Nakhom Phanom is a lovely little town pushed up against the Mekong in Thailand’s upper northeast and opposite the equally characterful Tha Kaek on the Lao side of the river.

Although I have been to Tha Kaek many times in the last few years, it is almost two decades since I visited Nakhon Phanom.  When I returned last week I immediately questioned why I had left it so long. It’s a charming town, and along with nearby Sakhon Nakhon, makes for a great destination for those interested in heritage, regional culture, and local cuisine (more on that in a future post).

In the 1920s many Vietnamese settled in the area and built French-Vietnamese style shophouses along the riverfront. Coming across such gems in Issan is a wonderful surprise and although some have sadly fallen into disrepair many are in remarkably good condition.

There’s also a strong Chinese-Thai community in Nakhon Phanom and some fascinating old shops to explore that have remained unchanged for decades.

You can get direct flights from Bangkok to Nakhom Phanom now with Nok Air making it a great destination for a distinctly different weekend break.

I’ll be heading back in the cool season for a few lazy evenings beside the Mekong eating good Issan food.