We cannot not mention it: Chiang Mai also has its own small Red Light District. Just one street long, Loi Kroh Road, ending in a semi-open-air area with several dozen bars, each with a pool table, and behind that one of Chiang Mai’s boxing stadiums.
Not really "safe" for a man alone — sometimes you literally get pulled inside one of the bars by the arm. Or at least you’ll hear “Hey Mister, Hey Handsome, where are you going” quite often. But if you’re curious about Thailand’s reputation, you can also just quietly have a beer there and watch the world slowly pass by...