Day 1
Nong Prachak Public Park
Ban Noan Kok community of traditional fabric weavers
Na Kha fabric market
Som Tam at Je Kai’s shop
Dose Factory
Day 2
Red water lilies at Nong Han Lake
Wat Santi Wanaram
Ban Chiang National Museum
Street Art Ban Chiang
Day 1
Nong Prachak Public Park
Named after the province’s founding father, Major General HRH Prince Prachaksinlapakhom, the Park is laid out around a huge Nong or pond and serves as a place of recreation and exercise for the public. Locals and visitors simply can’t resist taking photographs of the giant rubber ducks floating on the pond, which is also home to a small island filled with flowering plants and accessible by a small suspension bridge.
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Address: Phao Niyom Road, Tambon Mak Khaeng, Amphoe Mueang, Udon Thani
Ban Noan Kok community of traditional fabric weavers
Udon is well known for its top quality traditional fabric, so once in town, take time to visit the Ban Noan Kok community of weavers whose signature piece is fabric dyed with the colur of the famous red water lilies that are found in abundance in Udon.
The natural color is extracted from the boiled flowers and stems of the water lilies.
After about an hour of boiling, the flowers turn a golden colour while the stems take on a silver hue.
The fabric patterns usually depict scenes from folk stories and the villagers’ way of life. Please contact the community in advance if you want to join a fabric dyeing workshop.
Ban Noan Kok
Address: 63 Mu 18, Ban Noan Kok, Tambon Nong Na Kham, Amphoe Mueang, Udon Thani
Tel. 09 3547 8255, 06 1942 8808
Open daily from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
GPS : https://goo.gl/maps/efpC6uc93VS2AmLt8
Ban Na Kha fabric market
Ban Na Kha has been designated as an OTOP (One Tambon One Product) village and is also a self-sustaining community in accordance with the sufficiency economy philosophy of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great.
The village attracts visitors interested in handicrafts, especially woven in the well-known “Khit” pattern. It’s a good place to buy souvenirs; such as, cotton clothes, pillows, bags and scarves.
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Address: Tambon Ban Khao, Amphoe Mueang, Udon Thani
Tel. 08 5013 1060, 08 7230 0300 (Ban Nakha fabric community)
Open daily from 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
GPS : https://goo.gl/maps/fbcubE5XZmaE1nnY8
Som Tam Je Kai
This Som Tam eatery is much loved by both locals and visitors. For lunch, we recommend going a bit earlier to avoid the long queue. Various types of Som Tam as well as several other local dishes are available if you fancy very spicy Isan food.
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Som Tam Je Kai has 2 branches:
1St Branch
Address: 230/28 Soi San Chao Mae Thapthim, Asawamit Road, Tambon Mak Khaeng, Amphoe Mueang, Udon Thani
Open daily from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Tel. 08 7373 2128
2nd Branch
Address: 167/16 Naresuan Road, Tambon Mak khaeng, Amphoe Mueang, Udon Thani
Open daily from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m..
Tel. 08 6239 2244
Dose Factory
A contemporary eatery very popular with Udon’s hip crowd, Dose Factory is located in a former factory-turned restaurant featuring a fashionable loft style plan.
The restaurant serves Italian fusion food, coffee and desserts. It is a place to try if you want a taste of modern dining in Udon.
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Address: 112/1 Naresuan Road, Tambon Mak Khaeng, Amphoe Mueang, Udon Thani
Open daily from 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Tel. 09 8661 4642
GPS : https://g.page/dosefactory?share
Day 2
Red Water Lilies of Nong Han Lake in Amphoe Kumphawapi
A scene of millions of pink water lilies of Nong Han Lake, locally known to as “Thale Bua Daeng” or sea of red lotus, is a major attraction not to be missed by any visitor to Udon. It’s a lovely spot very worthy of a social media post and announces your arrival in Udon.
Located in the district of Kumphawapi, some 43 km from Udon town, the fertile freshwater lake spans over 8,000 acres and aside from the water lilies is home to a variety of water plants and diverse species of fish and birds. It provides a livelihood for villagers both from fishing and tourism, especially during the flower blooming season between December-February when the entire lake will literally be painted with the deep pink of the countless water lilies carpeting its surface.
A sight-seeing boat trip run by villagers departs from the Ban Diem Pier near the lake. The best time for the tour is between 6:00 -11:00 a.m. when the flowers are in full bloom and the weather is still pleasant.
Ban Diem Boat Tour
Tel. 08 1964 5420, 08 9395 0871
– 1.5 hours/500 Baht fare/boat with a maximum of 10 persons.
– 45 minutes/300 Baht/boat with a maximum of 10 persons.
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Address: Tambon Chiang Wae, Amphoe Kumphawapi, Udon Thani
Wat Santi Wanaram
Sitting on an island in the middle of a pond, the white lotus-shaped ubosot of Wat Santi Wararam is the only one of its kind in the country. The forest temple, also referred to as Wat Pha Dong Rai, occupies more than 400 acres of greenery in Amphoe Nong Han, some 35 km from Udon.
The spacious ubosot houses a white principal Buddha image, while murals depicting the Lord Buddha’s life adorn its interior. This temple is also a meditation centre.
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Address: Mu 11, Tambon Ban Chiang, Amphoe Nong Han, Udon Thani
Tel. 08 6229 7739
Open daily from 7:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Ban Chiang National Museum
Our next destination is Thailand’s most important archaeological site dating back more than 5,000 years. The Ban Chiang National Museum is inside the Ban Chiang Archaeological Site, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. The Museum displays the numerous artefacts unearthed at the site, and the history of the Tai Phuan ethnic group, who settled in the area.
An outdoor museum at Wat Pho Si Nai not far from the Museum should also not be missed. On display is an excavation site with pieces of well-preserved Ban Chiang pottery, various artefacts and human skeletons.
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Address: Suthipong Road, Tambon Ban Chiang, Amphoe Nong Han, Udon Thani
Open Tuesday – Sunday from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Tel. 0 4223 5040
Ban Chiang street art
Street art has arrived in Udon! The Ban Chiang street murals can be seen on the walls of homes adjacent to Wat Pho Si Nai and the town’s outdoor cultural space. Now that this form of authorised graffiti is becoming more widespread, it’s fun to have your own collection of photos taken in different provinces as mementos. The street art in Ban Chiang is obviously influenced by its famed archaeological site.
After getting a healthy dose of education about ancient life at the Museum, you could enjoy a stroll and take photos of contemporary objects in the peaceful town of Ban Chiang, perhaps even contemplating the law of impermanence! It’s the perfect finale to your trip to Udon.
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Address : Tambon Ban Chiang, Amphoe Nong Han, Udon Thani
