Brief of Khon Kaen

Geographically positioned at the virtual center of ‘Issan’ (northeast region of Thailand), Khon Kaen has attained the central position in education and health care in the northeast of Thailand, housing one of the best universities of Thailand. The provincial capital is 449 kilometers northeast of Bangkok covering an area of 10,886 square kilometers, parts of which contain national and forest parks. Assuring experience in ethnicity and tradition among the local people, customs and conducts, Isaan is the ideal representation of real Thailand. It is also a good starting point for excursions into Laos and border visits to Cambodia.

It is mention worthy that Khon Kaen is the home of tennis sensation Khun Paradorn Srichaphan and Thailand's First Olympic Gold Medallist, the 1996 bantam weight Khun Somluck Kamsing.

Khon Kaen National Museum houses objects from the Dvaravati period and bronze sculptures from Ban Chiang.

Unusual animals are popular in the province, with the cobra and the turtle villages high on tourist programmes. In both villages, the residents live with their protégés, training them and putting on fascinating shows. A dinosaur is the provincial symbol ever since remains of these great beasts were unearthed in Phu Wiang National Park,an area also famous for its flora,fauna and waterfalls.

Beung Kaen Nakorn resembles a public park including a 3km circumference lake with dozens of restaurants, sing song places and karaoke bars around it. Wat That on its bank features typical Isaan spires. Some grass and lots of joggers and aerobics activity features every night here.

Food is very cheap and plentiful all over the city of Khon Kaen - available round the clock. Every 100 meter would unmistakably have at least 3 to 4 food stalls serving 24 hours. Snacks which are spicy and hot suit the local taste bud. Adding on to the bounty, Pizza Company, McDonald's, and Swenson's are here for the gastronomically challenged.

To mark the interesting medley, an individual is just as likely to see water buffalo weaving in and out of traffic in Khon Kaen as they would a BMW or Mercedes. Men and women dressed for success carrying cell phones & leather briefcases are hustling through the marketplace at lunch time along side orange-robbed Buddhist monks. If hungry, one can purchase grilled chicken and sticky rice at a pushcart in front of Pizza Company. The traditional and the contemporary enjoys peaceful coexistence on the streets of Khon Kaen. The majority of the population belongs to the Phaw Thai (Issan Thai) ethnic group (subgroup Laos-Wieng) who migrated from Laos.


Khon Kaen’s USP is its quality of life - far more relaxed than Bangkok and overtly inexpensive. It's easy to establish good relationships with the locals and easier to get around. The climate trend is dehydrating during the dry season while the winter evenings are nice and cool.

Khon Kaen is the centre of the northeastern silk industry with numerous villages producing their own mudmee designs. There are silk vendors all over the downtown area. Chonnabot is noted for its quality silks. Every December the city hosts a Silk Fair,when all the best materials are on sale. Besides the traditionally woven silk, locally produced silver jewelry, wood carvings are reasons to entice tourists. Many villages in the province produce their own signature goods such as silk handbags, clay jewelry etc.

The high level of literacy in the province (some 87% had completed compulsory primary education in 1980) can be attributed to a well-developed network of educational institutions, with many institutes of higher education spread across the city.