There are many old wooden buildings in Chiang Khan.

Chiang Khan (เชียงคาน) is a small town in Loei Province of Thailand's Isaan region. It sits on the south bank of the Mekong River facing the Lao town of Xanamkhan.

Get in

Day and night buses run direct from Bangkok's Mo Chit bus station. The nearest train station is at Nong Khai (on the Lao border), from where there are also buses available to Chiang Khan.

Get around

Chiang Khan is a small town and is easily seen on foot. There are two main streets: Chai Kong, which is by the river and where most of the guesthouses are, and Sri Chiang Khan, which is the main road. Both streets run parallel to the river for a couple of kilometres.

The Kaeng Khut Khu rapids are well worth visiting, and are around 5 km from the town, and a tuk-tuk costs about 50 baht each way.

See

The dazzling lights of the evening entertainment.

Most people come to Chiang Khan to see the serenity of life lived at a slower pace. The best things to see are the old buildings and their seemingly untroubled inhabitants. Finish a busy day's idling by watching the sun set over the Mekong. If you wish to see a temple, Wat Si Khun Mueang should satisfy.

• 1 Wat Si Khun Mueang (วัดศรีคุณเมือง). 

Do

Worth a journey, the cataracts of Kaeng Kut Khu.

• Kaeng Khut Khu (แก่งคุดคู้) (5 km downstream from Chiang Khan). Scenic cataracts and rapids. Cycle, go by boat trip or tuk-tuk. 

Buy

Since about 2010 Chiang Kahn is a booming tourist village that is mainly visited by Thais. There are about 100 shops / restaurants at the road next to the river, some shops open late in the afternoon. There are a few riverside handicrafts stalls near the pier, and there's a 7-Eleven on a road parallel to the main street.

Eat

The local cuisine is heavily influenced by Lao flavours.

Sleep

There are many hotels and guesthouses. Including:

• Chiang Khan Guesthouse, 282 Chai Kong Rd, Soi 19, ☏ +66 42 821691, info@thailandunplugged.com. Old wooden building overlooking the river, shared bathroom. Dutch & Thai owners. 200 baht. 

Cope

• Thai Immigration Office (ตรวจคนเข้าเมืองจังหวัดเลย), 32 Moo 2 (32 หมู่ 2), fax: +66 42 821911. Foreigners can't cross to Laos from Chiang Khan, but visa extensions are available.