Ubon Ratchathani Travel Guide

This provincial town in Isaan is part of a unique subculture. Founded by Lao royalty in the 18th century, it's little more than a sleepy side trip for tourists these days.

Ubon grew exponentially during the Vietnam War when US forces set up an important air base here. Given the war's unpopularity, there aren't many relics from those days. Instead, the only major war memorial is a shrine erected by those who served here during WWII. Specifically, the memorial praises the locals' kindheartedness.

As with any secondary tourist destination in Thailand, the main attractions here are temples. Among these, two forest monasteries are outstanding. One was home to a preeminent Thai monk who recently passed away and draws pilgrims accordingly. The other houses a novel collection of international monks, including a number of Westerners.

More often than not, Ubon is a final stop for Laos-bound tourists. Its hospitality scene is growing, but hasn't yet arrived. A variety of restaurants await though the hotel scene leaves a bit to be desired. Above all, this is a nice place to enjoy an urban convenience or two before delving into the rural reaches of Laos.

The best time to visit Ubon for the sake of Ubon is during the Candle Festival in early July. It marks the beginning of the annual Khao Phansa Festival when monks hole away in a single temple for the duration of the rainy season. There's also a provincial boat festival in October.

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