Overview of Nong Khai

Located in North-East Thailand, the city of Nong Khai has great cultural and historical value to Thailand, which is the leading tourist destination in Southeast Asia.  As the capital of Nong Khai Province, Nong Khai city is also a prime geographical location and serves as the gateway to neighboring Laos.

Nong Khai sits on the western bank of the Mekong River, one of the major rivers in the world, which inter-connects with six countries: Thailand, Laos, China, Burma and Vietnam. However, given the fact that the Mekong River is extremely difficult to navigate, the river has actually divided those who live along its perimeter instead of uniting them. After the Vietnam War, the Mekong River was a frequent source of conflict between the US-backed Thai government and the communist governments of China, Vietnam and Laos.

Nong Khai is the site of the First Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, which crosses the Mekong River and connects to Vientiane, the capital of Laos. The bridge was built in 1994. Before that, trade and commerce between Thailand and Laos was conducted by boat. The Friendship Bridge brought a new era of economic and political harmony between the two nations, especially after Laos had moved beyond its Communist past.

The main tourist attraction in Nong Khai is the Sala Keoku, which is also spelt as Sala Kaew Ku and known to locals as Wat Khaek. It is a massive park said to have been built by the mystic Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat, who purchased the land in 1978. The park is filled with huge sculptures standing over 20 feet that reflect both Buddhist and Hinduist ideologies. Many of the statues depict Buddha, a seven-headed Naga snake, goddesses with several arms and various hybrids of humans and animals.

Nong Khai is often described as a sleepy town where the influence of Laos and other neighboring countries is strong. Nong Khai hosts a number of Chinese, Lao and Vietnamese communities.

The locals are fluent in the Thai language but have a local dialect of their own, known as Isaan, which is a mix between the Thai and Lao languages. Many people in Nong Khai are familiar with the English language and can speak it a little bit, especially with regard to tourism-related words. If you're a foreign tourist, one of the best ways to communicate with the locals is by smiling and being polite. They are generally a very friendly people.