NAKHON PHANOM

Nakhon Phanom

Nakhon Phanom

Nakhon Phanom

Nakhon Phanom

Nakhon Phanom

Nakhon Phanom

Nakhon Phanom

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Nakhon Phanom is situated on the bank of the Mae Khong River opposite Muang Ta Kaek of Laos. It is where the Phra That Phanom, the most sacred and ancient religious monument of the Northeast, is located. For the Phra That is venerated by both Thais and Laotians along the Mae Khong. Although it partially collapsed some time ago, it has since been restored to its glory. Nakhon Phanom is 740 kilometers from Bangkok.

Geography

The province is located at the valley of the river Mekong.

History

The name Nakhon Phanom, meaning "city of mountains", was given to the city by King Rama I. It should be noted that there are actually no mountains in Nakhon Phanom itself; the limestone mountains are concentrated in the city of Thakhek of Laos, which is on the other side of the Mekong. Nakhon Phanom should then mean a city where you can see mountains.

The area was long settled by Lao people and belonged to the Lan Xang kingdom. Also after it came under the control of Ayutthaya the population stayed predominantly Lao.

Nakhon Phanom saw some of the most serious fighting between North Vietnamese insurgents and the US Army during the Vietnam War (or American War as the Vietnamese called it). During the 1960s, the province of Nakhon Phanom was divided into 131 amphoes. As 73 of them were said to be infiltrated by the Vietnamese communists, it was known as the "heartland of insurgency".

In 1967, almost all of the communists surrendered and towards the end of the Vietnam War, American forces retreated from Khorat and moved all their Indochinese military operations to Nakhon Phanom.

Another point of interest: Ho Chi Minh stayed at this city between 1928 to 1931, you can still visit his old house there.

Attractions

Riverside Promenade is alongside the Khong River in the municipal area. It gives a good view across the river especially in the early morning when the sun rises above the mountains.

Phra That Phanom is about fifty kilometers from town proper. It has not been conclusively proved when it was built. However, according to archaeologists, it is about 1500 years old. Fifty-two meters high, each of its rectangular bases measures 12.33 meters, and its decorative top is made of gold weighing 110 kilograms. The annual Phra That Phanom Fair is celebrated on the full -moon evening of the 3rd Lunar month. Thousands of worshipers flock to Nakhon Phanom to pay homage to this most important religious shrine in the Northeast. Stalls and performances are staged throughout the 7-day celebration.

Phra That Renu Nakhon the main religious monument in Amphoe Renu Nakhon abut fifty kilometers from town, is similar to the Phra That Phanom but in a smaller scale. Renu Nakhon boasts a market place not unlike San Kamphaeng in Chiang Mai, with cotton, silk dresses and quilted blankets as leading local products.

Prathat Tha Utun, situated in Amphoe Tha Uthen, has the likeness of Phrathat Phanom. Its was built in 1912 A.D. to store a relic of the Lord Buddha brought from Myanmar.

Nam Tok Tat Kham Forest Park 7 kilometers from Amphoe Ban Phaeng, has been preserved in its natural beauty state and is where the rivers originating from Phu Langka mountain meet in a confluence to form the Huai Kham river. The river cascades through 4 steps of the fall before continuing on its ways to the Khong river.

Nam Tok Tat Pho, 5 kilometers from Nam Tok Tat Kham, can be reached after a 2 hour walk. The waterfall is from a river originating from Phu Langka mountain and the area has its own natural beauty especially in the rainy season.

Illuminated Boat Procession held annually in October or November, the event represents a traditional Loi Krathong ceremony of north easterners marking the end of the Buddhist Lent. The illuminated boats are made of banana barks, bamboo or other floatable material with a length of at least 6 meters. The boat is elaborately fashioned into various shapes. The procession is staged in the streets during the day while at night, religious rites are observed. Later, the boats are illuminated and launched into the Mekhong river.