Nong Khai province contains the longest stretch of the Mekong River: 320 km. Nong Khai features temples, traditional culture, beautiful countryside and a rural folk lifestyle, the liveliest event of which focuses on Bung Fi Phaya Nak, naga fireballs: an annual event in which mysterious glowing balls of light rise from the river, believed to have been sent by the naga king in honor of Lord Buddha.

Nong Khai is a border town on the bank of the Mekong opposite the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). A Friendship Bridge connects the two countries and Nong Khai is a popular stopover for travelers heading to Vientiane and greater Laos. Mud Mee, a special style of silk popular with the Thai royal family, is produced in Nong Khai and the naga fireballs, a mysterious annual event, take place in the Mekong River not far from town.

Some attractions travelers shouldn’t miss are the Prab Hor Monument, built to honor those who died in the fight against the Chinese Hor Rebellion; Luang Pho Pra Sai, revered by many people, located on Pho Chai Road; Hat Chom Manee, the beach on the Mekong known as “Pattaya E-san”; The Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, a bridge over the Mekong, connecting Nong Khai Province to Vientiane Prefecture in Laos. It was founded by the cooperation of Australia, Laos and Thailand with a length of 1.2 km and a width of 15 m.

How to go to Nong Khai

The capital of Thailand brings together all the transport necessary to move around the country. To go to Nong Khai from Bangkok, you can take:

– The plane: you will get off at Udon Thani airport located 60 km from Nong Khai. From there, you can take the bus or the train to reach Nong Khai in one hour.

– By train: at Hua Lamphong central station, take the Northeastern line. Its terminus is in Nong Khai. The journey will take 11 hours passing through Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima and Ayatthaya.

– The bus: from the Mo Chit terminal, about twenty buses leave daily for Nong Khai.

The climate

The savannah climate dominates in Nong Khai. It is hot all year round but the summer is very affected by the rains while the winter is dry. Over the year, the average temperature is 28°C and the average rainfall is 2,421.8mm.

Depending on the good weather, the best time to visit Nong Khai is during the dry season. From November to March, rainfall is low and the temperature is rarely below 23°C. In April, it rises to 32.6°C. It is the hottest month of the year.

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