Nakhon Phanom

Nakhon Phanom has one of the most dramatic Mekong riverfront settings in all of Isan — the city looks across to the limestone karst mountains of Laos, and the sunsets here are consistently spectacular. The Third Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge connects to Thakhek, Laos. Wat Phra That Phanom, about 50 km south in That Phanom town, is one of the most sacred temples in northeastern Thailand — its golden Lao-style chedi draws pilgrims from across the region, especially during the massive annual festival in February.

The city itself has French-colonial influenced architecture from its time as a trade outpost, and the riverside promenade is perfect for evening strolls. Phu Langka National Park, straddling the border with Nakhon Phanom and Bueng Kan, offers sea-of-fog viewpoints in the cool season. The Ho Chi Minh house museum, where the Vietnamese revolutionary lived in exile in the 1920s-30s, is a curious historical footnote. Renu Nakhon, a small Phu Thai village south of town, is known for its traditional dance performances and handwoven textiles.