Sunset on the Mekong

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. The nearest train station is at Nong Khai (on the Lao border), from where there are also buses available to Chiang Khan.

Loei Airport (LOE) is 50 km away. A Shuttle bus from there to any hotel in town cost 250 baht. A taxi is about 600 baht. A rental car also available at the airport.

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.

There are many old wooden buildings in Chiang Khan.

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

See

Most people come to Chiang Khan for a serene change of 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). This is the oldest and most famous temple in Chiang Khan. Its romanization is Wat Sri Khun Mueang (Apple map uses this) or Wat Si Khun Mueang (Google map uses this). 

Do

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

Buy

Worth a journey, the cataracts of Kaeng Kut Khu.

Since about 2010 Chiang Khan 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 Isaan cuisine is heavily influenced by Lao flavours.

Sleep

There are dozens and dozens of hotels and guest houses, especially along Chai Kong Road.

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. 

Go next

The nearest border crossing into Laos is the rail link at Nong Khai.