Location: Ubon Ratchathani
Top Things to do in Ubon Ratchathani
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What to do and see in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand: The Best Places and Tips
Ubon Ratchathani (Thai: อุบลราชธานี, pronounced [ʔubon râːt.tɕʰa.tʰaːniː]) is one of the four major cities of Isan (Khorat/Nakhon Ratchasima, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, and Khon Kaen), also known as the "big four of Isan". The city is on the Mun River in the south-east of the Isan region of Thailand. It is known as Ubon (อุบลฯ) for short. The name means "royal lotus city". The provincial seal features a pond with a lotus flower and leaves in a circular frame. Ubon was the administrative centre of Ubon Ratchathani Province. As of 2006, the Ubon urban area had a population of about 200,000. This included 85,000 in Thetsaban Nakhon Ubon Ratchathani (Ubon municipality), 30,000 each in Thetsaban Mueang Warin Chamrap (Warin municipality) and Thetsaban Tambon Kham Yai, 24,000 in Thetsaban Tambon Saen Suk, 10,000 in each of Thetsaban Tambon Pathum and Tambon Kham Nam Saep, and 6,000 in Thetsaban Tambon Ubon.
Restaurants in Ubon Ratchathani
1. Wat Phra That Nong Bua
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 212 reviews
Reviewed By gonsalvesr2 - Sisaket, Thailand
A beautiful temple in the heart of the city and worth the visit. It city centered so you can go shopping to Ubon Square and many other facilities around. Alot of hotels and restaurants are located here, so there is no shortage of eats and good prices. Ubon is a lovely city and the people make it because of their kindness and hospitality, which lacks in Bangkok. Have fun many things to do and see.
2. Wat Nong Pah Pong
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 75 reviews
Reviewed By Gary S - Bangkok, Thailand
Ubon is a bit boring but if your here this Wat is a must see. Very well kept Gardens and surrounds and overall a lovely place to wander around. There was hardly any people there and I seemed free to move around and check out the Wat at my leisure. No one trying to sell you anything and no tourist traps like Bangkok, Pattaya or Phuket!
3. Thung Si Mueang
Overall Ratings
4 based on 123 reviews
Reviewed By Victorianlad - Melbourne, Australia
Apart from its gold Buddhas, this park is used extensively by locals for exercise and socialising.
There are at least 60 car parking spaces.
When I visited at 1030 hours on a Sunday after attending Mass at Immaculate Conception Cathedral (Catholic), the area was not busy, but it would make a great introduction to this northern Thai city for any visitor.
4. Wat Thung Sri Muang
Overall Ratings
4 based on 76 reviews
Reviewed By Tangtian - Bangkok, Thailand
We went to this temple by chance after seeing most of the temples. We were surprised how authentic and beautiful it was. The mural was incredibly beautiful (unfortunately not well preserved). There is also another hall in the river and it accommodate the Buddhist scriptures (unfortunately again not well preserved). We found both halls very interesting.
5. Ubon Ratchathani National Museum
Overall Ratings
4 based on 68 reviews
Reviewed By LH M - Peterborough, Canada
The provincial branches of the National Museum were a remarkable achievement on the part of a poor, developing country when they were first established, but they've been subjected to chronic underfunding by the central government in recent years. You can feel some of the effect of that neglect here unfortunately. All the same, as in all of these regional museums, there are some unexpected treasures here, and it's a pleasant place to spend an hour or two. I'd note particularly some of the Dvaravati sculptures, and the really good collection of Lao Buddha images.
6. Wat Pah Nanachat
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 38 reviews
Reviewed By daggs2011 - Melbourne, Australia
This definitely the place to go to if you are interested in paying respect to the Buddha, the Dhamma and Sangha. It's so peaceful and everyone is helpful. The grounds are wonderful for a meditative walk after Pa-Ba. It starts early, the monks gather at 8am and the food is offered. All the lay people gather in the Sala and a blessing is chanted. If you want to help with the preparation its best to be there by 7am. We took a registered Taxi from our hotel in Ubon city, and paid 150bht.
7. Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival
Overall Ratings
5 based on 18 reviews
Thailand is a country very rich in the arts. One annual festival which definitely showcase the skills of Thai artists is the Candle Festival, held in Ubon Ratchathani, in the Northeastern part of Thailand. The main event is the Candle possession which takes place on the full moon of July which marks the beginning of Buddhist Lent. You will see huge pieces of sculpture carved out of beeswax candles, decorated with Thai elements and often depicting characters from Thai and Hindu myths and folklores. There is usually a competition and exhibition for these candle sculptures and artists from all over the world come to Thailand to participate. It is a beautiful event that visitors should not miss.
Reviewed By Raelene H - Melbourne, Australia
If you have a chance to visit the annual candle festival at Ubon Ratchathani that marks the beginning of the Buddhist Lent, then don't miss the opportunity. We arrived two days before the parade and visited the main wats to see the floats being made. The evening before the official parade the floats are brought into the area surrounding the main city park with much music and dancing. A wonderfully exciting and vibrant festival, with Thais in their national dress. Around an hour by plane from Bangkok and under two hours flying time from Chiang Mai. Don't worry if you don't get a seat in the stand for the parade. We did, but left the stand to see the floats preparing to take their place in the parade. Very hot in full sun if you are in the stand, and everyone has their umbrellas up to shade them. Colourful, but destroys the view. We enjoyed the time walking around the people, bands and floats on the street more than sitting in the stand. The craftsmanship, colour and atmosphere are brilliant.
8. Ubon Zoo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 33 reviews
Reviewed By neilturetsky - Jerusalem, Israel
Sort of a cross between zoo and nature park. No cages, lions and tigers have a rather large roaming area separated by moats. Deer, marmosets,kangaroos, in very open, natural settings. A little tram ride takes you on a 4 km. ramble with pleasant driver (but no english). I got to hold a baby lion cub which became my facebook profile picture. Ask if you can take a private trail walk through the rain forest, a very helpful and friendly woman guide took me, saw a beautiful river area. Very special, enjoyable.
9. Rachabut Night Market
Overall Ratings
4 based on 43 reviews
Reviewed By Hostaria239 - Ko Lanta Yai, Krabi, Thailand
Very nice food in here, you can go crazy if you like Thai food, everywhere you turn there is something delicious to eat and a new smell is coming to your nose, simply amazing. And BTW finally a night market without clothes and stuff like that, a place for real men!
10. Wat Ban Na Muang
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 14 reviews
Reviewed By jeffrey b - Bangkok, Thailand
Having lived in Thailand for quite a while, it is easy to get "over-templed" as they are everywhere. But I do enjoy when I find a unique one and this fit the bill. It is a complex of temples that you enter by driving under a giant three-headed elephant (Erawan) and there are multiple structures. There is a large working temple to make merit, a very ornate bell tower, a large seated buddha temple that was under refurbishment at the time of my visit. There is also a VERY LARGE foundation being poured for a building. No idea what it will be, but if another temple it will be HUGE. There is one temple on a barge that has been there for a while, very ornate and very unique...complete with the statues of all the rowers in place. As soon as I have a chance, I will upload some photos. There is also a lake where a second temple on a barge, larger than the first, is being constructed on the lake. While it appeared to be near completion, it was not yet finished or opened. This was definitely the highlight for me of the Ubon Rachathani area.
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