Following the establishment of a USAF base during the Vietnam War, this bustling centre became a boom town overnight and to this day there is still a US presence (although greatly reduced) in Udon Thani.

Udon Thani's (also known as Udorn) main role now is as an industrial and agricultural base and transportation hub to throughout northeast Thailand.

Although the city itself is not overflowing with things to see, it serves as a handy base from which to visit some of the surrounding sites, such as the Ban Chiang Museum and the large Phu Phra Bat National Park.