Udon Thani province
Udon Thani is a huge province acting as the industrial, commercial and transportation hub for Thailand's northeast. Much of this development originally stemed from when it housed a US air-base during the Vietnam war, though there's little evidence of the US military presence anymore.
Situated on an elevated plateau, Udon Thani gradually flattens out towards northern Nong Khai province and in the hot season the province is a bit of an arid dusty wasteland. The closest you get to Nongkhai, the better the climate gets.
Industry aside, Udon Thani province holds some archaelogical importance, with the Ban Chiang dig uncovering pottery dating back over 5,000 years. Udon Thani is also known among Thais for producing fragrant Udon Sunshine perfume, made from an orchid of the same name -- orchids which bizarrely react to music.
The eponymous provincial capital holds little of interest to the traveller but makes a good base from which to explore the surrounding region.
