Nong Khai - The gateway to Thailand from Laos

Nong Khai is a province in Thailand on the left bank of the Mekong River bordering Thailand and Laos. Its town centre ("Mueang District") consists of Friendship I Bridge, bus terminal, train station, and other tourist facilities. Most tourists skip this relaxing town and merely use it as a border crossing point for Vientiane or Udon Thani. This time, I decided to overnight in Nong Khai and explored it a little bit. I found Nong Khai to be not so laid back as I had expected. There are 3 minor roads parallel to Mekong River and all are bustling especially at night with restaurants and shops. On weekends, the walking street and Tha Sadet Market operate. I suggest you take a leisure walk along the waterfront pedestrian walkway, which is also suitable for jogging due to its uninterrupted length (3-4 km I think). You can find many guesthouses by the river. If you miss modern shopping malls, Asawann Shopping Complex might help. One thing I don't like about Nong Khai is that it lacks trees on the road, making walking during day time unbearably hot. The constant flow of trucks hauling containers cross-border might annoy some visitors. Overall, I did not regret I made this overnight transit. There are many other provinces in Isan (Northeastern Thailand) that have similar Mekong River vibes, so I would not recommend more than 1 night in Nong Khai unless you have specific interests or more time.