How to go to Khon Kaen

Khon Kaen, located 445 kilometres from Bangkok, is almost the geographical centre of the Isaan region and has an area of about 10,900 square kilometres. Broken up into sub-districts for administration purposes, Khon Kaen comprises the districts of Muang, Ban Phai, Phon, Nam Phong, Chum Phae, Phu Wiang, Mancha Khiri, Nong Ruea, Kranuan, Nong Song Hong, Chonnabot, Si Chomphu, Waeng Noi, Ubolratana, Ban Fang, Khao Suan Kwang, Phra Yuen, Waeng Yai, Pueai Noi, Phu Pha Man, Khok Pho Chai, Nong Na Kham, Sam Sung and Ban Haet.

By car
The journey from Bangkok to Khon Kaen will take you approximately 6 hours doing an average speed of around 80 kilometres an hour. From Bangkok, take highway number 1 to Saraburi and then highway number 2 to Khon Kaen via Nakhon Ratchasima. This journey, as detailed, is a total distance of about 450 kilometres

By bus
If you are thinking of travelling to Khon Kaen by bus, you are in luck, as there are several daily bus servics departing from Bangkok's Morchit 2 Bus Terminal to Khon Kaen. For more detailed information, you may telephone Transport Co. Ltd at tel: 02 936 2852-66

By train
Regular passenger trains depart from Bangkok's Hua Lamphong Railway Station bound for the capital of the Isaan, Khon Kaen, every day. Call 02 223 7010-20 for more information.

By air
Thai Airways flies from Bangkok to Khon Kaen every day. The journey time is a mere 45 minutes, thus saving a lot of time as opposed to road travel, while fares are reasonable. Telephone Thai Airways on 02 280 0060, 0 2628 2000 or visit the website www.thaiairwayscom for more information.

Khon Kaen is 188 kms north east of Khorat and has a really interesting museum. It is an ideal place to stop and rest on your way to Nong Khai from Bangkok. As of the time of writing, it has both a Vietnamese and Laotian consulate. These are the only diplomatic missions located outside of Bangkok.

This province is one of the most scenic, but also one of the poorest, with one of the lowest per capita income in the entire country. Being host to many educational establishments means that there are always plenty of students milling around town. This is the perfect illustration of what the cost of living is like in this location. The city itself boasts Khon Kaen University, North-Eastern University, Rajamongol Technical College, The College of Asian Scholars and several smaller technical schools.