Nakhon Phanom ProvinceThings to do

Things to do in Nakhon Phanom Province

  1. Wat Phra That Phanom

    This temple is a potent and beautiful place; even if you're feeling templed-out, you'll likely be impressed. At its hub is a tâht, more impressive than any in present-day Laos and highly revered by Buddhists from both countries. Many people believe that visiting seven times will bring them prosperity and happiness so it's something of a pilgrimage site.

    The tâht is 53.6m high, and a five-tiered, 16kg gold umbrella laden with precious gems adds 4m more to the top. Many Thais believe that the Lord Buddha travelled to Thailand and directed that one of his breast-bone relics be enshrined in a chedi to be built on this very site: and so it was in 535 BC, eight years after his…

    reviewed

  2. Wat Phra That Renu Nakhon

    This temple’s 35m-tall tâht is a replica of the previous chedi built in That Phanom and is considered very holy. Renu Nakhon is known for cotton weaving. The finished products are sold in the big handicrafts market on the grounds of Wat Phra That Renu Nakhon.

    reviewed

  3. Pat Thai Shop

    This hole-in-the-wall spins out just a few simple stir-fries like râht nâh (noodles in gravy) or pàt prík bai gà prow (spicy stir-fry with basil leaves), and frankly they’re nothing special, but unlike many similar places, the menu is in English. And the cooks are used to vegetarians.

    reviewed

  4. Krua Kitty

    For something almost fancy, try this open-fronted place that's popular with local bigwigs. There are classic album covers on the wall and a large menu with some dishes labelled in English.

    reviewed

  5. Museum

    The museum near the Wat Phra That Phanom tells the history of the tâht and also displays a hodgepodge collection of pottery, gongs, US presidential commemorative coins and more.

    reviewed

  6. That's Good

    This bar feels like a coffee shop and looks like a grandma's living room, and by That Phanom standards, that makes it quite hip. There isn't a full menu, but there are Thai salads and fried snacks.

    reviewed

  7. Night Market

    Every evening a night market takes over Th Robbung. It has a good variety of food, but few places to sit.

    reviewed

  8. Thai-Lao Open-Border Market

    Hundreds of Lao cross the river to shop and sell at this biweekly market. It's mostly the same tat found in other Thai markets, but a few of the Lao traders in front of the temple sell roots, honey, bats and other forest products.

    reviewed

  9. Kuson Ratchadagon Street

    Standing high on the road in front of Phra That Phanom is an arch that symbolically connects the tâht to the Mekong River. The block of French- Indochinese architecture between the arch and the river is reminiscent of old Saigon and a couple of the interiors are nearly museum-quality timeless. A few shops sell Vietnamese foods.

    reviewed

  10. Baan 117

    The welcoming husband-and-wife team, casual setting and quality beans conspire to make this the top spot in town for a cup of joe.

    reviewed

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