TH · Khon Kaen · 16.43°N 102.83°E

khon kaen

Isaan hub for fiery som tam, grilled chicken and buzzing night markets.

Best time
November to February is cool and dry. March to May is very hot, and Songkran in April is a big, wet party here.
How long
2–3 days
Getting there
Fly from KL to Bangkok (about 2 hours), then about 1 hour on a domestic flight to Khon Kaen. Trains and buses from Bangkok take about 7 hours.
Save postcard
TH · Khon Kaenkhon kaen16.43°N 102.83°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Isaan hub for fiery som tam, grilled chicken and buzzing night markets.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingKhon KaenTH, Khon Kaen
KLkhon kaen
≈ 1,483 km from KL, as the crow flies
Ubosot Wat Klang Khon Kaen One of the 4 ancient temples in Khon Kaen located on the edge of Bueng Kaen Nakhon.

Photo: SiamAtlas · CC BY-SA 4.0

1 / 5

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Khon Kaen is one of Isaan's 'big four' cities, a busy university town about 450 km north-east of Bangkok. It isn't packed with sights, but it's a comfortable base with a lake, temples and very good Isaan food. Good for a relaxed trip where makan is the main plan.

Makan

  1. Gai yangIsaan grilled chicken. The Khao Suan Kwang style from this province is famous across Thailand.Map ↗
  2. Som tamPapaya salad pounded to order. Ask for 'phet nit noi' if you want it only a little spicy.Map ↗
  3. Larb and sticky riceMinced meat salad with toasted rice and herbs, scooped up with sticky rice.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Phra Mahathat Kaen NakhonA nine-storey stupa at Wat Nong Wang, with murals inside and views from the top.Map ↗
  2. Bueng Kaen NakhonA big lake in town with a path round it, busy with joggers and food stalls in the evening.Map ↗
  3. The night marketsSeveral evening markets for street food, clothes and snacks.Map ↗
  4. Phu Wiang National ParkDinosaur fossils found in the hills west of the city, with a museum nearby.Map ↗
  5. ChonnabotA district south of the city known for hand-woven mudmee silk.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Halal food is harder to find in Isaan than in southern Thailand. Look for halal signs or ask your hotel.

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