Categories > Guides and Tips
Ultimate Guide to Bueng Kan: Why This New Province Is THE Most Memorable Travel Destination!
- Best Time to Visit Bueng Kan
- Things to Know
- How to Get to Bueng Kan
- Where to Stay in Bueng Kan
- The One Hotel Bueng Kan
- Thai Guest House
- The Wisdom Residence
- Where to Eat in Bueng Kan
- Botanica Cafe & Bistro
- Po Kaeo Kitchen
- Khun Phaen Sushi House Restaurant
- What to See and Do in Bueng Kan
- Visit Wat Photharam
- Stroll around Wat Ahong Silawas
- Stop by the Chao Mae Song Nang Shrine
- Hike to Hin Sam Wan’s summit
- Check out Wat Tham Si Thon
- Brave the long climb to Wat Phu Tok
- Ride a boat at the Mae Tim Pier Don Kaeo-Don Pho
- Browse the food stalls at the Bueng Kan Walking Street
- FAQs about Bueng Kan
It’s not surprising that many travelers haven’t heard of Bueng Kan—it’s one of the newer provinces after all. But that’s exactly why it’s one of our favorite untold travel destinations, especially when we want to avoid as many tourists as possible.
From experience, Bueng Kan is a precious gem that should give the best tourist destinations in Thailand a run for their money. Tucked away in the upper end of Isan, you have untouched landscapes bursting with nature at its most stunning.
And the best part is you’ll be able to stretch your budget! So, read on as we’re spilling the beans on why this off-the-beaten-track attraction could make your best travel memory yet. Read on!
Best Time to Visit Bueng Kan
It’s best to visit Bueng Kan from November to February to enjoy the benefits of the dry season. During this time, you’ll experience bright skies and cool temperatures, perfect for outdoor activities from sunup to sundown.
We also recommend avoiding Isan’s burning season from March to April because it has negative effects on the region’s overall air quality. It will also lower the quality of your nature photos, especially if you like using the sky as a backdrop.
Things to Know
Currency: Thai Baht
(Check the current exchange rate)
Language: Kam Mueang (Northern Thai)
Calling Code: (+66)
Location: Bueng Kan, Thailand
Nearest Airport: Sakon Nakhon Airport (171 km)
How to Get to Bueng Kan
Plane: The fastest way to get to Bueng Kan from Bangkok is to book a flight from Don Mueang International Airport bound for Sakon Nakhon Airport. The flight only takes an hour but you still need to catch a taxi to Bueng Kan Town.
This brings the total travel duration to approximately 4 hours.
Bus: You can also ride a provincial bus from Bangkok’s Mochit Bus Terminal to Bueng Kan. The best option is the Sawadee Esan bus because they follow a direct route without any transfers.
This will take approximately 11 hours so it’s ideal for travelers with time on their hands.
Train: Another option is to take a train from Bangkok’s Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Station to Nong Khai Province. Once you get there, you can hire a taxi that can take you directly to Bueng Kan Town.
This option is cheap but it’s also the slowest because it takes approximately 14 hours.
Where to Stay in Bueng Kan
The One Hotel Bueng Kan
Media credit: s.thanapon_film
Address: 459 Moo 1, Bueng Kan-Nakhon Phrom Road
Operating Hours: 2 p.m. (Check-in) & 12 p.m. (Check-out)
Contact Number: +66 42 492 234
Website: http://www.theonehotel-bk.com/
Pricing: ฿฿
Location-wise, the One Hotel Bueng Kan is a convenient hotel within the town center, so it’s certainly one of the top choices.
Their unpretentious rooms also provide all the essential amenities, from free WiFi to flat-screen TVs, en-suite bathrooms, and minibars.
It’s a plus that it’s within walking distance of the bus stop and close to attractions such as Chao Mae Song Nang Shrine, Wat Photharam, and Bueng Kan Walking Street.
Thai Guest House
Media credit: trust_mech
Address: 195/2 Moo 12, Bueng Khong Long, Bueng Khong Long District
Operating Hours: 2 p.m. (Check-in) & 12 p.m. (Check-out)
Contact Number: +66 83 442 9560
Website: https://www.facebook.com/ThaiGuestHouse99
Pricing: ฿฿
Thai Guest House is a charming mid-range accommodation with spacious minimalist rooms complete with all the necessities, plus great amenities!
