Wiang Kaen district

Wiang Kaen (Thai: เวียงแก่น; IPA: [wīaŋ kɛ̀n]) is the easternmost district (amphoe) of Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand.

Wiang Kaen เวียงแก่น
District
Hills in Po, Wiang Khean
District location in Chiang Rai province
Coordinates: 20°6′44″N 100°30′49″E
Country	Thailand
Province	Chiang Rai
Seat	Muang Yai
Area
• Total	526.0 km2 (203.1 sq mi)
Population  (2005)
• Total	32,310
• Density	61.4/km2 (159/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+7 (ICT)
Postal code	57310
Geocode	5713

History

Historically, the area was Mueang Wiang Kaen, on the Ngao River. It was founded about the same time of Sukhothai Kingdom and Chiang Rai.

The government separated the three tambons Muang Yai, Po, and Lai Ngao from Chiang Khong district to create a minor district (king amphoe) on 1 April 1987.^[1] It was upgraded to a full district on 7 September 1995.^[2]

Geography

Neighboring districts are (from the south clockwise) Thoeng, Khun Tan, Chiang Khong of Chiang Rai Province. To the east lies Bokeo province of Laos.

Phu Chi Fa, 1,442 m high, lies at the border with Thoeng District.^[3]

The Phi Pan Nam Range mountain range in Wiang Kaen District

Administration

The district is divided into four sub-districts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 41 villages (mubans). There are no municipal (thesabans), and four tambon administrative organizations (TAO).

No.	Name	Thai name	Villages	Pop.
1.	Muang Yai	ม่วงยาย	9	7,449
2.	Po	ปอ	20	15,946
3.	Lai Ngao	หล่ายงาว	6	3,490
4.	Tha Kham	ท่าข้าม	6	5,425

Economy

Pomelo is an important fruit and income-generating product for the district.