Khon Kaen General Information

As many people will already know, Khon Kaen is the centre of the Isaan, one of the most scenic and beautiful of all the provinces in this amazing country, Thailand.

And since there are so many interesting and popular places to visit in Thailand, such as Phuket, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Hua Hin to name but a few, it does mean that fewer visitors make it to Khon Kaen. This is a mixed blessing for locals and visitors alike. It is not because there is nothing to do here. This is a busy bustling city with several universities and plenty of students

Visiting Khon Kaen is a refreshing escape from the crowds of tourists that flood into other areas, and is an excellent place from which to visit some of Thailand's less frequented but equally rewarding attractions.

Travelling to Khon Kaen is simple. Thai Airways International flies there three times a day from Bangkok. The airline often runs various marketing promotions, which often make the price of a ticket a much more attractive option. Alternatives to flying include driving the 450 kilometres from Bangkok to Khon Kaen, or taking the train or bus. For those on a tight schedule flying is the best choice, with flights arriving in Khon Kaen around an hour after take off.

Khon Kaen is the heart of the Isaan (also spelt variously as Isan, or Esaan) region and as such the commercial, administrative and educational centre of the North East of Thailand. It has a population of over 350,000, and its mammoth and highly regarded university covers a staggering area of around 7,000 rai.

There are numerous high quality hotels in Khon Kaen and numerous others which are both well established or opening to take advantage of the increase in tourists and both foreigners (farangs) and Thai business people.

Khon Kaen is an excellent base from which visitors can explore the culturally rich areas of the Isaan and even visit Vientiane in Laos, which is literally just across the border from Nongkhai, and just two hours drive from Khon Kaen.