Ban Chiang is a sleepy, rural town whose sole focus for visitors is the astounding archaeological excavations. Action centres around the museum, where there are a handful of shops selling souvenirs (predominantly the distinctive red on buff pottery replicas which are not expensive but quite heavy) as well as a few restaurants, one of which is noted for selling local style crunchy yellow noodles. The museum itself has plenty to offer, and interesting English explanations for each display. The excavation site itself is not far down the road, where evidence was discovered of prehistoric human habitation in North Eastern Thailand over 5,000 years ago.