| Official Name: | Mae Lao |
| Native Name: | แม่ลาว |
| Native Name Lang: | th |
| Settlement Type: | District |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Thailand |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Chiang Rai |
| Subdivision Type2: | Seat |
| Subdivision Name2: | Pa Ko Dam |
| Subdivision Type3: | Subdistrict |
| Subdivision Type4: | Muban |
| Established Title: | District established |
| Population Total: | 30779 |
| Population As Of: | 2005 |
| Blank Name Sec1: | Postal code |
| Blank Info Sec1: | 57250 |
| Blank Name Sec2: | Geocode |
| Blank Info Sec2: | 5716 |
| Timezone: | ICT |
| Utc Offset: | +7 |
| Coordinates: | 19.79°N 99.6997°W |
Mae Lao (th|แม่ลาว, pronounced as /th/) is a district (amphoe) in the central part of Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand.
The area of Mae Lao district was separated from Mueang Chiang Rai district and established a minor district (king amphoe) on 31 May 1993. It originally consisted of the four tambons: Dong Mada, Chom Mok Kaeo, Bua Sali, and Pa Ko Dam.[1] It was upgraded to a full district on 5 December 1996.[2]
Neighboring districts are (from the west clockwise): Mae Suai, Mueang Chiang Rai, and Phan of Chiang Rai Province.
The mountains of the Phi Pan Nam Range dominate the landscape of the district, which is named after the Lao River that flows through it
The district is divided into five sub-districts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 63 villages (mubans). There are two townships (thesaban tambons). Mae Lao covers parts of tambon Dong Mada, and Pa Ko Dam parts of tambons Pa Ko Dam and Chom Mok Kaeo. There are a further five tambon administrative organizations (TAO).
| No. | Name | Thai name | Villages | Pop. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Dong Mada | ดงมะดะ | 18 | 9,642 | ||
| 2. | Chom Mok Kaeo | จอมหมอกแก้ว | 11 | 6,165 | ||
| 3. | Bua Sali | บัวสลี | 12 | 4,389 | ||
| 4. | Pa Ko Dam | ป่าก่อดำ | 13 | 6,227 | ||
| 5. | Pong Phrae | โป่งแพร่ | 9 | 4,356 |