Thailand : Nong Khai

Nong Khai is a border town on the bank of the Mekong River. This province is a gateway to Vientiane, the capital of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR.), and a friendship bridge links the two countries. It is also the site of the famous Naga Fireballs.

Nong Khai is a border town on the bank of the Mekong River. This province is a gateway to Vientiane, the capital of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR.), and a friendship bridge links the two countries. It is also the site of the famous Naga Fireballs.

The history of modern Nong Khai dates back over 200 years. Initially however, this riverside area was spotted with small towns and traces of ancient places have been found in temples along the Mekong River. During the reign of King Rama III of the Rattanakosin era, Chao Anuwong, the ruler of Vientiane, staged a rebellion. King Rama III appointed Chao Phraya Ratchathewi to lead an army to attack Vientiane. The army won with the support of forces led by Thao Suwothanma (Bunma), ruler of Yasothon, and Phraya Chiangsa. The king consequently promoted Thao Suwo to be ruler of a large town to be established on the right bank of the Mekong River. The location of Ban Phai was chosen for the town called Nong Khai, which was named after a large pond that lies just to its west.

Nong Khai province contains the longest stretch of the Mekong River: 320 km. The area is suitable for agriculture and freshwater fishery. It is also a major tourist destination and the major launching point for journeys into Laos or exploring greater Isan (northeastern Thailand). Nong Khai features temples, traditional culture, a beautiful countryside, and a rural folk lifestyle, the most lively event of which centers on the Bung Fi Phaya Nak, the naga fireballs: an annual event whereby mysterious glowing balls of light rise up out of the river, believed to be sent by the naga king in honor of the lord Buddha.

Nong Khai is a border town on the bank of the Mekong River opposite the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR.). A friendship bridge links the two countries and Nong Khai is a popular stop for travelers headed to Vientiane and greater Laos. Nong Khai has a charming capital city and the province features a number of beautiful natural attractions and a fascinating culture. Mud Mee, a special style of silk that is popular with the Thai royal family, is produced in Nong Khai and the naga fireballs, a mysterious annual event, takes place in the Mekong River not far from town.

Indo-China market (Ta Sadet)

Nong Khai province is one of the most enchanting areas because it features the multi-cultural lifestyle of the Thai, Laos and Vietnamese. Nong Khai is a peaceful province located on the banks of the Mekong River and it offers many interesting places to visit. If you are looking for a place to shop and eat with nice scenery that illustrates the identity of Nong Khai, then Indo-China Market is where you should go.

Nong Khai is one of the official Thai-Laotian border checkpoints and has been a significant trading center between Thai and Laos throughout history. In the past, Ta Sadet was a pier for Thai-Laos boats transporting goods from Indochina and Eastern Europe. Later on, Indo-China Market became a shopping center, situated on the banks of Mekong River, north of Nong Khai. The market is opened daily from 7 am – 6.30 pm. It offers a wide range of local foods and various products. The market area is roofed to provide comfort for shoppers and merchants protecting them from rain and sun.

At Indo-China Market  there are many local products, which make wonderful souvenirs. While walking through the market, there are many shops selling electronics, watches, jewelry, silver ornaments, ceramics, hand-woven cotton, and herbs. The goods available are cheap and the market is very easy to explore, as it is not very crowded. Here, visitors will enjoy perusing from stall to stall while relishing in the memories of the good old days of Ta Sadet the trading post.

Apart from shopping at the market, there are many food stalls along the Mekong River as well. If you are hungry or tired from walking, just walk into one of the local restaurants and order from an Isan menu. Some famous local food and dessert recommendations include: Mekong fish, Isan-style sausage, Mu Yo (pork bar), Naem (fermented pork), Naem Nueang (Vietnamese food), and Ma Prow Kaew (sweet coconut). Take your time in eating and appreciate the mammoth yet tranquil river as you recuperate. From this spot, you can also see the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge that crosses over the Mekong River linking Nong Khai, Thailand and Laos together.

In the evening, Indo-China Market is the place to watch a stunning sunset and the mighty Mekong River and shopping at the walking street every saturday before returning home.

