Eat and meet

Mukdahan

Mukdahan's food scene is pretty standard fare -- lots of noodle and rice shops in the centre along with a bunch of bars towards the southern end of town.

Early risers will appreciate the GoodMook coffee shop just a few yards from the immigration office on Songnang Satit road. Great coffee and free WiFi for customers with a laptop. The local expat population tend to frequent this place to meet and chat and you'll usually see some foreign faces pounding away on their keyboards. It's also open late into the evening and the offer a full range of alcoholic drinks.

On the same stretch of road are a handful of restaurants within a few yards of immigration and the staff usually have limited English language skills, thanks to the constant trickle of foreigners to immigration. There is also a coffee shop in the reception of the Huanam hotel just down the road but the internet isn't free and there's no WiFi.

The night market on Songnang Satit Rd is a great opportunity to soak up the local buzz, eat Thai, Laos and Vietnamese dishes and the prices are very reasonable. It starts around 17:00 and winds down around 21:00. Don't be surprised if you hear Vietnamese being spoken here as there are many Vietnamese nationals that made a home out of this city.

There are a number of restaurants for all budgets around the intersection of soi Damrong Mukda and soi Samut Sakdarak, including a handful of karaoke bars. You could also have a look outside the front of the River City Hotel, where there are some Karaoke bars, often doubling as nice sit down restaurants. At the intersection of Samut Sakdarak and Muang Mai, right opposite the 7-11 and just a few yards from the Submukda Hotel, there are a couple of restaurants right on the intersection and are conveniently located right in the centre of town.

Another place to find plenty of small 'Ma and Pa' type restaurants is Soi Phitak Santhirat and there are quite a few such restaurants dotted along it's length. Like most Thai cities, you're never far from a place to eat. About a 15 miniute walk further south will bring you to the edge of town where the Mukdahan Tower is located and there are a number of karaoke bars and small hole in the wall restaurants but it's probably not worth the walk in the evening. If you want a better known smart local karaoke bar, try the Ploy Palace hotel karaoke.

It's not immediately obvious where to find the night owls but ask around a little and you'll soon find where the action is. Mukdahan is a laid back city that appears to close down after dark.

Young locals hit full swing at DM pub -- you'll find it right under the Mukdahan Tower. It's a typical Thai club with DJ and small tables spread out everywhere. Across the street, there is the Country Club that offers live music with several TV screens showing the football. Located right next door, under the same management you'll find the Coyote Bar with hip-hop music rotating with a band.

If you're looking for a discotheque, even sleepy Mukdahan has a great Bangkok style Thai disco located in a separate building on the grounds of the Grand Hotel. People start converging on this place around 11pm and there's a combination of live music, dancing and pop music. It's by far the busiest place in town, with live bands and singers rotated on the main stage followed by hip-hop and Thai dance tunes after 1am.

All bars and discos close at 2 am as is required under Thai law but if you're hungry, there are noodle stands all over town where you can fill your boots for next to nothing. A popular area to eat at these late hours is on the main road alongside the Ploy Palace Hotel, which is just a short 5 minute walk from the Grand Hotel disco. Directly opposite the Ploy Palace is a late night street restaurant and noodle stand and there will be a handful of late night revelers satisfying their hunger.

Don't forget you're in a distant Thai city and while you won't look out of place if you dress to impress, most people dress casually, no matter what the venue.