The city of Nakhon Phanom sits right on the bank of the Mekong River, more or less directly across from the city of Tha Kaek in Laos. There isn't a lot to see in the town. Most people pass through on their way to neighboring cities or to cross the river into Laos. But there is probably enough of interest to warrant spending a night here. See the Nakhon Phanom city map for an idea of what there is to see and where they are. The name Nakhon Phanom means 'city of mountains' but the modern city is completely flat. The mountains are across the river in Laos, in the form of jagged peaks that can be quite a dramatic sight in the afternoon. The name was given to the city by King Rama I in the eighteenth century. The city was once part of the Lao kingdom of Lan Xang. One legend has it that a plague struck That Phanom in the seventh century or so, and the survivors settled first across the river in present-day Tha Kaek, and later moved back to the west bank, establishing what became Nakhon Phanom. However, this story is somewhat at odds with the history of the city's most important historical site: the Phrathat Nakhon spire, which was reportedly built in the year 607.

Airports in Nakhon Phanom, Thailand

1. Nakhon Phanom Airport

Nakhon Phanom Airport (IATA: KOP, ICAO: VTUW) is a small domestic airport serving Nakhon Phanom, the capital city of Nakhon Phanom Province, Thailand. The airport is about 5 kilometers from Nakhon Phanom town. A shared van into the city costs around RM 10 while a private car will cost more. You can also get a transfer to other destinations, such as That Phanom, but this can be rather expensive. Low-cost carriers Nok Air and Air Asia both fly between Bangkok and Nakhon Phanom. You must take an international flight from any part of Malaysia that offer direct flight to Bangkok first before transiting into a domestic flight to Nakhon Phanom.

How to Get Cheap Flights to Nakhon Phanom?

Traveloka is a traveller flight ticket website where it eases the travellers to find the cheapest flights to Nakhon Phanom. All you have to do is to insert the information in the box that says origin and destination, and the website will list out the best result for you. Now they have developed the application for this website where it's mean that you can access it through your mobile phone. Just put the information and click search after that choose which packages that offer you the best price.

When is the Best Time to Fly to Nakhon Phanom?

Nakhon Phanom is subject to an annual monsoon. Here in the far northeast, the difference is quite pronounced, with a cool dry season from November through January, when on average no rain falls, which is followed by a short hot season from March to May, and then a very short rainy season from June to August.

What are the Top 3 Things to Do in Nakhon Phanom?

1. Wat Mahathat - houses the Phrathat Nakhon, the second-most important pagoda in the province. In addition to the elegant spire, there's a small museum here that may be of interest. It mainly houses a collection of Buddhist and Hindu images. The tower was built in 607 AD on the orders of an army chief from Vientiane who brought his troops here to settle.

2. The Governor's House Museum - North of the current city center along the banks of the river is the former governor's mansion. It was built around 1912 to 1914 for the first governor appointed from Bangkok. It was a time when there were still tensions with the colonial French across the Mekong, so the house was strongly built to resist attack, and even had a sort of bunker in the basement.

3. Indochina Market - is a small market facing the river just a short way north of the old car ferry ramp. The first floor is full of small shops selling just about anything you can name, although it's all mostly cheap stuff. A few stalls are selling locally produced dried fruits and other delicacies. Upstairs is a sort of food court. The city's main market is a few blocks away from the river. There is a large covered area that's active in the daytime, and a nearby street that turns into a food market at night.