The Naga Fireballs Of The Mekong

[Chung noi]

Howdy,

I have been planning our next trip to Thailand and was thinking of entering through Laos. I have never been to Nong Khai and was planning to crooss over there. I could time it with the appearance of the Naga Fireballs (Thai: บั้งไฟพญานาค, bangfai payanak) in October if we wanted to. I have heard it is really crowded and alot of all night partying, witch I'm not really into nowdays.

I was just wondering if anyone has seen them, and was it worth the trip?

We have a place to stay outside of Nong Khai and looking forward to the trip. However, I hate to just stand in huge crowds waiting for hours for something that may or may not come and everyone in the crowd is drunk but me .

Anyone know if the party is as big on the Laos side?

Thanks for all replys, experiences, and sarcasm

*j*

[sutnyod]

Lao side:

crowds (apart from the people celebrating on the river bank the road is so narrow - one lane basically - that it takes HOURS to get away from the event)

heavily drunk people

fireworks (so you will see 'something' but will never know WHAT that was)

noise

dust

inefficient parking (happens all the time that your car is unable to move, because there are other cars around it from all sides)

Thai side:

same same, less dust, don't know about the parking

What you should know: it is not known where the bubbles come up. They move slowly (much more slowly than the fireworks) and don't go high.

If you are really interested, try to get to know some people in the area, the fireballs also appear over lakes and (so I was told) buffalo holes filled with water on the paddy fields. Ask old people, maybe they will allow you to wait at their fish pond. There is no guarantee that the fire balls will appear at exactly at the time and place where you happen to be, though.

[Guemlum]

Hi Chung Noi....I've been going to this event for the past 3 years now and have yet to see a fireball.

The most popular location to witness this phenomenon is supposedly Phon Phisai. Don't travel to Phon Phisai on the day of the event as you'll probably be queueing all the way back to Nongkhai in traffic.

The banks of the river are absoulutely full off people, TV crews, etc and there will probably be close to 200,000+ people. There's always an evening show of boats, highly decorated with lights that cruise up and down the river and are made by people from the surrounding villages; each boat representing each village.

My gf and I choose to witness this event at a location in the village of Pak Suai, just before you get to Phon Phisai. Its quiet, dark (so stand more chance of seeing something without the ambient light being around you) and even better, romantic. But unfortunately, I cant tell you whereabouts in Pak Suai,

As for activity on the Laos side, its usually too dark to see whats going on but I dont think they get as excited and take it as serious as the Thais. Maybe I'm wrong

The one thing you should experience, whether you hang around or not to see a fireball, is the atmosphere.

Guemlum

[Chung noi]

Hey Thanks

I will look into it more and ask my friend if she knows any farmers in the area that might know of a place to look for fireballs, besides going to the river. I kinda get freaked out by huge crowds like that. I was in a major traffic jam at pattaya song back in 1998. It was Thai new year I never seen anything like it, and the dust .

Looking back on it we had a great time Kinda miss those days

Thank you,

*j*

[Jai Dee]

Some more information/background on the naga fireballs from other ThaiVisa members can be found in this thread.

[chownah]

I kinda get freaked out by huge crowds like that.

In this case then the best thing is to stay away....this event is basically one huge crowd that covers the Thai bank of the Mekong......if you get freaked out by huge crowds then stay away.

[sutnyod]

As for activity on the Laos side, its usually too dark to see whats going on but I dont think they get as excited and take it as serious as the Thais. Maybe I'm wrong

You are definitely wrong, sorry to say that. It's the same craze, minus orderly behavior (Thai people tend to be more orderly, at least they stay on their side of the road most of the time) plus alcohol. The Lao watch the event south of Vientiane (mainly), some km before Thaphabat/Phonsan villages.

[Chung noi]

Some more information/background on the naga fireballs from other ThaiVisa members can be found in this thread.

Very informative!

Thanks for the replys . I feel I have learned more about Thailand in the past year since I found your site, than in the last 20 years, combined.

Thanks to everyone and TV.

*j*

[martynsnowman]

Howdy,

I have been planning our next trip to Thailand and was thinking of entering through Laos. I have never been to Nong Khai and was planning to crooss over there. I could time it with the appearance of the Naga Fireballs (Thai: บั้งไฟพญานาค, bangfai payanak) in October if we wanted to. I have heard it is really crowded and alot of all night partying, witch I'm not really into nowdays.

I was just wondering if anyone has seen them, and was it worth the trip?

We have a place to stay outside of Nong Khai and looking forward to the trip. However, I hate to just stand in huge crowds waiting for hours for something that may or may not come and everyone in the crowd is drunk but me .

Anyone know if the party is as big on the Laos side?

