TH · Udon Thani · 17.41°N 103.24°E

ban chiang

UNESCO Bronze Age site famous for its swirly red-painted pottery.

Best time
November to February is cool and dry, and it's also lotus season at the nearby Red Lotus Sea.
How long
Half a day
Getting there
Fly from KL to Bangkok (about 2 hours), then about 1 hour to Udon Thani. Ban Chiang is about an hour's drive east of Udon city.
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TH · Udon Thaniban chiang17.41°N 103.24°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,UNESCO Bronze Age site famous for its swirly red-painted pottery.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingBan ChiangTH, Udon Thani
KLban chiang
≈ 1,596 km from KL, as the crow flies
A mock up of the excavation at Ban Chaing Museum

Photo: Kiwiodysee · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

A village in Udon Thani province that turned out to sit on top of a prehistoric settlement and burial ground. Its red-painted swirl pottery and early bronze made it a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. It's a short visit but an interesting one, and easy to pair with the Red Lotus Sea.

Things to do

  1. Ban Chiang National MuseumClear displays of the pottery, bronze tools and burials found here.Map ↗
  2. Wat Pho Si Nai excavation pitAn open dig inside a temple, with skeletons and pots left where they were found.Map ↗
  3. Village pottery workshopsLocals paint copies of the swirly designs, and some let you try your hand.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Buy replicas only. Taking real antiquities out of Thailand is illegal.
  • Public transport out here is limited, so hire a car or driver from Udon.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.