A cultural experience is never far in Thailand, but one of the best cities to go for a melting pot excursion is Nakhon Phanom. With Lao, Thai, and Vietnamese influences, Catholic churches and royal palaces, and more, this city is an incredible one-day trip that’s right across the river from Laos. If culture interests you, take a look through this list of the top 10 things to do in Nakhon Phanom and get your passport ready!
1. Learn about Vietnamese residences with a trip to the Thai-Vietnamese Friendship Village
If you’re a history buff that has an interest in the Vietnam War era, take a trip to the Thai-Vietnamese Friendship Village. It is one of the places that Ho Chi Minh lived in, in Thailand, before returning to Vietnam for the revolution and is therefore culturally and historically significant. This village is just 4 km (2.4 mi) from city centre and hosts gardens and a museum, all dedicated to teaching tourists about the Vietnam War. It’s not to be missed if you have a strong passion for Vietnamese and Thai history.
Thai-Vietnamese Friendship Village
Address: Na Jok Village, Nakhon Phanom, Thailand
Price: Free
Opening Hours: 9am - 6pm daily. Closed on public holidays
Duration: around 1 hour required
Contact: +66 814717266
Facebook: Thai-Vietnamese Friendship Village
2. Pay your respects at Saint Anna Saeng Catholic Church
If you’re active and like to bike or walk across the cities you stay in, try the 8-kilometer (5-mile) long bicycle lane along the Mae Nam Kong, that ends at the Saint Anna Nong Saeng Catholic Church. This is one of the few Catholic churches in the country that was built with a strong Vietnamese influence. The building itself is nice and serene, but around 9 am, school children can be seen milling about the grounds. The rectory is also available for tourists and can be a great place to unwind and take photos before getting back on your bike and seeing more sights around the city.
Saint Anna Nong Saeng Catholic Church
Address: Sunthorn Vijit Road | Naimueang Subdistrict, Nakhon Phanom, Thailand
Price: Free
Opening Hours: 8.30am - 4.30pm daily
Duration: around 30 minutes required
Access: located on Sonthornvijit Road
3. Look to Laos at the 3rd Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge
If you’re country-hopping and coming into Nakhon Phanom from Laos, try using the 3rd Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge. It is located on Phanom Road heading over the Mun River and can be crossed for tourism and trade purposes. The bridge itself is a sight to behold, but what’s more interesting is that you can rent a car and take the route that’s known as the Asian Highway, which links Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam together. Or you can just head on over to Wat Maha That on the Thailand side once you’ve taken in the sights at the bridge!
3rd Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge
Address: Soi 1-2 Ban Chommani, Tambon Mi Chai, Amphoe Mueang, Nong Khai
Price: 0.28 USD per person; 5.81 USD per car exit fee
Opening Hours: 6 am - 10 pm daily
Duration: around 10 minutes
4. Go shopping at the Indochine Market
Indochine Market is located just 25 meters (82 feet) away from the riverfront and offers a nice reprieve from the sun. It’s an open-air market that offers everything from food and beverages to clothing and electronics. While most of these vendors don’t speak English, you’ll be able to grab a few bargains while here, so stop by when you can.
Indochine Market
Address: Nai Mueang, Mueang Nakhon Phanom District, Nakhon Phanom 48000, Thailand
Price: Free
Opening Hours: 8 am - 6 pm daily
Duration: around 1 hour required
Contact: +66 816011203
5. Walk along the Nakhon Phanom Riverfront
One of the best places to see all of the different cultures that influence life in Nakhon Phanom is by the riverfront. Most city walking tours will take you in this general area, but grab a bottle of water and wander around the promenade for a while. The riverfront is right across the street from a variety of other sites in Nakhon Phanom, such as Wat Maha That, Wat Phra In Plaeng, the Indochine Market, the Governor’s Mansion, and more. Just remember that the city isn’t known for speaking a lot of English, so take along a Thai phrasebook in case you get lost!
Nakhon Phanom Riverfront
Address: Nakhon Phanom, Thailand
Price: Free
Opening Hours: 24 hours
Duration: around 2 hours required
Access: accessible by Nakhom Phanom or Laos on the eastern side of the city
6. Take a river boat cruise on the Mekong River
Spending a day, or maybe just an evening, on the river sounds like a marvelous idea, doesn’t it? In Nakhon Phanom, you can do just that! There are daily boat trips that depart south of the city’s main pier at 5 pm every day and will take you on a slow, blissful journey on the Mekong River. You return back to the pier just before dark, relaxed and ready to grab something to eat or dance the night away. Because Nakhon Phanom is on the border of Thailand and Laos, your river boat cruise will offer views of both countries. Additionally, a boat can be chartered for a private cruise, making for a great romantic surprise.
