Northeast Thailand / Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Roi Et
NAKHON PHANOM
Nakhon Phanom, 740km (463mi) from Bangkok on the bank of the Mekong River opposite Muang Ta Kaek of Laos, is the capital of a province by the same name.
Accommodation
Chak-Kawan; 676/12-13 Aphiban Banchai Rd
Tel 51-1298; 24 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-120 (f)
Charoensuk; 250 Bamrungmuang Rd, Tel 51-1130
38 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-200 (f, ac)
First; 370 Si-Thep Rd, Tel 51-1253
63 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-200 (f, ac)
Grand; 210 Si-Thep Rd, Tel 51-1526
46 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-300 (f, ac)
Lucky; 131 Aphiban Banchai Rd
Tel 51-1274; 30 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-120 (f)
Nakhon Phanom; 403 Aphiban Banchai Rd
Tel 51-1074, 51-1455
58 rooms, sgl/dbl 200-250 (ac)
Phong Phaibun; 692/105 Nitayo Rd
20 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-160
River Inn; 137 Sunthon Wichit Rd, Tel 51-1305
16 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-150
Si Thep; 708/11 Si-Thep Rd, Tel 51-2395
61 rooms, sgl/dbl 120-220 (f, ac)
Windsor; 692/19 Bamrungmuang Rd
Tel 51-1573, 51-1946
60 rooms, sgl/dbl 70—200 (f, ac)
Transportation
Bangkok - Nakhon Phanom
Buses from Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal on Phahonyothin Road; 727km, non-aircon 136 Baht, 5:45, 7:39, 20:46, 22;10, 22:35; aircon 245 Baht, 8:30, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 19:00
That Phanom
That Phanom is a town in Nakhon Phanom Province, some 60km (37mi) south of the town of Nakhon Phanom.
Accommodation
Chaiwan; 37 Mu 14, Phanom-Phanarak Rd
19 rooms, sgl/dbl 60-100 (f)
Lim-Charoen; 167/67 Mu 13, Chayangkun Rd
Tel 54-1019; 23 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-120 (f)
Saeng Thong; 34 Mu 1, Phanom-Phanarak Rd
17 rooms, sgl/dbl 60-100 (f)
Places of Interest
Phra That Phanom
Phra That Phanom is the most sacred ancient religious monument of the Northeast, venerated by both Thais and Laotians along the Mekong River. Although it partly collapsed some time ago, it has since been restored to its glory.
It has not been conclusively proved when it was originally built. According to archaeologists, it is about 1,500 years old. The Chedi is 52m high and its decorative top is made of gold weighing 10kg (22lbs).
Thousands of worshippers flock to That Phanom to pay homage to this most important religious shrine in the Northeast during the annual Phra That Phanom Fair which is celebrated during full moon of the 3rd lunar month. Stalls are open and performances are staged throughout the 7-day celebration.
MUKDAHAN
Mukdahan, on the bank of the Mekong River opposite Suwannakhet in Laos, 600km (375mi) from Bangkok, is the capital of a province by the same name which was created only in September, 1982. The town has a thriving market for Vietnamese handicrafts which are brought into Thailand through Laos, not in commercial quantities but by traders who just cross the Mekong to Laos on day visits and declare the items as duty free personal belongings. Legally speaking, its not exactly smuggling but nevertheless not in accordance with the spirit of the customs law.
Accommodation
Banthom Kasem; 4/1 Samut Sakdarak Rd
Tel 61-1235; 11 rooms, sgl/dbl 70—100 (f)
Hong Kong; 161/1-2 Phithak-Santirat Rd
Tel 61-1123, 61-1143
23 rooms, sgl/dbl 70—120 (f)
Hua Nam; 20 Samut Sakdarak Rd
Tel 61-1137; 28 rooms, sgl/dbl 50-200 (f, ac)
Mukdahan; 8/8 Samut Sakdarak Rd
Tel 61-1619, 61-1629
55 rooms, sgl/dbl 120-240 (f, ac)
Sansuk Bungalow; 2 Phithak-Santirat Rd
Tel 61-1294, 61-1214
17 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-200 (f, ac)
Sri Siam; 188/1-3 Wiwit-Surakan Rd; Tel 61-1379
20 rooms, sgl/dbl 90-150 (f, ac)
Suni Bungalow; 141 Mu 17 Chayangkun Rd
17 rooms, sgl/dbl 120 (f)
Places of Interest
Phu Manorom
The hill, 3km (2mi) south of Mukdahan municipality, offers a nice view of the countryside along the Mekong River, both in Thailand and Laos.
