Beung Kan

Introducing Beung Kan

Beung Kan is a small dusty town on the Mekong River, 136km east of Nong Khai by Rte 212. You may want to break your journey here if you are working your way around the northeastern border from Nong Khai to Nakhon Phanom (as opposed to the easier but less interesting route via Udon Thani and Sakon Nakhon).

Amphoe Beung Kan itself isn’t much, but it has banks, an internet café and most other services you might need, plus a nice promenade along the waterfront. During the dry season the Mekong River recedes from Beung Kan and reaches its narrowest point along the Thai-Lao border. People picnic on the sandbar that comes exposed at this time. The surrounding countryside has several waterfalls.

If you’re saving your baht for sundowners, consider the Mekong Guest House (0 4249 1341; 202/1 Th Chansin; r 200-300B; ), but look carefully because it treads a fine line between dirty and filthy. Three doors down, the Maenam Hotel (0 4249 1052; 107/1 Th Chansin; r 350-450B; ) is a big step up in quality and service, offering spotless rooms with lots of little extras. Just about all the restaurants on Th Chansin serve inside or riverside (which can be buggy), including Chowdin (no roman-script sign; 08 7863 4170; Th Chansin; dishes 30-100B; dinner), a jim jam restaurant (cook your own soup over a wood-burning fire at your table) where you sit on cushions at short tables. For a menu in English, try Joy’s Restaurant (Th Chansin, Mekong Guest House; breakfast, lunch & dinner).

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009