Northern Thailand - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 853

Eating

7 Rabieng Kaew C2

8 Wat Boon Night Bazaar D2

Sights

Thao Suranari Monument
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MONUMENT

(Th Rajadamnern) Thao Suranari, wife of the city's assistant governor during the reign
of Rama III (r 1824-51), became a hero in 1826 by organising a successful prisoner revolt
after Chao Anou of Vientiane had conquered Khorat during his rebellion against Siam. As
one version of the legend has it, she convinced the women to seduce the Lao soldiers and
then the Thai men launched a surprise attack, which saved the city.
Her monument sits photogenically in front of Chumphon Gate MAP GOOGLE MAP , the
only original gate left standing: the other three are recent rebuilds. It was a part of the city
walls erected in 1656 by French technicians on the orders of Ayuthaya King Narai. The
little white building north of this gate that resembles the old fortifications is Suranari Hall
MAP GOOGLE MAP (Th Chumphon; 9am-6pm Tue-Sun) , a museum of sorts with a
cool diorama and even cooler sculpted mural creatively depicting the famous battle.

Maha Viravong National Museum
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(Th Rajadam-nern; admission 50B; 9am-4pm Wed-Sun) Though the collection at this seldom-
visited museum is very small, it's also very good. There's ancient pottery (don't miss
sneaking a peak at what's stored in the back) and a variety of Buddha images spanning the
Dvaravati to Rattanakosin eras.

MUSEUM