Transportation
Bangkok - Mukdahan
Buses from Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal on Phahonyothin Road; 571km, aircon 242 Baht, 7:00, 8:00, 19:00, 20:00, 23:30; VIP 350 Baht, 20:00
ROI ET
Roi Et, 512km (320mi) from Bangkok, is the capital of Roi Et Province, once noted for its prosperity but more recently ravaged by floods. With extensive water control projects, Roi Et is making a come-back as a province of great promise, with its wide Thung Kula Rong Hai (flat-land) being converted again into fertile and productive land.
Accommodation
Banchong; 99-101 Suriyadet-Bamrung Rd
Tel 51-1235; 30 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-140 (f)
Bua Thong; 46 Ratthakit-Khlaikhla Rd, Tel 51-1142
36 rooms, sgl/dbl 40-70 (f)
Bua Thong Bungalow; 46-8 Thewa-Phiban Rd
Tel 51-1701; 41 rooms, sgl/dbl 70-120 (f)
Mai Thai; 99 Haisok Rd, Tel 51-1136, 51-1038
112 rooms, sgl/dbl 25-0-950 (ac)
Nakhon Land; Thewa-Phiban Rd
10 rooms, sgl/dbl 60-80 (f)
Niyom Hotel ; 315-7 Phadung-Phanit Rd
Tel 51-1710; 50 rooms, sgl/dbl 60-120 (f, ac)
Patumrat Bungalow; Thewa-Phiban Rd
10 rooms, sgl/dbl 120 B
Phrae Thong; 29 Phloenchit Rd, Tel 51-1127
66 rooms, sgl/dbl 120-160 (ac)
Sai Thip; 133 Suriyadet-Bamrung Rd
Tel 51-1365, 51-1742
66 rooms, sgl/dbl 150-170 (f, ac)
Si Chumphon; Haisok Rd, Tel 51-1741
106 rooms, sgl/dbl 130-400 (ac)
Sirimit; Phloenchit Rd, Tel 51-1480
26 rooms, sgl/dbl 40-60 (f)
Suriya; 156/1-3 Phloenchit Rd, Tel 51-1250
41 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-160 (f, ac)
Thiendi; 52-62 Ratthakit-Khlaikhla Rd
Tel 51-1508; 40 rooms, sgl/dbl 50-100 (f)
Tokyo; Tambon Nai Muang Rd, Tel 51-1127
44 rooms, sgl/dbl 60-120 (f)
Bungalow 99; 102 Pracha-Thammarak Rd
Tel 51-1035, 51-1041
34 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-180 (f, ac)
Bungalow 101; Thewa-Phiban Rd, Tel 51-1102
18 rooms, sgl/dbl 120
My House Bungalows; Ratchdamnoen Rd
Tel 51-2574 to 5; 10 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-240 (f, ac)
Places of Interest
Bung Phlan Chai
This lake, which has been deepened to hold more water, is the main recreational site of the town. The Roi Et town pillar is nearby.
Roi Et Reservoir
About 3km (2mi) from Roi Et, the area of this water body, too, is popular with the Roi Et folks. Its nice scenery invites to relax.
Thung Kula Rong Hai
Thung Kula Rong Hai is a large prairie with an area of about 400,000 hectares (1,000,000 acres) extending from Roi Et Province into the provinces of Surin, Maha Sarakham and Buriram. The name literally means Weeping Field of the Kula (a tough nomad people). Traditionally, it is scorching dry in summer and totally inundated during the rainy season. As indicated above, it is, however, now being developed for agriculture.
Muang Fah Dad Sung Yang
13km (8mi) from Roi Et, this was a thriving town in the Dvaravati period (800-1,100). The town was encircled by double walls with a moat in between. Many Chedis (pagodas) built during the Dvaravati period are found at the site, Phra That Ya Ku being the largest and most noteworthy among them.
Transportation
Bangkok - Roi Et
Buses from Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal on Phahonyothin Road; 509km, aircon 175 Baht, 8:30, 10:00, 20:30, 21:30, 22:00, 22:30, 23:30
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