About Nakhon Phanom Province
Nakhon Phanom stretches along a particularly scenic stretch of the Mekong, looking across to the limestone hills of Laos. It is best known for Phra That Phanom, one of the most revered Buddhist stupas in Thailand and a pilgrimage centre for Isaan and Lao Buddhists alike. The province's riverfront promenade, French-Indochinese architecture and the Illuminated Boat Procession at the end of Buddhist Lent give the capital a distinctive, photogenic atmosphere rarely matched elsewhere in Isaan.
Key facts
- Population
- 717,201 (2020)
- Area
- 5,513 km²
- Density
- 130 / km²
- Districts
- 12
- Capital
- Nakhon Phanom
- ISO code
- TH-48
- Airport
- Nakhon Phanom Airport (KOP)
National parks (1)
Phu Pha Yon National Park
All 12 districts
Ban Phaeng · Mueang Nakhon Phanom · Na Kae · Na Thom · Na Wa · Phon Sawan · Pla Pak · Renu Nakhon · Si Songkhram · Tha Uthen · That Phanom · Wang Yang
Top Highlights
Phra That Phanom stupa, one of Thailand's most sacred Buddhist sites
Mekong riverfront promenade in Nakhon Phanom town, with Lao mountain views
Illuminated Boat Procession (Lai Reua Fai) at the end of Buddhist Lent
Ho Chi Minh's former house at Ban Na Chok, a small museum to his exile years
Getting There
Nakhon Phanom Airport has daily flights from Bangkok Don Mueang, taking around 75 minutes. There is no train line; buses from Mo Chit reach Nakhon Phanom in 10–12 hours, and the Third Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge connects the town to Tha Khaek in Laos.
Inside Nakhon Phanom
National parks (1)
- Phu Pha Yon National Park517,850 km²
Districts (12)
Ban Phaeng ·Mueang Nakhon Phanom ·Na Kae ·Na Thom ·Na Wa ·Phon Sawan ·Pla Pak ·Renu Nakhon ·Si Songkhram ·Tha Uthen ·That Phanom ·Wang Yang
Mapped in Nakhon Phanom
50 places of interest recorded in OpenStreetMap. Coverage is contributed by volunteers and varies by area, so treat these as a guide to what is mapped rather than a complete inventory.
- 26Temples
- 9Attractions
- 4Museums
- 3Waterfalls
- 3Markets
- 2Viewpoints
- 2Historic sites
- 1Family attractions
Named examples
- Wat Phrathat Phanom
- Pha Sawan Waterfall
- Night market
- wat kam mha wa see
- Phaya Si Sattanakharat
- Wat That Renu
- The Chakri Dynasty Honor Celebration House
- Mekhong Underwater World
© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Harvested 2026-08-01.
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore more Thai provinces
Browse all 76 province guides
Sources
Facts on this page last checked 1 August 2026.
- 1.Q468547 — population, area, districts, coordinates — Wikidata (Wikidata), retrieved 1 August 2026
- 2.Background reading — Wikipedia (Wikipedia), retrieved 1 August 2026Linked for context; no text is reproduced from it.
- 3.Official provincial website — Provincial administration (Official source), retrieved 1 August 2026
Was this page helpful?
ThailandKnowledge Editorial Team
Factual claims on this page are sourced and dated. Where something could not be verified, we say so rather than guessing.
Our editorial standards