprocal exchanges that not only send students abroad, but also bring students to Oregon campuses. It is through these direct relationships that students and faculty connect with partner institutions abroad and bring diversity to Oregon universities.