Nong Khai

Enjoy the Riverside Lifestyle
By exacto (dabbler - 13 reviews)
Written on 17th February, 2010 after a visit to Nong Khai in January, 2010
Because of its location directly on the Mekong River, Nong Khai has long been one of my favorite spots to visit in Thailand, and I stopped by twice on my most recent trip in January 2010. The location at the end of the Thai rail line and ease of getting across the river to Vientiane make it a great place to spend a day or two on the way to or from Laos as well.

The city continues to develop as a tourist destination, with a cozy and well-constructed kilometre-long riverside promenade at the heart of it. Adjacent to Nong Khai's local market, this walkway is lined with dozens of restaurants, shops, and bars and is a pleasant place to spend an afternoon or an evening.

The traveller's scene is definitely moving upscale here, and you'll see more older farang couples and Thai-Western couples here than in most other locations. Even so, there is the traditional backpacker area at the north end of the promenade, centered on the popular Mut Mee Guesthouse, and a newer area at the south end of the promenade as well.

There is decent enough nightlife along the promenade and at a good variety of expat-owned bars, including a string called Sunset Strip, located about 2 km south of the immigration pier. There is also a lively section of night-time noodle carts on one of the streets a few blocks inland from the river, and a happening local restaurant/club scene along the riverfront between the promenade and the Sunset Strip, but otherwise the sidewalks come in early in this still sleeply Thai town.

The Nagarina boat continues to make its nightly sunset cruise on the Mekong from the pier near the Mut Mee with departures at 5 pm-ish for 100 baht per person.
Also reviewed by exacto: Champasak, Chiang Mai, Kamphaeng Phet, Ko Maak, Lopburi, Mukdahan, Nakhon Ratchasima, Pakse, Phitsanulok, Savannakhet,