Things to do in Khon Kaen & Roi Et Provinces
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Wat Pho Ban Nontan
Just off the lake, this peaceful tree-filled temple pre-dates the city and has a săh·lah like no other in Thailand. The ground floor is covered with ingeniously sculpted trees, animals and village scenes of people acting out old Isan proverbs.
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Ku Phra Koh Na
Fifty kilometres southeast of Roi Et town are the minor Khmer ruins of Ku Phra Koh Na , an 11th-century Hindu shrine. The Baphuon-style temple comprises three brick prang facing east from a sandstone base surrounded by a sandstone-slab wall that once had four gates. The middle prang was replastered in 1928 and Buddha niches were added. The attached Buddha footprint shrine is fronted by original naga sculptures. The two other prang have been restored (though they still look like they might tumble any time) in their original forms. The northern prang has a reclining Phra Narai (Vishnu) lintel over the main door while the lintel above the northern false door of the other pra…
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Phu Wiang National Park
Uranium miners discovered a giant patella bone in this region in 1976. Palaeontologists then unearthed a fossilised 15m-long herbivore later named Phuwianggosaurus sirindhornae (after Her Royal Majesty, Princess Sirindhorn). More remains were uncovered and Phu Wiang National Park was born.
Enclosed excavation sites including one with a partial skeleton of Siamotyrannus isanensis, an early ancestor of Tyrannosaurus rex – can be easily reached by trails from the visitor centre or nearby parking areas.
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Sala Mai Thai
The Sala Mai Thai is a silk-weaving museum on the campus of Khon Kaen Industrial & Community Education College where you can learn about the entire silk-making process, and even take a turn at a loom. Besides showing the simple wooden contraptions devised to spin, tie, weave and dry silk, there’s an exhibition hall upstairs that catalogues traditional mát·mèe patterns and a couple of typical northeastern wooden houses. It’s 1km west of town on Rte 229.
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Wat Neua
This temple in the northern quarter of town has a peaceful ambience. It's known for its 1200-year-old brick chedi from the Dvaravati period, which has an unusual four-cornered bell-shaped form that's rare in Thailand. Also inside the central compound are some old Dvaravati săir·mah and a giant bodhi tree.
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Nam Nao National Park
One of Thailand’s most beautiful and valuable nature preserves, Nam Nao National Park covers nearly 1000 sq km at an average elevation of 800m, across the border of Chaiyaphum and Phetchabun Provinces, just beyond Khon Kaen Province. Although it covers remote territory Hwy 12 makes access easy. Temperatures are fairly cool year-round, especially nights and mornings, and frost occasionally occurs in December and January.
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Turm-Rom
This superb place combines one of the best kitchens in town with a quiet, covered garden to create the perfect place for a night out. The hòr mòk tá·lair (seafood curry served in a coconut) is especially good, but in our many visits we've never had a dud dish.
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Restaurant Didine
Didine's French chef-owner whips up swanky fa·ràng food, such as red snapper with saffron, that you wouldn't expect to find in Khon Kaen. His Italian dishes disappoint.
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Wat Burapha
The enormous standing Buddha towering above Roi Et's squat skyline is Phra Phuttha Ratana Mongkon Mahamuni (Luang Po Yai for short), the main attraction at this temple. Despite being of little artistic significance, it's hard to ignore. Head to toe he stands 59.2m, and from the ground to the tip of the ùt·sà·nít it's 67.8m.
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Khon Kaen National Museum
This interesting collection of artefacts spans prehistoric times to the present. Highlights are Ban Chiang pottery and a beautiful Dvaravati săir·mah (temple boundary marker) depicting Princess Pimpa cleaning Lord Buddha's feet with her hair. The household and agricultural displays shed light on what you'll see out in the countryside.
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Phra Mahathat Kaen Nakhon
Down at the south end of the lake is Khon Kaen’s one must-see, Phra Mahathat Kaen Nakhon, a gorgeous nine-storey chedi at the heart of Wat Nong Wang. Inside you’ll find enlightening murals depicting Khon Kaen history, various historical displays and a staircase to the top.
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Naem Laplae
You can follow the pungent aromas to this old-school Isan food store (if you’ve got a cold, look out for the bright yellow-and-red shopfront), one of several in this area. This and the others sell everything from sweets to sausages, most notably gun chee·ang (red pork sausages).
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Dee Dee
Though it may look like just a humble food-to-order shop, Khun Jaang works wonders with a wok and the food is extraordinary – truly some of the best in Thailand. She is co-creator of a new Thai dish called pàt tim (egg noodles stir-fried with red curry paste).
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Chor Wang Puu
With wood-and-thatch dining areas perched alongside and above a large pond, the Crab Palace vaguely resembles a fishing village. Naturally, fish features prominently on the Thai, Isan and Chinese menu. It's a beautiful spot at night, and you might even catch a little sunset view way back behind the lake.
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Phrae Pan
Run by the Handicraft Center for Northeastern Women's Development, this out-of-the-way store (near the Vietnamese consulate) has a superb selection of natural-dyed, handwoven silk and cotton, which is produced in nearby villages.
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Talat Bobae
The most enjoyable souvenir-shopping is looking for the handful of people selling traditional baskets and wooden items, hidden away within the fresh food and household-goods stalls in Talat Bobae.
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Roi Et National Museum
This interesting museum gives equal billing to ancient artefacts and Isan culture. The 3rd floor features silk weaving, including a display showing the materials used to produce natural-dye fabrics.
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Richi India Food
This colourful place looks more like a hair salon than a restaurant, and the food won't wow you, but with Indian cuisine being so rare in Isan, you take what you can get.
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Phu Wiang Museum
The Phu Wiang Museum, 5km before the park, has geology and palaeontology displays, including full-size models of the dinosaur species that once lived in the area. Kids will love it.
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Gai Yang Rabeab
Many locals believe Khon Kaen Province makes Thailand’s best gài yâhng and this simple joint, serving an all-Isan menu, gets the most nods as best of the best in the city.
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Art & Culture University Museum
The focus of Khon Kaen University's cultural showcase is the two-storey art gallery, which features monthly installations of both student and professional work. The Educational Museum upstairs and in the back provides a brief intro to Isan culture, but only if you can read Thai.
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Bualuang Restaurant
Perched on a pier over Beung Kaen Nakhon, it serves up a typical spread of Thai and Chinese dishes in a largely alfresco setting. Prices are high, but the food is good.
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Prathamakhan
This well-known, reasonably priced shop has both textiles and handicrafts and makes a good one-stop shop. Don’t miss the knick-knack and handicraft display at the back.
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White Elephant
This publike place just across the old moat has a massive Thai menu, but the specialities are German, as is the owner.
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Plapanoy
This large alfresco spot near Bueng Kaen Nakhon is where locals bring out-of-town guests to sample genuine Isan food. Fish is the speciality.
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