The Naga fireballs, Nong Khai

Be amazed by various colors of mysterious fireballs abruptly soaring up from the water high into the air.

This phenomenon is an experience that is worth seeing with your own eyes. According to the folk story, the fireballs are believed to come from a Naga, the mythical serpent that rules the underwater world, showing his respect to the Buddha when the Lord descended from Tavatimsa (the second heaven where Indra dwells).

It is a scientifically inexplicable phenomenon in which glowing reddish fireballs appear about 1- 30 meters above the Mekong River and rise up quickly 50-150 meters high in the air. They radiate for only around 5-10 seconds before disappearing, unlike typical fireworks that fall in a curved path.

These smokeless, soundless, and odorless fireballs have diverse sizes from thumb-size sparklers to as big as an egg. They are often reported to be seen from the dusk until midnight of the end of Buddhist Lent. This phenomenon is known as Naga fireballs.

The locals at Phon Phisai district believe that the area they live in is called Pattalung, the gateway to the subterranean world under the water. The mythological belief about Naga fireballs dates back more than 2,000 years on the last night of Buddhist Lent. When the Buddha descended from the celestial Tavatimsa heaven back to the human world after giving a sermon to his mother for three months all mortals and deities were greatly delighted and celebrated his return. Naga, the ruler of underwater world, thus produced rocketing fireballs to show his great faith in the Buddha.

Do not miss such an amazing opportunity to observe how miraculous and dazzling this phenomenon is.

Wat Po Chai

Don’t miss visiting Pra Sai, the most respected and sacred Buddha statue of Wat Po Chai. Originally, there were three statues in total; Pra Sai, Pra Sook, and Pra Serm, located in Wiang Chan. When the Anuwong rebellion took place in the reign of King Rama III, the King ordered all the three statues to be transported to a safer place. On the way, Pra Sook accidentally sank in the Khong River. Pra Serm was taken to Wat Patumwanaram by King Rama IV. The cart that carried Pra Sai, however, broke down in front of Wat Po Chai and, believing it was some kinds of prophecy, the statue was placed there.

Wat Po Chai is situated in Nai Mueng Sub district, Mueng District, Nongkhai.

Tourists are encouraged to visit in April around the Songkran Festival. Pra Sai is annually bathed in scented water and paraded around the town. The festival draws a massive number of people each year.

Wat Hin Mhak Peng

With a serene and pleasant atmosphere, Wat Hin Mhak Peng is considered a suitable place for meditating and practicing Dharma. If visitors have plenty of time, they can come here to meditate and regain their composure. People who are interested can telephone 042 421 409 for more information

Wat Hin Mhak Peng is situated at Tambol Praputtabat, Amphur Srichiangmai, Nongkhai.

There are also other interesting temples such as Wat Pratad Bungpuan, where visitors can see the old stupa in the Lan Xang style. After that do not forget to visit Sattamahastan Jamlong, which is where it is believed the Buddha stayed after his enlightenment. During the end of the Buddhist lent, there is also a firework festival here at Amphur Ponepisai.

There are many delicious restaurants near Wat Hin Mhak Peng such as Dang Restaurant who have sold pork sausages and Vietnamese food for more than 40 years. Fah Mai restaurant, Racha restaurant, Mae Tuan restaurant are also popular eateries.

Cheap Chinese appliances are sold at the Indochina market at the Mekong River Road. Coffee from Laos also can be found here at Nongkhai.

Tham Phra waterfall

Tham Phra waterfall is one of the beautiful falls located in the Phu Wua wild life sanctuary about 40 kilometers from Bung Khong Long. It can be reached by boat, taking about 15 minutes the route passing Nam Ning brook. On both sides of the falls are verdant thick forest, some parts is stone cliff with an abundant flower display.Alighting from the boat it is a short walk to view the falls. There are two statues of Buddha at the rim of a red sandstone cliff. There used to be a temple on this spot but it was moved in order to open this area for visitors. Steps take you up to the top where the water flows into the shallow pond beneath. Near the waterfall is the remarkable red sandstone cliff, the symbol of the northeast. This is a great spot for swimming, playing in the water or just relaxing and enjoying the natural surroundings.

