Nakhon Phanom province stretches out along the banks of the Mekong River, which at this point forms the border between Thailand and Laos. Aside from the provincial capital, Nakhon Phanom City, the other place of interest is the city of That Phanom, 50 kilometers south of the city, where you'll find one of the regions most important religious shrines, the Phra That Phanom.
Nakhon Phanom is relatively easy to get to, with several flights a day from Bangkok, and there are also bus services from all the neighboring provinces as well as Bangkok. You will find some pleasant, if basic, places to stay in both Nakhon Phanom city and in That Phanom. If you really want to explore the province, then you may want to spend at least one night in each city. Neither really requires more than that, but if you wish to slow down and enjoy some rural Thai life, you can find plenty of diversions in either place.
Like much of Thailand, the best time of year to visit is when it's cool and dry, from October to March or so. See the weather page for more details about annual rain and temperature patterns, as well as a current five-day forecast.
Although Nakhon Phanom is a little off the main tourist trail, it isn't exactly hard to get to. The small airport sees two or three flights a day from Bangkok, while there is bus service from most major cities around Thailand, such as Chiang Rai, Khon Kaen and Nakorn Ratchasima, as well as Bangkok.
Getting to Nakhon Phanom by Air Low cost carriers Nok Air and Air Asia both fly between Bangkok and Nakhon Phanom.
The city of Nakhon Phanom sits right ont he bank of the Mekong River, more or less directly across from the city of Tha Kaek in Laos. There isn't a lot to see in the town. Most people just pass through on their way to neighboring cities or to cross the river into Laos. But there is probably enough of interest to warrant spending a night here. See the Nakhon Phanom city map for an idea of what there is to see and where they are.
That Phanom is a little of a one-attraction town, but it's a nice enough place to spend a day or so. If you're just passing through Nakhon Phanom province on your way somewhere else and have a night to kill, you might be better spending it in That Phanom rather than Nakhon Phanom city, which is just an hour or less away.
The old streets of That Phanom, looking towards the arch and That Phanom spire The main attraction in That Phanom is the tall spire known as Phra That Phanom, which is the center of a temple just a short walk from the Mekong riverfront.
Like all of Thailand, Nakhon Phanom is subject to an annual monsoon. Here in the far northeast, the difference is quite pronounced, with a cool dry season from November through January, when on average no rain falls, which is followed by a short hot season from March to May, and then a very short, wet rainy season from June to August. The current conditions in the province are shown in the box at right.
