Things to do in Udon Thani
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Udorn Sunshine Nursery
Ever seen a plant dance? Well, you can here. Originally earning notoriety for producing the first perfume made from an orchid, the Udorn Sunshine Nursery, just northwest of town, has since developed a hybrid of Codariocalyx motorius ohashi leguminosae that 'dances' to music. The mature gyrant has long oval leaves, plus smaller ones of a similar shape. If you sing or talk to the plant in a high-pitched voice (saxophone or violin works even better), a few of the smaller leaves will shift back and forth. It's no hype; we've seen it ourselves, although it's much more of a waltz than a jig. The plants are most active from November to February, the cool season, and from 7am to …
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Maeya
One part Thai restaurant and three parts English tea-room, this labyrinth has waiters dressed in black tie and a menu stretching from ham sandwiches to wild boar in red-curry sauce. The English menu is a little cryptic: the 'rice with spit in sauce' is really 'rice with liver in sauce'.
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Rabiang Phatchanee
This place on the lake's east shore offers all the usual Thai dishes, but also many you've probably never tried before, such as fish-stomach salad. Eat on the shady deck or in air-conditioned dining rooms.
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Kwan Jit
If you’re looking for something mellow, this peculiar 1960s-themed pub will satisfy. The music is classic Thai folk songs, played quiet enough that you can chat, and the food is mostly Isan style. But there’s no English on the menu.
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UD Bazar Night Markets
UD Bazar Night Markets, in front of the train station, offer an impressive spread. Besides dining you can shop for clothes, watch football on the big screen or listen to a live band.
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Irish Clock
This wood-trimmed, Guinness-infused pub is an island of class in a sea of pick-up joints. The menu has Thai, fa·ràng and Indian food.
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Udon Thani Provincial Museum
Filling a 1920s colonial-style building that used to be a girls' school, this museum has an interesting catch-all collection ranging from geology to handicrafts.
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Sanjao Pu-Ya
This large, brash Chinese temple on the southern shore of Nong Bua attests to the wealth of the local Thai-Chinese merchant class. At its heart, the Pu-Ya Shrine houses small images of the Chinese gods Pu (Grandpa) and Ya (Grandma).
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Nong Prajak Night Market
A bevy of massage and paint-your-own pottery stands joins the small food shops on the sunset-watching side of Nong Prajak Park to form the Nong Prajak Night Market.
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Udon Bho-Phin Trachu
There's a great selection of silk and cotton, including some natural-dyed fabrics, at this large spot northwest of Nong Prajak Lake. Look for the sign with the wooden roof.
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Teenon Meechai
This souvenir shop has so much quirky style you’ll forget you’re a tourist.
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Zirocco
This open-air Thai-style pub is the kind of place where groups of friends come to eat, drink and eat some more. If you're looking for a mellow night with first-rate food and a little class, Zirocco will satisfy. There's no English on the menu, but some staff can speak a little.
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Udon City Walking Street
With just a handful of vendors selling handmade items, Udon's Walking Street pales in comparison to the markets in Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen that inspired it. Still, it's got a fun, youthful atmosphere.
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Nong Prajak Park
Udon's most popular park starts to rev up as the afternoon winds down, and there's a lot to do here, from feeding the fish to riding a bike. A bike-hire outlet on the northeast shore has one-, two- and three-seaters for 20/40/50B per hour. Much of the action takes place on the sunset-watching side of the lake, along Th Thesa. Dozens of streetside massage artists start doing rubdowns around 2pm and paint-your-own pottery shops open two hours later. Restaurants serve all day.
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Ho Chi Minh Educational & Tourism Historical Site
During 1928 and 1929, Ho Chi Mihn used the jungle around Hong Hang village as one of his bases to train soldiers and rally Isan's sizeable Vietnamese community for his resistance against the French occupation of Vietnam. The proud local Vietnamese community has recently built a replica of his thatched-roof, mud-wall house and a big museum. Both buildings were largely empty when we visited, though we were told displays would be coming soon. Check with the tourism office to see if they have. Bâhn lung hoh (Uncle Ho's House), as locals call it, is 10km from Udon. Take sŏrng·tăa·ou 14 (13B, 20 minutes) running south along Mukkamontri street to the junction and then follo…
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Gib Shop
Not all juice is created equal, and this lakeside stand proves it. Most of the fruits and veggies are organic and you can choose to have no added sugar.
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Chai Dun
The crowds are exhibit A for how tasty (and cheap) this all-you-can-eat buffet is.
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Central Plaza
Central Plaza is Udon's biggest shopping mall, though strolling the open-air UD Town is more fun.
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Bella Italia
This Italian-owned restaurant at Nong Prajak lake is as close to Italy you'll get in Isan, but the menu goes global with choices such as green curry or salmon in salsa.
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