Staying here also gives you a chance to experience the local culture because they have daily almsgiving activities that you can watch or join every morning.
We’re also fans of the complimentary breakfast buffet they serve. It’s the best way to start your day in Bueng Kan!
The Wisdom Residence
Media credit: gorapi
Address: 503 Moo 1, Chayangkun Road
Operating Hours: 2 p.m. (Check-in) & 12 p.m. (Check-out)
Contact Number: +66 42 086 977
Website: https://www.facebook.com/thewisdombk/
Pricing: ฿
The Wisdom Residence is the clear-cut choice for families. It has spacious decked-out rooms with up to two twin beds, a mini fridge, bathroom vanities, black-out curtains, and more.
This hotel is also smack in the middle of Bueng Kan Town, so you’re near numerous local shops and restaurants.
It’s also one of the most budget-friendly hotels in town, perfect if you plan to stay for several days during your trip.
Where to Eat in Bueng Kan
Botanica Cafe & Bistro
Media from botanica.bk
Address: Bueng Kan Tai
Operating Hours: 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)
Contact Number: +66 61 898 5029
Website: https://www.facebook.com/botanica.bk
Pricing: ฿฿
Botanica Cafe & Bistro is a popular food spot with a gorgeous alfresco garden dining area. Here, you can enjoy quality Thai food and desserts while surrounded by numerous potted and hanging plants.
We also like their healthy breakfast and drink menu, perfect for health-conscious and vegetarian travelers.
Our favorite is their avocado, egg, and chia seed wrap — a nutritious and energizing breakfast dish! Have it with their signature detoxifying beet and berry juice for more healthy goodness.
Po Kaeo Kitchen
Media credit: eattillyou_drop
Address: 323/1 Wisit Subdistrict
Operating Hours: 4 p.m. – 10 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)
Contact Number: +66 85 643 0631
Website: https://www.facebook.com/SupolJirapohn/
Pricing: ฿฿
If you want to soak in stunning scenery and try authentic Thai food, Po Kaeo Kitchen is a solid option. It’s a riverside restaurant, so you can admire the view of the Mekong River as you indulge in local specialties like som tum, fish larb, and more!
The seafood fanatics on our team particularly love their tom yum pla because they use giant Mekong catfish caught in the river daily. You can taste the fish’s freshness and it goes well with their authentic Thai-flavored broth!
Their menu focuses on seafood, so expect staple Thai dishes like deep-fried fish, spicy seafood salad, and shrimp and vegetable stir-fry.
Khun Phaen Sushi House Restaurant
Media credit: dakanda_man
Address: 299 Wisit 3
Operating Hours: 11:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. (Sunday – Friday)
Contact Number: +66 65 240 5068
Website: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063458085268
Pricing: ฿฿
For fans of Japanese food, Khun Phaen Sushi House Restaurant is a must-visit! This place specializes in sushi, with a menu that offers over 40 types of sushi.
They also serve them in sets so you can try numerous types at a great value for your money. Their menu also includes other Japanese-style dishes like donburi bowls, sushi rolls, sashimis, salads, and more.
What to See and Do in Bueng Kan
Visit Wat Photharam
Address: Mueang Bueng Kan
Operating Hours: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)
Wat Photharam is a stunning gilded temple! It’s worth visiting because it also enshrines one of the most important Buddha images in Bueng Kan, the Luang Pho Phra Yai.
What’s special about it is it’s a 7-foot tall Buddha sitting cross-legged in a subduing mara posture. It’s also said to grant wishes, so the locals celebrate it twice a year: during the Bun Khao Chi and a week after the Songkran Festival.
During these times, expect to see devotees offering joss sticks, flowers, and candles to Luang Pho Phra Yai.
Stroll around Wat Ahong Silawas
Media credit: diaguild
Address: Khai Si Subdistrict
Operating Hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)
Wat Ahong Silawas, also known as Kaeng Ahong, is a gorgeous and spacious temple along the riverbank. It’s arguably Bueng Kan’s most tranquil temple, perfect for pleasant strolls.
