Thailand - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 770

Bangkok-Nong Khai rail line and has
both a Lao and a Vietnamese consulate,
the only ones outside Bangkok.
In keeping with its status as a university
town, the Khon Kaen National Museum ,
on hanon Lung Soon Rachakarn
(Wed-Sun 9am-4pm; B100), boasts
several fine collections including Bronze
Age pots, Buddha images and local folk
art. South of the centre, the striking,
modern, nine-tiered pagoda at Wat
Nongwang , resplendent in red, white and
gold, is also well worth a visit. It offers
good views of Beung Kaen Nakhon, the
adjacent lake in a park.

including pizzas (from B190) and Mexican, as well as craft
beers and a wide selection of wines. Mon-Thurs & Sun
4pm-midnight, Fri & Sat 4pm-2am.
Naem Nuang Next door but one to the Saen Sumran
Hotel at 87/14-15 Th Klang Muang. Very popular a/c place
that serves good Vietnamese food, including naem nuang ,
do-it-yourself fresh spring rolls with pork sausage (sets
from B130). Daily 6.30am-11pm.
★

10

Roma 50/2 Th Klang Muang T 043 334444. Newly
renovated, with some of the cheeriest rooms in town.
Some feature Warhol-style pop-art prints, while others
have funky bird-shaped stickers on the walls. Ask to see a
few rooms before settling in as they vary i n qu ality,
though all have hot showers. Free wi-fi. Double B230
Saen Sumran 55 Th Klang Muang T 043 239611. The
most traveller-oriented hotel in town, with clued-up
managers. Its spacious wooden-floored en -suite rooms are
good value, if slightly dilapidated. Double B220

ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
By plane The airport, 10km west of the city centre, has
flights to Bangkok (6 daily; 55min) with Thai (Suvarna-
bhumi Airport) and Air Asia (Don Muang). Many hotels
send a/c minibuses out to pick up guests; otherwise, a taxi
will cost around B200.
By bus The a/c bus station is right in the city centre off
Th Klang Muang, while the non-a/c bus station is on
Th Prachasamoson. It's planned to use these stations for
minibus services only, while bus services are meant to
move to the recently built bus station, way out of town on
the western bypass. However, the bus companies are
reluctant to shift out to the distant new bus station, and at
the time of writing very few services are using it.
Destinations Bangkok (hourly; 6-7hr); Chiang Mai (12
daily; 10-12hr); Khorat (every 30min; 3hr); Nong Khai (10
daily; 3hr 30min); Phitsanulok (16 daily; 6hr); Sukhothai
(10 daily; 6-7hr); Surin (hourly; 5hr); Ubon Ratchathani
(at least hourly; 4hr 30min).
By train Khon Kaen's train station is on the southwest
edge of the centre.
Destinations Ayutthaya (4 daily; 7hr-7hr 30min);
Bangkok (4 daily; 8hr 30min-9hr 45min); Khorat (5 daily;
3hr-3hr 30min); Nong Khai (3 daily; 2hr 25min-3hr
30min).
Tourist information The TAT o ce is south of the centre
on Th Klang Muang (daily 8.30am-4.30pm; T 043
227144-6, E [e-mail]).

DIRECTORY
Consulates The Lao consulate is on the east side of Highway
2 towards Udon Thani, 8km north of town and accessible on
most #4 city songthaews (Mon-Fri 8am-noon & 1-4pm;
T 043 393402). The Vietnamese consulate is off the east end
of Th Prachasamoson at 65/6 Th Chataphadung (Mon-Fri
8-11.30am & 1.30-4.30pm; T 043 242190; city songthaew
#10 can save you a long walk).
Hospital Khon Kaen Ram Hospital, on the far western end
of Th Si Chan ( T 043/333800, W khonkaenram.com).
Internet is available at various locations on Th Klang
Muang.
Tourist police Southwest of town on Th Mittraphap
( T 043 235095 or T 1155)

The east coast
hailand's east coast is a 500km string of
fairly dull beaches and over-packaged
resorts, the largest and most notorious of
which is eminently missable Pattaya.
Offshore, the tiny island of Ko Samet
with its pretty white-sand beaches attracts
weekending Bangkokians and an
increasing number of package-holiday-
makers. Further east are the much larger,
forested island of Ko Chang , whose long,
fine beaches have made it hailand's latest
resort destination; and the small, much
less developed Ko Mak . East of Ko Chang
lies the Cambodian border post of Hat
Lek, one of two points in this region -
the other being Aranyaprathet, a little

ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
Khon Kaen has a reputation for very spicy food, particularly
sausages ( sai krog isaan ), served at stalls along Th Klang
Muang (around Saen Sumran ). Food stalls pop up across
town at dusk, with a particular concentration at the
night bazaar on Th Ruen Rom. Nightlife is focused on
Th Prachasamran, behind the Pullman Hotel .
Didines Th Prachasamran. Welcoming American-run
bar-restaurant offering tasty Thai and Western food,