Chiang Rai has nursery schools, elementary schools, high schools and colleges, both public and private. There's a teacher's college, a business school, an industrial college, an agricultural tech college and a university.

Samakkhi Wittayakom School has an English Language Academic Program. There are now several Montisori Schools. There's religious education in the temples and at churches, and a Catholic school, Santi.

Under the new Thai constitution, children have a right to 12 years of schooling; the school-year starts in May and ends in March, with a vacation in October.

Thai language lessons are available at the YMCA (by the month, tel 053-713-009) or from Wanpen Nanta at Rong-rien ABC, on Goh Loi Rd (B150/hr, tel. 01-366-6987).