From this level, walk up a little more and you will find a large waterfall with many big stones. In this area, you will find the big clumps of Habenaria rhodocheila Hance at the rim of the cliff and you will see a few Arundina caespitosa which seem like Arundina graminifolia but smaller.

Key Tips

• The naga fireball phenomenon occurs most often on Wan Awk Pansa, the full moon night of the 11th month of the lunar year that signifies the end of Buddhist rain retreat, usually in October.
• Hotel rooms fill quickly before the Naga Fireballs; book a room in advance!

Thailand : Floras and Faunas

Plants and animals in Thailand are both unique and diverse.  Thailand’s geography, which stretches from the coasts of the Malaysian Peninsula to the mountains of mainland Asia, features a variety of climates and thus a diversity of plant and animal species.

Despite a majority of Thailand having been converted to agriculture over the centuries, natural forest still covers roughly 25% of Thailand’s area. Thailand’s woodlands mostly consist of monsoon forest and rainforest, which are differentiated by the amount of rainfall each receives.  Furthermore, monsoon forests typically consist of deciduous or hardwood trees, which shed their leaves during the dry season in order to conserve water.  Thailand’s most useful hardwood is the teak. 

The rainforest zones are mostly covered with evergreen trees, although much of Thailand has considerable overlap and it is not uncommon to find bamboo, coconut palms, and banana trees throughout the country.  Across the in the coastal lowlands, in addition to more predominately rainforest cover, mangroves and rattan abound.

In addition to the aforementioned Teak, Thailand is famous for its variety of fruit and flower-bearing trees and plants, the most iconic of which is the orchid, Thailand’s national flower, which appears in over 27,000 different varieties.

While encroachment on their habitat has reduced the populations of many exotic animals in Thailand, there are still a great variety of indigenous species.  The most iconic of these is the Elephant, of which roughly 1,000 remain in the wild, mostly within the National Parks in Thailand.  Among the larger mammals are the tiger, leopard, Malaysian sun bear, sambar deer, otter, and civet cat. Climbing animals include the gibbon and many species of monkeys. There are also sheep, goats, oxen, tapirs, wild cattle, wild hogs, and a wide variety of snakes, including cobra. Crocodiles, lizards, and turtles are also very numerous and fish abound in the rivers and coastal waters.

Finally, there are over 900 breeding bird species indigenous to or that migrate to Thailand.  Bird-watching tours are particularly popular in Sam Roi Yot National Park and Khao Sok, which is home to six species of hornbill.

Thailand : National Parks

For any traveler wishing to explore the wonders of nature, a Thailand National Park is an outstanding destination. There are many forest parks if you long to explore the tropical rainforest or travel deep into the wild jungle to see some of the exotic animals in Thailand. If you prefer scuba diving, snorkeling, or sea kayaking there are a number of national marine parks in the south and east of Thailand that are simply stunning.

In fact, Thailand has over 100 national parks, including more than 20 marine parks; each park in Thailand contains unique flora and fauna as well as basic amenities, including some bungalows with electricity and grounds for camping (even if you don’t bring your own tent.) Most of these parks are easily accessible and admission fees are relatively modest, though booking ahead is often recommended as some parks are very popular with Thai visitors, particular over long holiday weekends.

Eco-oriented activities at a national park in Thailand range from trekking, kayaking, nature photography, camping and snorkeling to spotting exotic birds and other animals in Thailand unlike those found elsewhere in the world.  However, simply relaxing and enjoying the pristine beauty of unspoiled Thai nature may be the most rewarding experience of all.

A few of Thailand’s more popular national parks are:

Khao Yai National Park is perhaps the most popular Thai park as it is just 200 km from Bangkok and the bucolic surrounding area features a variety of accommodation options, a variety of activities, and diverse wildlife that includes wild tigers, elephants, bears, and exotic birds, such as the giant hornbill.

Doi Inthanon National Park in Northern Thailand features Thailand’s highest peak and contains waterfalls and forests containing numerous species of orchid.  The area is also inhabited by indigenous hill tribe villagers.

Sam Roi Yot National Park is a favorite for bird watchers as the coastal region of the park features marshes that are home to a variety of waterfowl and other marine life.

