Hi,

Heading up to Udon for 5 days in early Jan to visit the missus' family.

Can you recommend any touristy things to do whilst there?

I will be renting a car for the duration of our stay, so can travel out into the sticks.

I went to Bang Chiang, about 50 km km from Udon Thani last year. Quite interesting, nice museum. If you like archeology and history, there is a lot of stuff there, really impressive, 4000 years...

Around the village, there are some nice pottery or art shops. Nice for Isaan...So, I believe it worths the trip.

I didn't stay so long, maybe 2 or 3 hours but enjoyed my trip very much and live in Isaan for 4 years!

Hi,

Heading up to Udon for 5 days in early Jan to visit the missus' family.

Can you recommend any touristy things to do whilst there?

I will be renting a car for the duration of our stay, so can travel out into the sticks.

There is load of touristy, and indeed non touristy things to do, it might help if you give some ideas of what you enjoy.

Apart from in Udon itself, just a couple of starters if you have a car, drive up to Nongkai to the Sino Market and the river, drive up to Loei and go left basically (better directions can be found ) and head up into the National Parks

Thanks guys.

I like visiting National Parks and places of historic interest. Into outdoor pursuits too, so if there's anything like ATV trekking or river bound activities I'd be keen on those.

Also looking for good recommendations for eating and partying out.

Is there an English language cinema in Udon?

Thanks guys.

I like visiting National Parks and places of historic interest. Into outdoor pursuits too, so if there's anything like ATV trekking or river bound activities I'd be keen on those.

Also looking for good recommendations for eating and partying out.

Is there an English language cinema in Udon?

There is not really much on the Mekong, but on the local lakes and reservoirs there is jetskiing, some sailing (limited, its rarely windy) and fishing. There is even a microlight club.

Ban Chiang has already been mentioned, very interesting, lots of remains of ancient rock housing, cave paintings etc.

Eating out is easy, just get yourself in the centre of town and there is a choice starting from 79B all you can eat buffets (they are good!) upwards. If you mean Thai food restaurants there are more than you can shake a stick at. Two we go to regularly are Monkgornloog which is sort of near the University, and Beung Samran Restaurant which is on the Ring Road near Nong Lek Lake, but thats just top of my head.

Other food, there is a decent Italian place, a couple of good places for steaks. You cannot really miss them if you find the Charoensri Centre. Partying out I can't help you, married with 2 kids, some chance!!

There is a Multiplex in Udon, but unfortunately normally only films dubbed into Thai. Occasionally I am told there are English versions with subtitles but I have never been so lucky.

Hope that helps

Thanks Yorkman and IsaanLawyers

Also found a section on Udon in the Lonely Planet guide.

It said pretty much the same as you guys.

Got the flights and the Irish Clock booked today for 7 nights.

Looking forward to a break from crazy Phuket.

I like to drive to Ban Pu. Wat Phabat Buabok and the adjacent National Park. Try to get a guide, they have great stories to tell about the rock formations. Also, the road from Nongkhai to Sangkhom is very scenic. Stop over at Wat Hinmakpeng. In Sangkom itself, there are lots of waterfalls, but the season is not too good now.

If you go more to the East and then north along the Mekong, they have a nice National Park too, with a nearby deer farm (forgot the whereabouts, but if your wife is from Udorn she either knows or could ask (I found it by asking). If you are all for a tamed and manicured forest, Phu Foilom is the place to go. It looks like a huge golf course and I guess there is one, too. Nothing for me, but maybe others like it.

Thanks guys.

I like visiting National Parks and places of historic interest. Into outdoor pursuits too, so if there's anything like ATV trekking or river bound activities I'd be keen on those.

Also looking for good recommendations for eating and partying out.

Is there an English language cinema in Udon?

D2 night club just opened up and worth a visit. It's across from the Charoensri Shopping complex. Also, Precha night market has an outdoor beer garden (across form Big Screen TV). Plenty of beer/food stalls, shopping for the missus and a playstation shop for the kids. And lots beer girls to ogle. Precha market is located in grid P-12 on the Udon map:

http://www.udonmap.com/images/new_map.gif

If you're in town on the 5th and interested in meeting some of the local expats, there's a Udonmap forum get-together at Precha market. Usually meet up around food stall number 20 across from the big screen TV.

How easy is it to get into Vientaine for a day? Do Thais need a visa? What about Westerners?

Any good hotel recommendations? We are a family of 4, incl. 2 small kids.