Nong Khai North-Eastern Thailand.

Nong Khai is a city in North-East Thailand, capital of the Nong Khai Province. It is situated on the Mekong River and is the site of the First Thai-Lao Friendship BridgeLaos.

It is the Thai gateway to the Laos' capital of Vientiane 25 kilometres up river, on the North bank opposite the Thai town of Sri Chiang Mai. At the time of building the bridge, space for a railtrack was installed along the centre of the roadway to the Laos side; at present the railway track ends at the Thai side of the bridge.

The service currently stops one kilometre short of the border at a new railway station not far from the city centre of Nong Khai. Construction of an extension to Vientiane was begun early 2007

Thailand : Nong Khai Province

Nong Khai's main sight is Sala KeokuSala Kaew Ku, also known as Wat Khaek), a park of massive sculptures (some over 20m tall).

The park is the handiwork of the mystic Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat, who bought the land in 1978 when he was exiled from his native Laos (where he had built a similar park in Vientiane in the nineteen-fifties). S

ynthesizing Buddhist and HinduistNaga snake and all sorts of human-animal hybrids dominate the scenery. (alternatively spelled as ideologies, Buddhas, many-armed goddesses, a seven-headed

Nong Khai Thailand

Nong Khai is a long thin province running along the Mekong River, providing the main access to Laos. Originally people went by boat from Tha Sadet, but the building of the Friendship Bridge across the Mekong has made Nong Khai a major centre for transport and trade with Laos.

Attractions include Wat Pho Chai, renowned for its large seated Buddha believed to have been cast in Lan Chang, and Phra That Nong Khai, an old chedi that slipped into the river and can now only be seen completely in the dry season.

Sala Kaeo Ku, Nong Khai

Sala Kaeo Ku is full of strange statues according to the belief of a defunct sect. It is 3 kilometres from town on the way to Phon Phisai.

Luang Pu Luea, an old man who believes all religions should be integrated together, set up the park in 1978 by allegedly using unskilled craftsman to carry out fine details.

Sala Kaeo Ku features a large garden of statues depicting Buddhist and Hindu gods, goddesses, saints, devils, and demons, as well as some secular sculptures.

Wat Hin Mak Peng, Nong Khai

Wat Hin Mak Peng on the bank of the Mekong is at Ban Thai Charoen at Km. 64 of Highway No. 211, around 75 kilometres from Amphoe Mueang.

The temple used to be the residence of Luang Pu Thet Thetrangsi, a monk with followers nationwide. Many Buddhists come here to meditate.

Luang Pho Phra Chao Ong Tue, Nong Khai

Luang Pho Phra Chao Ong Tue is at Ban Nam Mong at Km. 31 of Highway No. 211, 43 kilometres from Amphoe Mueang.

This Buddha image is 4 metres high and is made of gold, bronze and silver. It is the work of craftsmen from northern Thailand and Lan Chang.

Built by Phra Chaiyachettha of Vientiane in 1562, the image is revered by Thais and Laos.

Phu Thok Nong Khai

Phu Thok is a sandstone mountain 200 metres high standing all alone in Ban Kham Khaen in Tambon Na Sabaeng. The monk Phra Achan Chuan Kunchettho established a meditation centre here by constructing wooden stairs from the foot of the mountain winding along the cliff face to the summit. It took more than 5 years to build.

Along the way, visitors can see many interesting spots, like the rock formation that is like a tunnel, a cave and the cliff. In addition, they can enjoy the magnificent view from high up.

To get to Phu Thok from Nong Khai, take Highway No. 212 past Pho Chai, Pak Khat and Bueng Kan, then take a right onto Highway No. 222 to Si Wilai and to Phu Thok, totaling 185 kilometres. A distance from Bueng Kan to Phu Thok is 46 kilometres.