Ubon Ratchathani or Ubon for short is a large province in the lower part of Isan, the North East of Thailand. Little visited by foreign tourists, the province bordering Cambodia and Laos is dotted with mountain ranges and several national parks.

Ubon’s history goes back thousands of years; traces of ancient man can be found at Pha Taem National Park where rock paintings on cliffs show scenes of prehistoric life. The province’s capital city Ubon Ratchathani town is located on the banks of the Mun river, which flows into the Mekong river at the Thai – Laos border.

History of Ubon Ratchathani

The history of Ubon Ratchathani is closely linked to that of Cambodia and Laos. The current city was established towards the end of the 18th century, when King Taksin the Great brought the northeastern region under his rule. For a long time it had been a Khmer dependency before passing under the flag of Ayutthaya around 1300, when the troops of Ramathibodi I crushed the Khmers. In 1767, the Burmese put an end to the rule of Ayutthaya. Phra Phutthayotfa Chulalok, assassinating King Taksin, took control of central Thailand. To unify the city of Ubon, which was at the time dispersed into small tribal groups, he promised titles of nobility to the chiefs of tribes who would swear allegiance to him. This was done around the 1790s. Of all these local chiefs, the one who gathered the most important colony was Chao Kham Phong, a noble from Laos who fled from the kingdom of Vientiane. In exchange for his loyalty, Rama I appointed him to the post of governor.

The city of Ubon played a key role during World War II. When Imperial Japanese Army troops brought the war captives who survived on the Death Railway back from Kanchanaburi, the locals welcomed them, and their help was instrumental in the soldiers’ reintegration into society. Thong Si Muang Park in the center of the city is a memorial built in recognition of the city’s generosity.

The Lao influence is betrayed as much in the architecture, crafts, tapestries as in the local cuisine.

Climate

How to go to Ubon Ratchathani

There are several ways to get to Ubon Ratchathani from Bangkok. The 610 kilometer trip can be made by airplane, train or bus.

By Air
Ubon Ratchathani airport is located in the North end of town.

Thai Airways offers flights from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi international airport. Flights take 1 hour and 5 minutes, fares start at 1,200 Thai Baht one way.

Nok Air offers multiple flights daily from Bangkok’s old airport, Don Muang. Fares for the 1 hour and 5 minutes flight start at around 830 Thai Baht. For more info, check the Nok Air website.

Air Asia serves Ubon Ratchathani from Don Muang. Flights take 1 hour, fares start at 690 Thai Baht one way.

By train
Ubon is on the State Railway of Thailand’s North Eastern line. Both daytime and sleeper trains depart from Hua Lamphong station in Bangkok. The 575 kilometer trip takes 9 to 11 hours, depending on the type of train. Tickets cost 95, 221, 460 Thai Baht for third, second and first class.
For more information, visit the State Railway of Thailand website.

Ubon Ratchathani train station is found South of the town, across the Mun river, a few kilometers South of the town center.

By Bus
Ordinary and air con buses to Ubon Ratchathani depart from Bangkok’s North Eastern bus terminal Mo Chit II on Kamphaeng Phet 2 road. The trip takes between 8 and 10 hours, fares vary from a little over 400 Baht to 600 Baht.

Ubon Ratchathani bus terminal is located North West of the town center on Highway 231, just West of the intersection with Highway 212.

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