7 Best Things to Do in Udon Thani + Udon Thani Nightlife Guide

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If you’ve landed on this article, there’s a good chance you’re thinking about visiting Udon Thani. I’ll be honest, if it’s your first visit to Thailand, or you are planning a two-week Thailand itinerary, you should probably begin with the more tourist-friendly hotspots of Bangkok, Chiang Mai and the southern resort islands.

However, if you are a Thailand regular (like myself) or you are planning on taking the overland trail to Laos, you’ll find a number of things to do in Udon Thani to keep you busy for a few days.

As the largest city in northeast Thailand, you can expect to find all the amenities of a major Southeast Asian city. If you’ve been traveling off the beaten path in this region, I imagine you’ll be happy to relax with some comfier hotels and varied food options. Best of all, after a few days on the road, you’ll be able to enjoy a drink out on the town as you dive headfirst into the world of Udon Thani nightlife.

1. Learn about Bronze Age Thailand at the Ban Chiang Archaeological Site

Ban Chiang is Northeast Thailand‘s most prominent historic site and well worth your time to visit. After a few Harvard students tripped and fell on some pottery shards in the 1970s, the archaeological site at this small village outside Udon Thani was excavated. A number of homes, burial sites and other historic remnants showcased the development of a unique culture and society dating back over five thousand years.

In 1992, Ban Chiang received UNESCO World Heritage Status for being one of the earliest sites evidencing farming and technological innovation in Southeast Asia.

In truth, you can’t really see much at the excavation site. But the Ban Chiang National Museum is world-class and expertly tells the story of this historic site. You’ll soon learn why this site is so important to understand early Southeast Asia. For example, I find it fascinating how pots made of tin and bronze were discovered, despite there being no natural reserves for those resources nearby. This means the civilization which once lived here was able to maintain large exchange networks reaching deep into Southeast Asia.

My favorite section of the museum is the rooms dedicated to the unique burial pots found at Ban Chiang. Interestingly, ceramic pots appear to have been deliberately broken down in order to cover or decorate the 5000-year-old skeleton.

Once you’re finished with the museum, take a short walk around town. Here, you’ll find a number of pottery shops selling very cheap ceramics to bring home.

2. Dive into Isaan cuisine and create a DIY food tour

Scrap everything you think you know about traditional Thai food and lean into the cuisine of northeast Thailand, or Isaan.

Isaan cuisine is famous for being a little spicier and heavier, while also drawing from the protein sources of northeast Thailand. For those who are a little more adventurous, keep your eyes peeled for traditional protein sources like silkworms, frogs and more.

You’ll find countless unique dishes on the menus here and one of my favorite things to do in Udon Thani is to create your own food tour. I find travelers tend to enjoy laab the most. This spicy salad is usually made with crumbled meat or mushrooms (for the vegetarians). The protein is mixed with lots of chilli, lime, mint and a sticky sour sauce.

The best place to try Isaan food is at the various night markets of Udon Thani, but more on that below. If you’re after something a little more upscale, don’t miss the excellent Mae Ya. It may have casual cafe vibes, but Udon Thani’s very own Michelin-recommended restaurant is easily the best restaurant in Udon Thani.

3. Head up to the Mekong River

One of my favorite short trips from Udon Thani is the relaxing Mekong riverside town of Nong Khai.

Set just across from the Lao border, Nong Khai is a convenient crossing point to the capital of Laos, Vientiane. Aside from the super chilled Nong Khai waterfront, you’ll find a huge undercover market which runs parallel to the riverfront promenade.

But this isn’t your usual Thai tourist market. Rather, this market aims for tourist dollars from Laotian day-trippers. Think Thai household goods, unique Isaan snacks (including lots of dried and candied fruit) and select crafts.

Nong Khai is a relatively large, sprawling city on the border with Laos. To find the ‘cool area’, make your way to the streets around Tha Sadet Market. Here, take a seat by the river, have a beer and order some Isaan food and you’ll be grateful for a lovely day out in northeast Thailand.

If you are visiting Nong Khai, don’t miss the giant seven-headed Naga statues on the waterfront. Although, to be frank, if you are taking a walk along the Mekong, I really doubt you can miss them. They are extremely impressive and make for a great photo against the Laotian riverbed.

For a unique experience, I’d recommend trying to catch the train from Udon Thani to Nong Khai. The train times are not exactly precise, but generally match up with Google Maps times. The train itself is extremely atmospheric with open windows, fans and beautiful views of the rice patties of Northeast Thailand. While the destination is certainly worth your time, I’d say taking the train to the border is one of my top things to do in Udon Thani.

4. Relax with a massage

For Western travelers in Southeast Asia, one of the most pleasantly surprising things you’ll encounter is the comparatively low prices of massages. As across Thailand, massage parlours in Udon Thani offer foot massages, oil massages and full body rubdowns. Best of all, these massages are often a fraction of the price that you likely pay at home.

As a general tip on finding the right parlor: I recommend paying a few Baht more for a clearly cleaner and fresher massage space. Keep your eyes open for bright lights and clear, street-facing windows. I can personally recommend Sotara and Siam Spa.

5. Shop till you drop at Central Udon Mall

On my first visit to Udon Thani, I arrived after a few days in the remote northeast Thailand. For anyone spending any time in rural Thailand, there’s something a little magical about seeing a large, heavily air-conditioned mall with H&M and Coach.

I realize a mall may not be your usual Udon Thani tourist attraction. But, depending on your travel history, visiting Central Udon mall may quickly become one of your top things to do in Udon Thani.

6. Take a day trip to Vientiane, Laos

I’m a little obsessed with the idea of doing a day trip to a different country. On Travel Insighter, you can find guides to border hopping for a day across a vast array of destinations from Argentina to Germany.

You’ll be pleasantly surprised to find out that Vientiane, Laos is only about 1.5 hours from Udon Thani. Better yet, most Western nationalities can pick up a visa for Laos at the border for US$25 (or you can apply for an e-visa beforehand).

With one day in Vientiane, you can easily cover all the major sites of the city including the Patuxay Victory Arch and a number of the famous temples like Pha That Luang and Wat Si Muang. One of the most popular day trips from Vientiane, the Buddha Park, is actually directly on the Thai border and be easily combined with a day trip from Udon Thani.

To maximize your day trip to Vientiane, I recommend joining this short city tour which offers some insight into Laotian culture while exploring all the highlights of Vientiane.

7. Go wild after dark and explore Udon Thani nightlife

One of the top things to do in Udon Thani is to dive into the world of Udon Thani nightlife. While Udon Thani nightlife may not exactly rival Bangkok, what you’ll find here is a slightly tamer nightlife scene with a lot of potential for a big night out.

In my opinion, the best thing to do at night in Udon Thani is to explore the various night markets. First, you’ll want to start with the Train Station Night Market, before making your way over to Night Plaza. Along the way, you’ll find a number of small stalls selling everything from clothes to souvenirs to street food and, of course, some of the best mango sticky rice in town.

It’s worth mentioning that a number of the top things to do in Udon Thani also form part of your Udon Thani nightlife experience. For example, many massage parlous in Udon Thani are open until 10 pm and later.

For those looking for a rowdier Udon Thani nightlife experience, you’ll also find a few streets full of bars. In particular, the area around Samphan Thamit Alley tends to have many pubs, bars and venues with pool tables. Udon Thani is a hub for Western retirees and expats and the Udon Thani nightlife and bar scene generally caters to that particular demographic.

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