Udon Thani, or Udon for short, is an important regional axis that connects northeast Thailand to the rest of the country as well as neighboring Laos. Once a remote and sleepy provincial town, Udon came into action when the Thai and American governments built a joint military base there during the Vietnam War, bringing a large influx of Vietnamese immigrants to the town, creating a base of diverse multi-culture that lasts until today.

Besides its military past, Udon is home to one of the world’s earliest Bronze Age civilizations at Ban Chiang. Archaeological evidence – terracotta pottery and bronze fragments – discovered here suggests that prehistoric settlements existed between 2100 BC and 200 AD. Other ancient structures and artifacts are also found inside the Phu Phra Baht Historical Park. Here, in the middle of a vast sandstone mountain are peculiar rock formations, as well as dinosaur footprints, cave paintings and Buddhist structures.

Udon is about 560 km from Bangkok. The urban centre, town of Udon, is home to a large concentration of expatriates, some of whom settled here after the war. Udon’s dining and nightlife scene is therefore culturally diverse and offers good choices.

Udon Thani has a tropical savanna climate. Winters are quite dry and very hot. Temperatures rise until April, which is warm with an average daily high of 36.3°C. The monsoon season runs from late April to early October, with heavy rains and somewhat cooler temperatures during the day, although the nights remain warm. The range of reliably recorded temperatures in the city is from 2.5°C to 43.9°C.

How to get to Udon Thani?

Plane
There are four different airlines to choose from and three out of these four fly from Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport – Nok Air, Thai AirAsia and Thai Lion Air, while Thai Smile flies from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. So which airport you find it easiest to get to may dictate which of these airlines you ultimately choose.

Train

There are two overnight trains with Thai Railways, departing at 6.50pm and 8.05pm, both with several different ticket options. The cheapest are the standard second class seats which include air conditioning, catering and toilets. If you want to enjoy an overnight trip and get some sleep, opt for a sleeper cabin – it can be a second-class bed, or a female-only bed, or for the most money, enjoy the comfort of a cabin. a first class bed.

Bus

Traveling by bus from Bangkok to Udon Thani is a long experience, taking around 7 hours to get from one city to another. With Budsarakham Tour, you will travel by VIP bus and it will travel overnight, arriving in Morchit before 7am. Although it’s a long trip, it’s the cheapest way to get from Bangkok to Udon Thani, and considering it’s a VIP bus, it offers a variety of comforts including air conditioning, food and snacks, steward service, restrooms and even a TV.

Private car

Of course, you can always get from Bangkok to Udon Thani by renting a car. The route is quite easy to follow, however, if you are planning a trip around Songkran, you should be aware that traffic will be very heavy and it will probably take even longer than the 10 hour bus ride.

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