Location: Khon Kaen
Top Things to do in Khon Kaen
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Top 10 Things to do in Khon Kaen, Thailand
Khon Kaen (Thai: ขอนแก่น, pronounced [kʰɔ̌(ː)n kɛ̀n]) is one of the four major cities of Isan, Thailand, also known as the "big four of Isan", the others being Udon Thani, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Ubon Ratchathani. It is the capital of Khon Kaen Province and the Mueang Khon Kaen District. Khon Kaen lies 450 kilometres (280 mi) north-northeast of Bangkok.
Restaurants in Khon Kaen
1. Wat Nong Wang
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 244 reviews
Reviewed By Zombie1965 - Sheffield, United Kingdom
I'm afraid I'm definitely in the 'seen one, seen 'em all' bracket when it comes to the temples of Thailand. Some are truly magnificent...others aren't! This falls in the latter part of my last sentence. It's ok if you have nothing better to do for an hour and it does offer some great views if you climb to the top but apart from that, it just houses a load of people selling 'tat'.
2. Khon Kaen's Day & Night Markets
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 93 reviews
Reviewed By fabian4fabian - Kathu, Thailand
This place is known by all locals. Just grab a tiktuk or taxi ( inexpensive) and they will bring you. Not the biggest I have seen compared to other cities, but all you need. Thai food from diner options to desserts, local Som Tam with Chicken or fish. Furthermore you can shop for souvenirs or some nice shawls or T shirts....
3. Wat Thung Setthi
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 64 reviews
Reviewed By Charn P - Bangkok, Thailand
Wat Thung Setthi is a new type of temple with ultra-modern style in their building and surrounding features. The whole temple ground is quite large with surrounding lakes. There are incomplete structures to be built in later stage. The main temple is centrally located and have stairways leading to its multi-level platform are beautifully decorated with interesting features.. in the main hall, the Black Buddha image is the key figure. There are also nice paintings and meditation hall in the lower level. It is worth a visit for its uniqueness.
4. Wat Pa Thamma Utthayan
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 47 reviews
Reviewed By stockmktgenius - Orange County, CA
When you're driving between Udon Thani and Khon Kaen, STOP HERE. This place is more interesting than wherever else you're going. A gigantic golden baby statue! Giant Chinese and Thai Bhuddas in huge granite halls! Crocs and bunnies. Statues of monkeys! We crossed a metal walkway over water to an island restaurant where they apologized they had already given away all their food! This place is incredible! It's on the left side of Highway 2 as you're driving South, and - as I recall - there's only a sign in Thai. So bring your girlfriend or wife or somebody Thai or you might miss it. (If you pass Thai Dusadet, a giant hardware store that's on the right side of the road, you've gone too far.) And if you figure out who are these wonderful people and what on earth they're building, do let us all know. Meanwhile, enjoy!- and there is plenty to enjoy here.
5. Phrathat Kham Kaen
Overall Ratings
4 based on 52 reviews
Reviewed By Charn P - Bangkok, Thailand
Phrathat Kham Kaen is our favorite temple in Khon Kaen city. Maybe we are old fashion however this historical temple gave us our sense of serenity being in a place of worship. We were rather unfortunate to arrive at the temple when the rain started. However the shower lasted less than 15 minutes. We walked through the wet path and noticed manicured landscaped Gardens throughout. The pathway were purposely blocked in certain area in order not the disturb other worshippers. Phrathat Kham Kaen is a relatively small temple however it is worthy of an hour of visit.
6. Khon Kaen National Museum
Overall Ratings
4 based on 65 reviews
Reviewed By Raymond W - Chengdu, China
This small regional museum was opened in 1972, and the building has the look of a library from the 1970s. But if the architecture is nothing special, this building has an extraordinary collection of art.
The highlight is a magnificent collection of carved boundary stones from the Dvaravati period, the best of which come from Muang Fa Daet in Kalasin. These depict the life of the Buddha and are true national treasures.
