Visit beautiful Nong Khai in northeastern Thailand
Phu Huai Isan Sunrise View Point
Nong Khai, on the border of Thailand and Laos, is often only seen as a border town. But you are doing this place short.
Nong Khai is a city in the Northeast of Thailand (Isaan) with a number of nice sights. For example, visit Phu Huai Isan Sunrise Viewpoint, you can see the 'Ocean of Mist' here. Truly a breathtakingly beautiful sight. From about 05:30 the fog rises from the river and lies like a mythical blanket over the area. This spectacle can be seen every year in December and January.
Also take a trip to the beautiful Ta Yak Waterfall in Sangkhom district. You can also see the traditional boats of the local fishermen in action. The rustic beauty of the river and the fishermen casting their nets is a sight in itself.
Nong Khai in the northeast of Thailand
Nong Khai is a fascinating province in the northeast of Thailand, located on the border with Laos. The province is known for its rich cultural heritage, unique architecture, and stunning natural beauty. The mighty Mekong River flows through Nong Khai and separates it from Laos, giving the region an important role in trade and transportation between the two countries. The capital of the province, also called Nong Khai, is a city with lots to see and do. There are numerous Buddhist temples, including the spectacular Wat Pho Chai, which contains an impressive gilded Luang Pho Phra Sai Buddha, one of three identical statues created by the King of the Lanna in the 18th century.
One of the most intriguing sights in Nong Khai is the Sala Kaew Ku Sculpture Park. This park is full of huge concrete sculptures of Buddha, gods and mythical creatures, all created by the mysterious monk Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat. It is a fascinating place that shows the influences of both Buddhism and Hinduism. Another attraction worth seeing is the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, the first bridge that connected Thailand and Laos across the Mekong River. This bridge not only symbolizes the strong bond between the two countries, but also offers a breathtaking view of the river and the surrounding landscapes.
Despite its many attractions, Nong Khai retains its charm and tranquility, far removed from the hustle and bustle of major Thai cities. It is the perfect place for those who want to enjoy a leisurely pace of life, while immersing themselves in the country's rich culture and traditions. The people of Nong Khai are known for their hospitality, and visitors are often treated to authentic Thai food and traditional music and dance performances.
Nong Khai
But the best is yet to come. Sail to the Nong Khai Grand Canyon, one of the most mysterious, but most of all beautiful sights in Thailand. Here you will see ancient rock formations that you will not soon forget.
Nong Khai is a quiet, relaxed and charming location, where you can experience the traditional life of the local people. It is still unspoilt and not overrun by hordes of tourists.
Nong Khai Ocean of Mist
About this blogger
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Known as Khun Peter (62), lives alternately in Apeldoorn and Pattaya. In a relationship with Kanchana for 14 years. Not yet retired, have my own company, something with insurance. Crazy about animals, especially dogs and music.
Enough hobbies, but unfortunately little time: writing for Thailandblog, fitness, health and nutrition, shooting sports, chatting with friends and some other oddities.
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The mighty Mekong? Well, not much about that. Maybe read the article from a year ago by Lung Jan again: https://www.thailandblog.nl/achtergrond/de-mekong-steeds-meer-bedreigd-door-grenzeloze-ambitie/
The last flood in Nongkhai City that I remember was in the years 2002-2005. Then the river was higher than the city discharge; it was closed and pumps took over the task of discharging rainwater. The lower city between Thanon Prajak and the ring road was flooded. The flood plains, used for growing vegetables and tobacco, were also flooded and the residents lived in tents on the outer dike.
You can see the current water level in this link: https://portal.mrcmekong.org/monitoring/river-monitoring-telemetry
The number of dams in the river and in the feeding tributaries is slowly approaching 100. I have often driven along the river west and northwest of Nongkhai and saw places where you could walk to Laos. The delta in Vietnam is becoming salinized due to a lack of sufficient depth, which has a negative impact on rice production.
No, the mighty Mekong? It is not yet a farm ditch, but the charm is really gone.
Well Erik, you haven't been around in the last quarter, because the Mekong overflowed its banks and thousands of people had to flee their homes.
But in March it will be a deep dry pit again, where you can almost walk to Laos.
Ruud
Ruud Langestraat, you are responding to a comment of mine from July 21, 2023. Every now and then contributions are repeated…
And Eric what to think about the city itself, completely deserted after 7 o'clock in the evening, many foreigners used to cross the bridge, backpackers and people who lived in Thailand, who made a visa run to Laos.
Was always very nice at bar and restaurant Brendan and Noi, unfortunately nothing remained of it, but that is not only going on in Nongkhai, but throughout Thailand.
Erik Nongkhai is completely extinct after seven o'clock in the evening, it used to be fun, but now it's really getting different, the same goes for Udonthani, I wonder how long it will take before everything is locked up, unfortunately the reality.
Shit, that's been going on for a long time. Nobbi, I think, left Nongkhai for Surin 15 years ago and many farang have followed him to that part of Isaan. An extra bridge to Laos in that region contributed to this. Then Alan Patterson (Meeting Place) and Kai van Mia (Danish Baker) stopped and about seven years ago Karsten (Tha Sadet) left for his Heimat.
There were times when Nongkhai City had more than 25 bars of farang with their Thai sweetheart and in those years you could add names to the list of dead farang every year, mostly due to alcohol-related ailments and traffic accidents with their drunken heads. Then the hospitality industry collapsed and you saw many pub owners themselves become the best customers. There were a lot of bars in the street near Brendon, right? There won't be much left.
You hardly see backpackers anymore because people pass the city now that you can go to the bridge by bus and train from Khon Kaen and Udon Thani; you don't have to be there anymore. In the past you had to take the boat to Laos from the heart of the city…
That's just the way it is. You will have to make your entertainment at home.
Are you coming to Thailand, in this case Nong Khai, for the expat vibe or authentic Thailand? Too bad for those ('farang') who don't see their business becoming a goldmine, but do you want to westernize every place? No luck, on to the next one?
Give me Sala Keoku or its counterpart across the Mekong, Buddha Park. Same same, but different! I was in Nong Khai last May, hardly any pressure (not bad!), but Asian tourists. Not busy, but it's low season, what do you expect? Walking over the heads of my fellow countrymen? That's why I go to places like this - the least chance of being able to have a conversation in my own language.