Thanks for all replys, experiences, and sarcasm

*j*

hi , i live in phon phisai , be it only 3 months. about 40mts from the river oppersit 7/11 theres only 1 here !! we have noodle shop my wife tells me its not that busy you can move about no problem to buy beer or food theres many seats (free to sit ) theres even long boats crossing over to laos all evening but i dont know about passport control ..... any T.V fancy coming for the night will be welcome ...martyn.

[Chung noi]

Howdy,

I have been planning our next trip to Thailand and was thinking of entering through Laos. I have never been to Nong Khai and was planning to crooss over there. I could time it with the appearance of the Naga Fireballs (Thai: บั้งไฟพญานาค, bangfai payanak) in October if we wanted to. I have heard it is really crowded and alot of all night partying, witch I'm not really into nowdays.

I was just wondering if anyone has seen them, and was it worth the trip?

We have a place to stay outside of Nong Khai and looking forward to the trip. However, I hate to just stand in huge crowds waiting for hours for something that may or may not come and everyone in the crowd is drunk but me .

Anyone know if the party is as big on the Laos side?

Thanks for all replys, experiences, and sarcasm

*j*

hi , i live in phon phisai , be it only 3 months. about 40mts from the river oppersit 7/11 theres only 1 here !! we have noodle shop my wife tells me its not that busy you can move about no problem to buy beer or food theres many seats (free to sit ) theres even long boats crossing over to laos all evening but i dont know about passport control ..... any T.V fancy coming for the night will be welcome ...martyn.

Yes Sir,

Thank you. Sounds like a good place to look for fireballs. My wife and her Mother can wait and have a nice visit, while enjoying the noodles. During the day we can checkout the Thai/Laos border and maybe take her Mother back over into Laos. Every time we visit, and ask her what she would like to do, she says go to Laos.

Thank you, hope to see you soon.

*j*

[Trevor]

hi , i live in phon phisai , be it only 3 months. about 40mts from the river oppersit 7/11 theres only 1 here !! we have noodle shop my wife tells me its not that busy you can move about no problem to buy beer or food theres many seats (free to sit ) theres even long boats crossing over to laos all evening but i dont know about passport control ..... any T.V fancy coming for the night will be welcome ...martyn.

Nice Thai-Lao market you have there. I like the raw honey and comb from Laos.

Thais can deposit their ID cards at a booth in the market for a day pass to Laos on Saturdays. They can bring back 2 bottles of Beer Lao and some sickly-sweet Chinese wine.

Whiteys have to trek to Nong Khai to make the crossing.

[Guemlum]

Trevor, I used to travel from Phon Phisai to Laos every Wednesday where my friend would buy birds of prey. We never had any problems. However, if a visa run was neccesary then obviously NK would be the point of crossing. So as far as I know, Whiteys are still alowed to cross for the day, but you cant go outside of the village once in Laos. Its not particularly well known that this is possible, unless you are an expat in the area. On a few occasions, I only had to flash the passport but most of the time was just given a nod of the head as my companion was the son of the chief of our village.

Marty, you'll see for yourself just how "not busy" Phon Phisai will get on the day. Your Mrs is putting things lightly!! no offence meant, but you wont be able to move along the river front.

I lived in PP for almost 3 years and things never change. Gets busier and busier every year.

Enjoy everyone if you are going!!

Guemlum

[martynsnowman]

Trevor, I used to travel from Phon Phisai to Laos every Wednesday where my friend would buy birds of prey. We never had any problems. However, if a visa run was neccesary then obviously NK would be the point of crossing. So as far as I know, Whiteys are still alowed to cross for the day, but you cant go outside of the village once in Laos. Its not particularly well known that this is possible, unless you are an expat in the area. On a few occasions, I only had to flash the passport but most of the time was just given a nod of the head as my companion was the son of the chief of our village.

Marty, you'll see for yourself just how "not busy" Phon Phisai will get on the day. Your Mrs is putting things lightly!! no offence meant, but you wont be able to move along the river front.

I lived in PP for almost 3 years and things never change. Gets busier and busier every year.

Enjoy everyone if you are going!!

Guemlum

hi guemlum, yes you are correct , after talking about how many people will come , she say many ,many yesterday it was only nit noy , we be fine you know how the thai are they say what you want to hear not how it is ... but as for crossing into laos the market days are tuesday and saturday but farang cant cross from phon phisai with any u.k or u.s.a passport i tryed with my multi entry O visa but they said i need to go to nong khai to cross not good when the P.P crossings by my side door !!! if your ever near here call in for a drink ...... martyn .

[Guemlum]

Hi Marty, thats really strange about them not letting you cross?

Anyway, I'm in the UK right now and will be visiting Phon Phisai for the festival in October, as we are getting married in NK the week before, so I may take you up on that drink!!

Guemlum