The temple’s complex resembles a park, so expect to see a garden with well-tended plants and interesting statues of Lord Buddha, Naga, and various animals. There’s also a viewing deck where you can soak in the view of the Mekong River and Laos behind it.
One of its unique features is a shrine set between two large sandstone boulders. Inside is the goddess of Ban Ahong, also known as the Navel of the Mekong River, to pray for good fortune and healthy relationships.
Stop by the Chao Mae Song Nang Shrine
Media credit: b.be_belle
Address: Wisit, Chao Mae Song Nang
Operating Hours: 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)
Chao Mae Song Nang Shrine is a unique Buddhist shrine. Instead of a typical Buddha statue, it has a carved rock with images of the Buddha’s two mothers: Māyā and Mahāpajāpatī.
This shrine is dedicated to the goddess of the Mekong River who’s said to be the cause of the annual deaths of people living near its bank. Here, locals pray for safety when traveling by boat and for business success.
Hike to Hin Sam Wan’s summit
Media credit: life_of_geology
Address: 3007 Khok Kong, Phu Sing Forestry Park
Operating Hours: 5 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)
Hin Sam Wan is a picturesque rock cliff within the Phu Sing Forestry Park, well-known among hikers who frequent Bueng Kan.
Its biggest draw is its three unique whale-like rock formations—no wonder locals call it the “Three Whale Stones”. These rocks overlook the province’s lush forests, and the views are especially grand during sunrise or sunset.
Just note that there are no railings on top of the giant rocks, so you must exercise caution while up there.
Check out Wat Tham Si Thon
Media credit: aonemo
Address: Non Sila, Pak Khat District
Operating Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)
Website: https://www.facebook.com/wat.tum.siton
Wat Tham Si Thon is a unique hilltop temple with a shady tree-lined complex and a gentle stream at the center. It used to be a lush jungle teeming with wildlife until monks took a liking to the place for its serene atmosphere, which is great for Dharma practices.
Its most notable structure is a bell-shaped ubosot built on a giant boulder. Keep your eyes peeled and see the unique feature of the temple’s distinctive bell tower—it’s made of water jars bound together!
Finally, don’t miss the sacred reclining Buddha image many devotees pay their respects to.
Brave the long climb to Wat Phu Tok
Media credit: andoctorey
Address: Na Saeng, Si Wilai District
Operating Hours: 6:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)
Contact Number: +66 87 771 8621
Website: https://www.facebook.com/WadPhuThxk/
Wat Phu Tok is a scenic Buddhist temple perched on a sandstone mountain. The journey to the temple is challenging because your only option is to climb up steep trails, sandstone stairs, and wooden walkways.
However, seeing the temple is definitely worth the effort because it offers a breathtaking bird’s-eye view of the surrounding forests. It also has a unique pointy stupa and a cave shrine with numerous Buddha images and monk statues.
Ride a boat at the Mae Tim Pier Don Kaeo-Don Pho
Media credit: nui_samakkarn
Address: 4011 Bueng Khong Long
Operating Hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)
Contact Number: +66 95 701 4830
Website: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064826477831
If you want to explore the lotus-filled lake of Bueng Khong Long Non-Hunting Area, Mae Tim Pier Don Kaeo-Don Pho is your best option. The boats in the pier will take you around the lake so it’s perfect if you want to spot numerous wildlife.
This area, in particular, is great for birdwatching because the lake attracts many aquatic bird species. Think plumed egrets, Chinese pond herons, Asian openbills, tailed jacanas, and more.
It’s best to visit the lake between December and February so you can witness the lotus flowers in full bloom—this alone makes the trip to Bueng Kan worth it!
Browse the food stalls at the Bueng Kan Walking Street
Media credit: sinjai_
Address: 404 Moo 1, Khao Mao Rim Khong Road
Operating Hours: 4 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (Friday – Saturday)
Bueng Kan Walking Street is a lively night market along the Mekong River. It’s packed with local food stalls serving affordable and traditional Thai street food, drinks, and desserts, perfect for foodie adventures.
Here, you can get your hands on popular street food like moo ping, pla muek yang, som tum, gai tod, and more. You can also find stalls selling international snacks, so expect a solid food variety.
Remember that Bueng Kan Walking Street is located along the Mekong River. That should tell you it’s a great destination to hang out, walk around and enjoy the view.
