Udon Thani

Udon Thani, or Udon for short, is an important regional hub that connects northeastern Thailand with the rest of the country as well as neighbouring Laos. 

Udon Thani is one of the four major cities (Khorat, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, and Khon Kaen) of the Isan region of Thailand, (known as the "big four of Isan"). It is the capital of Udon Thani Province.  The name is pronounced "Oo-Dorn Tar-Nee". 

Udon Thani Town

Visitors buying tickets by plane or train to the city should ensure they request "Udon Thani" (often shortened by the Thais to "Udon") rather than Ubon Ratchathani (in turn frequently shortened to "Ubon.")

Udon is a major official and commercial center in northern Isan, Thailand, and the gateway to Laos, northern Vietnam, and southern China. It is approximately 450 km (280 mi) northeast of Bangkok. 

The province is located on a plateau which is approximately 187 meters above sea level. Most of its areas are covered with rice fields, forests and hills, with the Phu Pan mountain ranges and the Songkhram River are the provinces 2 main natural resources. The locals are mainly engaged in agricultural activities, with particular rising in wholesale and retail trading activities. That is why Udon Thani is an agricultural market hub or neighboring provinces.

Rooted in Lao/Isan culture, Udon is also home to many Chinese-Thais and the kingdom’s largest group of Vietnamese. Many of the downtown shops selling gold, incense and coffins look like they could have been plucked straight out of Bangkok’s Chinatown. 

Udon Thani Monument

The city became a bustling support center for the nearby Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base during the Vietnam War and retains reminders of that time in the form of bars, coffee shops, and hotels. During the American War, US servicemen stationed at what was then one of the largest air bases in Southeast Asia added to the city’s eclectic atmosphere while boosting the local economy tremendously.

Udon is one of the better market cities in Thailand: tightly packed clusters of vendors seem to appear down every side lane as you explore the gritty streets. Several of the largest markets include a vast network of food and clothing stalls around the train station, though we recommend venturing into some of the more hidden markets elsewhere in town. You’ll also find modern air-con shopping malls to go with a couple of large public parks. The urban center, Udon City, is home to a large concentration of expats, some of whom settled down here after the war. Udon’s dining and nightlife scene is, therefore, culturally diverse and offers good choices.

Udon Thani is probably best known for its archaeological wonders, paramount among them the hamlet of Ban Chiang where the world's first Bronze Age civilization is believed to have flourished more than 5,000 years ago. 

Flower Lake in Udon Thani

Udon Thani has a tropical savanna climate. Winters are fairly dry and very warm. Temperatures rise until April, which is hot with the average daily maximum at 36.3 °C. The monsoon season runs from late-April through early-October, with heavy rain and somewhat cooler temperatures during the day, although nights remain warm. The range of reliably recorded temperatures in the city is from 2.5 °C to 43.9 °C.

Places to Visit in Udon Thani

The province of Udon Thani has numerous places to visit, including those often mentioned in Thailand travel guides such as the Huai Luang Reservoir - a favourite place for fishing and rafting; the Than Ngam Waterfall; Udon Sunshine - home to unique orchids; Ban Na Kha, a silk, cotton and khit weaving village; Ban Chiang - the UNESCO World Heritage Site and Museum; the Phu Phra Bat Historical Park - at the foot of Phu Phan hill, with pre-historic cave paintings, Buddha images and footprints; and Wat Pa Ban Tad - a famous forest monastery.

Unveiling top attraction in Udon Thani

However, perhaps the most fascinating things to do and places to visit are not marked on travel itineraries: getting out of the city and into the countryside around Green Gecko will reveal a whole panoply of interesting sights, sounds and experiences. More details on these may be found on our experiences page, and the Thai family that will welcome you will be delighted to tell you of any festivals, ceremonies, or similar that will occur during your stay, and are best placed to make suggestions depending upon the time of year of your visit.

The small village of Ban Chiang lies a little to the east of Udon Thani and is home to the UNESCO World Heritage site of the same name. It is often claimed that this hamlet was the site of the world's first Bronze Age civilization more than 5,000 years ago.

Further archaeological remains are evident at Phu Phrabat National Park north-west of Udon Thani, where strange sandstone structures remain to this day and house Bronze Age cave paintings.

Within a few kilometres of Udon Thani is the well known temple, Wat Pa Baan That, which was home for many years to forest meditation monk, Luangta Maha Bua, known for his philanthropic endeavors such as accumulating gold and giving it to the national treasury to benefit Thailand's citizens during the economic crisis of the late 1990s.