| Official Name: | Phrao |
| Native Name: | พร้าว |
| Native Name Lang: | th |
| Settlement Type: | District |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Thailand |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Chiang Mai |
| Subdivision Type2: | Seat |
| Subdivision Type3: | Subdistrict |
| Subdivision Type4: | Muban |
| Established Title: | District established |
| Population Total: | 52222 |
| Population As Of: | 2005 |
| Blank Name Sec1: | Postal code |
| Blank Info Sec1: | 50190 |
| Blank Name Sec2: | Geocode |
| Blank Info Sec2: | 5011 |
| Timezone: | ICT |
| Utc Offset: | +7 |
| Coordinates: | 19.3658°N 99.2022°W |
Phrao (Thai: พร้าว, in Thai pronounced as /pʰráːw/; ป๊าว, pronounced as /páːw/) is a district (amphoe) in the north-eastern part of Chiang Mai province in northern Thailand. Its major town, Phrao, lies 107 km north-northeast of Chiang Mai. The meaning of Phrao in English is 'coconut'.
The name Phrao was given to this city around 1281 by King Mangrai of Lan Na who had been on his way to invade Hariphunchai Kingdom.[1] After this, Mangrai sent his third son, Khrua to rule Phrao.[2] Hereafter, Phrao became one of the important cities of the Lan Na Kingdom.
King Tilokarat, who is considered a god-king of Lan Na,[3] once ruled this city before becoming a king.[4]
Neighboring districts are (from the south clockwise) Doi Saket, Mae Taeng, Chiang Dao, Chai Prakan of Chiang Mai Province, Mae Suai, and Wiang Pa Pao of Chiang Rai province.
The Khun Tan Range stretches from north to south along the eastern side of the district.
The district is divided into 11 sub-districts (tambon), which are further subdivided into 108 villages (muban). Wiang Phrao is a township (thesaban tambon), which covers parts of tambon Wiang and the whole of Thung Luang. There are a further nine tambon administrative organizations (TAO).
| No. | Name | Thai name | Villages | Pop. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Wiang | เวียง | 6 | 3,803 | ||
| 2. | Thung Luang | ทุ่งหลวง | 6 | 1,821 | ||
| 3. | Pa Tum | ป่าตุ้ม | 12 | 5,475 | ||
| 4. | Pa Nai | ป่าไหน่ | 10 | 4,799 | ||
| 5. | San Sai | สันทราย | 15 | 6,646 | ||
| 6. | Ban Pong | บ้านโป่ง | 8 | 4,053 | ||
| 7. | Nam Phrae | น้ำแพร่ | 8 | 3,484 | ||
| 8. | Khuean Phak | เขื่อนผาก | 10 | 5,021 | ||
| 9. | Mae Waen | แม่แวน | 11 | 5,517 | ||
| 10. | Mae Pang | แม่ปั๋ง | 13 | 6,571 | ||
| 11. | Long Khot | โหล่งขอด | 9 | 5,032 |