Northeast Thailand / Ban Phai, Khon Kaen
Ban Phai is a town in Khon Kaen Province, some 40km (25mi) south of Khon Kaen city.
Accommodation
Ban Phai Bungalow; 2/2 Rat Thurakit Rd
Tel 27-2256; 39 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-200
Ban Phai Hotel; 396 Chanprasit Rd
Tel 27-2119; 31 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-200
Chu Charoen; 332-3 Ratchanikun Rd
Tel 27-2126; 48 rooms, sgl/dbl 60-120
P. Muangthong; Tambon Nai Muang
22 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-120
Saeng Arun; 11-13 Rat Thurakit Rd
Tel 27-2658; 35 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-200
Thawi Suk; Tambon Nai Muang
13 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-160
Wanchai 1; 381/1-3 Sukhaphiban 2 Rd
Tel 27-2033, 27-2533; 37 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-250
Wanchai 2; 536 Sukhaphiban 2 Rd
Tambon Nai Muang; Tel 27-2133
44 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-250
Places of Interest
Ku Puai Noi
Ku Puai Noi, 35km (22mi) southwest of Ban Phai, is the largest stone castle in Khon Kaen Province. Walls enclose the castle compound, called Tat Ku Tong by the locals. The sandstone Chedi (pagoda) of the castle, although visibly old, is still in nearly perfect condition and is decorated with beautiful stone carvings.
Chonnabot
The town, 15km (9mi) west of Ban Phai, is noted for the quality of its Mutmee silk. (See the chapter Shopping for details on Mutmee silk.)
Transportation
Bangkok - Ban Phai
All three trains going daily from Bangkok to Nong Khai stop at Ban Phai. Departures from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Station are at 6:25 (arrival at Ban Phai 13:29), 19:00 (arr 2:35) and 20:30 (arr 4:06). Fare (excluding surcharges for rapid or express trains and aircon) is 71 Baht for 3rd class, 150 Baht for 2nd class and 306 Baht for 1st class. The rail distance is 408km.
Ban Phai - Bangkok
All three daily trains from Nong Khai to Bangkok stop at Ban Phai. Departures at Ban Phai for Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Station are at 11:08 (arrival in Bangkok 18:40), 21:22 (arr 5:00) and 22:28 (arr 6:00). For fares and distance see entries under the opposite direction.
KHON KAEN
Khon Kaen, capital of Khon Kaen Province, is one of the most important cities of Isan. It is the site of many important administrative, commercial and educational establishments, including the Khon Kaen University, and a branch of the Bank of Thailand. Khon Kaen is 449km (281mi) from Bangkok.
Accommodation
Grand Hotel; 39 Soi Samakkhi Uthit, Lang Muang Rd
Tel 22-2433, 23-6690; 99 rooms, sgl/dbl 150-500
Kaen Inn; 56 Klang Muang Rd
Tel 23-7744, 23-7672, 23-6888
162 rooms, sgl/dbl 300-1000 (ac)
Khon Kaen Hotel; 43/2 Phimphasut Rd
Tel 23-7711, 23-7745, 23-7766
140 rooms, sgl/dbl 300-1200 (ac)
Khon Kaen Bungalow; 29/1 Si Chan Rd, Tel 23-6220
48 rooms, sgl/dbl 150-300 (f, ac)
Khosa Khon Kaen; 250-252 Si Chan Rd
Tel 22-5014 to 8; 123 rooms, sgl/dbl 360-750 (ac)
King’s Hotel; 26-34 Sathit Yutitham Rd
Tel 23-6330, 23-6220
99 rooms, sgl/dbl 150-300 (f, ac)
Mittraphap Bungalow; 295 Mittraphap Rd
Tel 23-6495; 24 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-160 (f, ac)
New Wansiri; 285/1 Ha-Phusajika Rd
Tel 23-6816; 45 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-250 (f, ac)
Playboy Hotel; 145 Rotfai Rd
Tel 22-1449, 22-4241
19 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-200 (f, ac)
Roma Hotel; 50/2 Klang Muang Rd
Tel 23-6276, 23-7206, 22-1600
142 rooms, sgl/dbl 200-500 (f, ac)
Rot Sukhon; 1/10-1 Klang Muang Rd
Tel 23-8576 to 9, 23-7797, 23-6941
73 rooms, sgl/dbl 300-500 (ac)
Royal 77; 257/1 Mittraphap Rd, Tel 23-6089
20 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-200
Sansamran; 55-9 Klang Muang Rd
Tel 23-9611; 60 rooms, sgl/dbl 60-100
Sawaddi Hotel; 177-9 Na-Muang Rd
Tel 22-1600, 22-2433, 22-4033
146 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-200
Si Mongkhon; 6167 Klang Muang Rd, Tel 23-7939
31 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-150
Si Nakhon; 86/5 Samakkhi Uthit Rd
21 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-120
Suksawad; 2/2 Klang Muang Rd
33 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-120
Suksom Bungalow; Tambon Nai Muang
22 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-200
Suriyon; Tambon Nai Muang
38 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-200
Thani Bungalow; 222 Ruen Rom Rd
Tel 22-4833, 22-1470; 113 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-250
Viengsawan Hotel; 264/25 Thepharak Rd
Tel 23-6010; 22 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-200
Viengsawan Bungalow; 168/13 Pracha Samoson Rd
Tel 24-1077; 20 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-100
Villa Hotel; 79/1 Klang Muang Rd
Tel 23-6640, 23-8863, 23-6726
154 rooms, sgl/dbl 210-300
Vorasiri Wattana; Si Chan Rd, Tel 23-6083
29 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-250
Places of Interest
Tham Phu Phuang Forest Park
The park near Chum Phae, 4km (2.5mi) off the Khon Kaen - Chum Phae highway, has an interesting cave.
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