Upstairs there are some remarkable statues and ceramics from the Lopburi/Angkor period and these Shivas, Vishnus and Boddhisatvas in bronze and sandstone are also excellent. They come from archaeological sites all over Isaan. Many of them are truly fine specimens. There are also some artefacts from Thai and Lao cultures.
7. Bueng Kaen Nakhon
Overall Ratings
4 based on 36 reviews
Reviewed By Freeman-315 - San Diego, California
This city park is a 100B ($3USD) taxi ride from the downtown Central Plaza/tourist area and is an easy trip for those staying in town and wanting a close outdoor activity. For locals, its probably the city's jewel outdoor venue for exercise and repeat visits with friends and family. I visited on a weekday afternoon and found it mostly empty; I'm sure it picks up in the eves and on weekends.
The park is free to enter and offers several access points on each side, with parking apparently being available on the surrounding streets. Several Thai restaurants and convenience stores line these streets, so you'll not be far from food and drinks. There are several bathroom toilets dispersed around the park, all wanting 3B for use of their facilities.
There's no missing the major dredging operations that are occuring within the park, turning much of the area into an interesting but obviously less peaceful, natural, and attractive area. With the fallen lake level, black disturbed construction area, and typical KK white tainted sky, photographers will be challenged to find any nice lake shots. Still, for those wanting an overview picture of the lake and background city, I'd suggest going to the open roof bar of the Ingtara Hotel, located on the southeast corner of the lake.
I found the east side offering the most interesting art features and photo opportunities, the west side unattractively overdeveloped with food vendors, the north side in a state of reconstruction, and the south side impacted visually by the dredging operations. Still, the lake warrants a loop around it, and there are a number of interesting sights to be found, starting with the large green Brontosaurus and Khon Kaen sign on the central east side. Besides dinosaurs and art statues, you'll find outdoor exercise equipment, children's playground equipment, table & sitting areas, outdoor game courts, and a wide variety of (Thai labeled) trees and landscaping. All of this is explored via two perimeter trails, one for bikes and the other for pedestrians; but it seems like both groups favor and use the same better, wider path.
It's hard to rate this work-in-progress of a park. It's large lake perimeter offers excellent walking/jogging opportunities, some variety of other exercise, playground, and picnicing opportunities, and numerous places for singles, couples, and families to just hang out in a relatively attractive outdoor environment. But, like most Thai parks, much of it is run down and showing signs of inadequate maintenance. Add in the internal construction work and surrounding external street traffic, and this ideally quiet, peaceful, natural area is noticeably degraded. Hopefully it'll be better in future years with construction and upgrades complete, but for now, don't expect it to compare with Udon Thani's gorgeous Prachak Lake City Park.
8. Prasat Pueai Noi
Overall Ratings
4 based on 36 reviews
Reviewed By Suwit L - Khon Kaen, Thailand
It is the biggest Sanctuary in the upper Northeast, but is small if you compare with Phimai or Phanom Rung. Take about 1 hour drive from Khon Kaen City on a good road. Would recommend you to combine with other destinations. It is free of charge, not much information available on site. If you have problem finding the site, it is next door to Pueai Noi Police station.
9. City Pillar Shirne Khon Kaen
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 17 reviews
Reviewed By occdocbill - La Crosse, WI
Just a block away from the Pullman Hotel one way and the big modern mall the other way, it is a small but interesting shrine. Nice surrounding park that is relaxing despite adjacent traffic. Particularly pretty at night with lights in the trees that stay on all night.
10. Hong Mun Mang or Khon Kaen City Museum
Overall Ratings
4 based on 24 reviews
Reviewed By Keng76 - Bangkok, Thailand
This little museum tells you briefly about Khon Kaen. The display is quite good. The staffs and her kids were very nice and helpful and informative. We also called the kid "A little guide". You have to pay very small museum fee which absolutely worth your money and time. From there, we gathered some information about "Sim" - how they called temple in northeastern dialect. Then, we drove to see Sim which is really amazing. Highly recommended!
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