Nakhon Phanom sits alongside the Mekong River and approximately 735km from Bangkok. Primarily a farmer's market town, there are as many tractor stores as mobile phone stores (or almost anyway) and it has an overall very rural feel to it.

Few travellers find themselves here for any reason other than leaving again to visit Laos. If you are planning on entering Laos at this point, we'd suggest staying at That Phanom (at Niyana Guesthouse) an hour south of town -- it is a far more interesting place to stay, although the riverside view is better at Nakhon Phanom.

Within the town there is precious little to do other than to wander along the riverside boardwalk. If you're really board, head to the TAT Office at the northern end of town, where they'll happily confirm that yes, there really is nothing to go in Nakhon Phanom.