Thailand Guides - Nakhon Phanom

Nakhon Phanom is a beautiful province in the upper north east and borders the mighty Mekong River. Over 700 kilometers from Bangkok, the seldom visited Nakhon Phanom is surrounded by mountainous terrain, the source of its Sanskrit name, ‘the city of mountains.

Overview

Nakhon Phanom itself is a rather unremarkable provincial town and due to its distance from Bangkok receives few visitors. It does, however, benefit from spectacular views of the Mekong River and the mountains in neighbouring Laos. Due to its border location the town’s population is made up of ethnic Chinese, Laos and Vietnamese, giving rise to an interesting mix of cuisine, culture and dialects. Nakhon Phanom faces the Laos town of Tha Lek, a small town dependent on the lively border trade between the two countries.

Attractions

There are many ancient religious monuments in Nakhon Phanom but the most highly revered is Pra Thad Phanom. The Khmer-style shrine was built during the 10^th century and houses a Buddha relic and several thousand precious items donated by villages after the pagoda collapsed following several days of torrential rain. A full restoration of the shrine was completed in 1979. A celebration attended by thousands of worshippers is held at Pra Thad Phanom every February.

Thai Muang Beach appears at the edge of the Mekong River during the dry season from February to April and is a popular spot for locals to gather, watch the sunset and buy food from vendors. Two promenades have also been added beside the river at either end of the town and are very good spots to soak in the view.