River Boat Cruise
Address: Nakhon Phanom Main Pier
Price: 1.45 USD
Opening Hours: 5 pm daily
Duration: around 2 hours required
7. Learn about aquatic life at the Mekong Underwater World
If educational trips are your speed, especially when you’re travelling to a new city, then take the time to step off the Mekong riverfront and visit Mekong Underwater World. This is a small aquarium located near the Muang Nakhon Phanom Municipality Office and houses aquatic life from the Mekong, Kam, and Songkhram Rivers. The aquarium also houses a theatre with 50 shops, different ecosystem exhibitions, a souvenir shop, and more. Take an afternoon to explore a museum dedicated to the endangered and rare river life that exists in Thailand.
Mekong Underwater World
Address: Nong Yat Dam, Nong Yat - Na Kae Road, Nakhon Phanom, Thailand
Price: 0.29 USD for kids; 0.87 USD for adults
Opening Hours: 9 am - 6 pm. Closed on public holidays
Duration: around 2 hours required
Contact: 66 42515312
Website: Mekong Underwater World
8. Stand in the shadow of the Vietnamese Memorial Clock Tower
Located near the centre of town, just off Nakhon Phanom Road, sits the Vietnamese Clock Tower. It was built in 1959 as a gift to the city by the Vietnamese residents of Nakhon Phanom, prior to their return to Vietnam in 1960. It is a gift of friendship and remembrance, as the people of Nakhon Phanom took in the Vietnamese in during their time of need. While it is not an attraction that requires a whole afternoon to see, it is still worth a visit whilst you spend time in the city centre. Between grabbing a meal and doing a little shopping, wander down the road to this clock tower and stand in the shadow of cultural history.
Vietnamese Memorial Clock Tower
Address: Nakhon Phanom 48000, Thailand
Price: Free
Opening Hours: 24 hours a day
Duration: around 5 minutes required
Access: On the walking street of Nakhon Phanom
Website: Vietnamese Memorial Clock Tower
9. Get educated about the province at the Nakornpathom Provincial Governor's Residence Museum
If you’re interested in the political history of Nakhon Phanom, a trip to Nakornpathom Provincial Governor’s Residence Museum is in order. Built around 1913, the mansion served as the residence for the first governor appointed from Bangkok. After a 1955 visit from the King of Thailand, in which he stayed at the residence, it was deemed unseemly to allow the governor to reside there once again and was abandoned for decades. Now, however, the mansion has been restored to its former glory and serves as a museum, complete with a full story that focuses on the history of Nakhon Phanom; the second story is dedicated to the King of Thailand’s royal visit in 1955. Admission is free, so there’s no reason not to take in a part of the city’s history!
Nakornpathom Provinicial Governor's Residency Museum
Address: Sunthorn Vijit Road | Naimueang Subdistrict, Nakhon Phanom, Thailand
Price: Free
Opening Hours: Wednesday - Sunday 10 am - 6 pm. Closed on public holidays
Duration: around 2 hours required
Contact: +66 42513490
Website: Nakornpathom Provinicial Governor’s Residency Museum
10. Watch the Illuminated Boat Procession
The Illuminated Boat Procession in Nakhon Phanom is one of the most celebrated in the city. It’s an annual event that takes place at the end of Buddhist Lent, which generally ends in October. Along with a boat procession down the Mekong River, the procession is also accompanied by traditional folk dances and cultural performances. The history behind the procession is interesting: it is a tradition relating to a legend about Buddha spending the entirety of Buddhist lent, which is roughly three months long, in heaven and returning to Earth at the end. That is why the boats are illuminated so that the boats can help usher Buddha safely back to land.
Illuminated Boat Procession
Address: Muang District, Nakon Phanom Province
Price: Free
Opening Hours: 1 - 31 October, nightly
Duration: around 1 hour required
Contact: +66 42511287
Website: Illuminated Boat Procession
Live between cultures for a day or two
Nakhon Phanom is a city of cultures. It is a melting pot of French, Lao, Vietnamese, and Chinese cultures, making for a great day or weekend trip for those who love cultural diversity. Now’s the best time to visit Nakhon Phanom, so get on the plane today!
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