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Region: Northeast Thailand> Province: Yasothon>Location: Yasothon

Yasothon sights and attractions

Wat Phra That Yasothon - Just another wat

Wareratchadet Road

Description
Other than the Rocket Festival, Wat Maha That (or Wat Phra That Yasothon as it is also known) on Wareratchadet Road is worth a look if you are waiting for a bus or a revelation. The chedi is believed to be around 1,300 years old and is similar in style to the one at Nakhon Phanom. Next to the wat is an ancient scripture hall which is built over a small pond. The ashes of Phra Ananda, are stored on site.

Phaya Thaen Public Park - Relaxing

Just outside of the centre of town

Description
This park is just outside of the centre of Yasothon and is a popular place for the locals to relax. The park is geared up for a variety of pastimes including concerts, plays and boat racing and is also the centrepiece during the rocket festival.

Yasothon Rocket Festival (Bung Fai) - Don't miss it

Just outside Yasothon

Description
Yasothon's Rocket Festival is a spectacular event, definitely worth seeing if you are in the vicinity. Ostensibly a rain making ceremony, today, the festival is drifting away from its roots with far more media attention while slowly attracting an increasing trickle of tourists.

Held in mid May (May 13-15 2006), the festival attracts pyromaniacs and amateur rocket scientists from around Thailand who come to see whose rocket can go the highest. Generally made of a PVC pipe stuffed with a mix of nitrate and charcoal, the rockets compete in classes, with the smallest class containing just one kilo of the mixture, while the largest contain 120 kilos!

The rockets occasionally explode before during and after takeoff. This, combined with the heavy drinking that takes places throughout the festival make for a deadly combination and deaths have occurred. Although there is virtually no crowd control, you are well-advised to not stand too close to the rockets when they take off.

The rocket launchings are the main crowd puller but there is also a series of street parades and an evening live entertainment to keep everyone busy (and mostly drunk).

Visiting Yasothon during the festival is highly recommended as its unlikely you'll see anything like this in your home country.

Opening Hours: May 13-15 2006