Nakhon Phanom (นครพนม) is a Northeastern Province that sits along the Mekong River opposite Laos. The town is a pleasant surprise of great food, friendly people, coffee shops and local living with a very small number of tourists.
The most popular thing to do in Nakhon Phanom by far is to go to their Walking Street. It’s a night market they host every weekend. It is the place to be for locals and travelers alike. It’s one of the best places to get food and drinks along the Mekong. If you are looking for real Issan street food, then this is the place to be.
Set up starts around 4:00 pm and generally is open until about 10:00 pm. It sits right on the bank of the Mekong River. For a small town it is surprisingly a large market with lots of food, clothing and souvenirs to be found. It goes from the huge naga statue near the pier to the famous clock tower in the old town.
The food is much different than what you find in most of Thailand. You can find lots of Vietnamese, ...
The Phimai Festival, also known as the Phimai Boat Race Festival, is an annual cultural extravaganza held in Phimai, Nakhon Ratchasima Province (Isaan region, Thailand). It celebrates the area’s Khmer heritage, centered around the 1,000-year-old Phimai Historical Park (Prasat Hin Phimai).
The 2025 edition is expected to occur during the first weekend of November, 5-9th 2025. Key highlights include long-boat races on the Chakrat River, light-and-sound shows depicting Khmer history, traditional performances, and cultural markets. The festival draws thousands of visitors, transforming the quiet town into a vibrant hub of Isaan traditions.
The night market, often styled as an “ancient market” during the festival, is one of the event’s most enchanting features. It turns the streets surrounding Phimai Historical Park into a lively, bamboo-constructed bazaar evoking ancient Khmer trading hubs, blending historical reenactment with modern street vibes.
Centered near the Clock Tower and the ...
The Khmer Empire was a powerful Kingdom in South-East Asia. Its major architectural works (temples and sculptures) are located in present day Cambodia, where the capital of the empire was located. However, during long periods of time the Khmer ruled over parts of present day Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.
Like other major ethnic groups in the history of South-East Asia (the Thais, the Mons, The Chams) the Khmer are thought to have descended in the prehistoric period from the river valleys in Eastern Tibet and Southwest China. The Khmer appear first on the scene (in Chinese records) in the second half of the 6th century A.D. with the Kingdom known as Chenla.
Since the Khmer reigned for long periods over extended areas of present day Thailand, Thailand has a substantial number of important Khmer monuments on its territory, mainly in its Northeastern Region (such as Phonom Rung and Muang Tam in Buriram Province, Phimai in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Muang Singh in Kanchanaburi province). Any look around the...
One of the many Thai traditions that have survived from the Ayutthaya era, dating back about 600 years. The boat races started as a means to prepare and boost the morale of the kingdom’s soldiers, as a way to develop their courage and strength by rowing. In the days of the Ayutthaya kingdom every Thai man was considered vital to the country’s defense. At that stage of history aggressive neighbors could start a war at any time.
Boats used during the festival are carefully chosen and made from trees that reflect the beliefs of a particular area. The boats are also rowed by the best trained and most fit of rowing crews.
During the months where water levels are at their highest points many areas in Thailand will host long boat racing festivals. They can be found in all regions of Thailand from August through November.
In this video we get a chance to see the races in Phimai. Events like this are a great way to experience Thai culture.
Traditional Long Boat Racing in Thailand - Phimai ...
