Udon Thani

UDON THANI – Udon Thani is the capital of Udon Thani province in the north east ( Isaan region) of Thailand. Situated 560 km from Bangkok, travelling to the city is made easy by regular air, train and bus routes. Udon is a transport center that connects itself to all the major cities. The province itself is recognized as one of the poorer areas in Thailand with agriculture (mainly rice and sugar cane) being its main industry alongside its transport hub.

The city itself is never going to creep up behind you twist your arm and take you on a rollercoaster ride, you need to poke it and prod it, shake it to life and then you will be pleasantly surprised by what it has to offer.

The Chareonsri Shopping Compact is a good a place as any to start, a modern shopping mall in the city center full of everything you could wish to buy, clothes, jewellery, fashion accessories, DVDs, mobile phones, souvenirs, electrical goods, photo shoots and many other things to catch your eye. A Tops supermarket, restaurants, fast food outlets, money exchanges, cinema and ten pin bowling make the Chareonsri one of the best shopping malls outside Bangkok.

Try an early morning visit to the Nong Prajak Park which is regularly used by locals for jogging and exercise, take a stroll around the lake and admire the flowers and plants, and afterwards eat Thai style breakfast at one of the many stalls opposite the park. If you fancy a full english breakfast then you won’t find better than what’s on offer at the Irish Clock Pub in Soi Sampantamit Road (5 minutes from the Chareonsri Mall). The bar is air conditioned with an extensive Thai and western menu. Getting around Udon Thani city is easy and effortless with the countless small buses, samlors (like a tuk tuk) and pedaled two-seater carriages.

Some of the hotels have swimming pools which offer a pleasant way to spend the afternoons, the Napalai Hotel (pictured at the top) is one which is open for use to non hotel residents. If you are hiring a car then take the 50 km trip east to Ban Chiang bronze age archaeological site which experts have dated back to 5000 years ago. You can also travel 50 km north to the border city of Nong Khai which is the gateway to Laos. In Nong Khai you can sit in one of the many restaurants at the splendid Indo-China market overlooking the Mekong River and eat tasty grilled fish whilst viewing Laos across the water.

When the sun sets and the night sky falls you are really spoilt for choice by the wealth of Thai and western restaurants in Udon Thani. A ten minute walk from the Chareonsri Shopping Compact to the Centre Point night market ( near the train station) will see you pass several restaurants. The night market is a must see venue with its mass of stalls selling every conceivable kind of goods and if you are still feeling hungry there are plenty of food vendors and sit down eateries too. The market also has a cluster of  bars where you can sit and drink and view sport or music on a giant TV screen.

For the more adventurous night revellers then head for Soi Sampantamit Road where there’s enough bars and action to make your evening an enjoyable adventure.

All in all Udon Thani offers plenty for everyone but you’ve got to get out there and prod, poke, shake and wake it to get full value from Udon Thani.

MY VERDICT….Udon Thani is a good location for singles to spend a week or two, and for couples and families three to four days would be ideal if you are travelling to or from North Thailand.

© 2008 – 2011, Martyn. All rights reserved.

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