Erawan National Park, located in Kanchanaburi Province in western Thailand, features a renowned seven tiered waterfall and a tropical forest that contains numerous wildlife species.

Marine parks include Koh Samet (conveniently located near Bangkok), Ang Thong Marine National Park (a favorite kayaking and snorkeling day-trip from Koh Samui), Tarutao Marine Park (the most remote and unspoiled of Thailand’s southern islands), and Ao Phang Nga National Park (a popular day-trip from Phuket that features unique limestone islands such as “James Bond Island” from the film The Man with the Golden Gun). 

Thailand : Beaches and Islands

Visiting a Thailand beach or island is the preferred holiday for hundreds of thousands of visitors to Thailand every year. Thailand is blessed with natural beauty and its islands are amongst the most scenic and beautiful in the world. Likewise, each Thai beach, such as Karon Beach in Phuket, Chaweng Beach on Koh Samui, or picturesque Maya Bay on Koh Phi Phi, is simply stunning, and many feature powdery sand, crystal clear water, and postcard-perfect scenery.

Each Thai beach and island has its own character and identity and therefore draws a specific type of visitor.  Each coastal area contains a slice of heaven suitable for a different style of traveler:  The west coast of Thailand, along the Andaman Sea, features beaches that appeals to every type of traveler, including the activity-filled resort island of Phuket; the popular backpacker beaches of Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, and Krabi; the family friendly, laid back, and pristine coast of Khao Lak (the launching point for trips to the spectacular Similan Islands); and the remote, undeveloped islands of the far south.

Along the Gulf coast, the resort island of Koh Samui lies nearby the natural splendor of Koh Phangan and the scuba diving paradise of Koh Tao.  Closer to Bangkok are the popular resort town of Hua Hin, a favorite among Thais, and its quieter neighbor Cha Am.  Finally, to the east of Thailand, the northern Gulf features Bangkok weekend getaway Koh Samet, and the up-and-coming resort island of Koh Chang, which has both upscale resorts and budget beach bungalows.

Certain Thai beaches and islands, like Koh Tarutao National Park, offer limited accommodation and facilities and draw more adventurous travelers who are looking for a more ‘back to basics’ holiday experience. Others, such as Kamala Beach in Phuket, offer world class facilities (accommodation, restaurants, nightlife, etc) to entice visitors with bigger budgets who require creature comforts. It is important to note that this diversity exists not only between the islands, but between different beaches as well. Whereas one Thai beach might offer raucous entertainment, another a few kilometers away on the same island might only draw those looking for a quiet holiday.

Phuket, Thailand’s largest island, is a perfect example of this contrast.  Phuket is certainly the most developed Thai island, having been the first Thai beach resort destination.  Located on the Andaman coast, Phuket contains numerous beaches, including the activity filled Patong beach, with its exciting nightlife, and the more family friendly Karon and Kata beaches.  Across the island are luxurious five-star resorts and a wealth of Thai spas that serve to pamper visitors on any budget.  In addition to a lush, tropical interior that features a variety of exotic wildlife, Phuket is an ideal location for day trips to nearby islands, such as Koh Phi Phi, a favorite destination for scuba divers, and Phang Nga bay, where visitors can snorkel, kayak, and visit iconic James Bond Island (Koh Tapu).  Phuket is easily accessible via its international airport that connects domestically with Bangkok, Koh Samui, and Chiang Mai.

Koh Samui is the prime island attraction in the Gulf of Thailand.  The most popular beach, Chaweng, features accommodation from five-star luxury resorts to affordable beach bungalows, and dining includes fine dining on international cuisine and casual beachside seafood barbeques.  Samui is both family friendly and budget oriented with a host of activities, some of Thailand’s finest spas, and is conveniently located nearby some of Thailand’s finest diving off neighboring Koh Tao.  Samui International Airport connects domestically to Bangkok, Krabi, Phuket, and Chiang Mai.

Krabi is a province on the mainland Andaman coast, near Phuket.  In addition to popular beachside resort areas, such as Railey Beach, Krabi includes a number of spectacular islands, such as the Phi Phi Islands and Koh Lanta, off of which some of Thailand’s most popular scuba diving sites are found.