Khong Chiam

A quiet Mekong town at Thailand's easternmost tip. Pha Taem's prehistoric rock art, Thailand's earliest sunrise, the two-tone river confluence and striking waterfalls make for a natural escape.

Khong Chiam lies at the easternmost tip of Ubon Ratchathani Province in northeastern Thailand, about 85 km from Ubon city. It sits where the Mun River flows into the Mekong, facing Laos across the water. The town itself is peaceful and unpretentious. Along the riverfront, you can see the 'two-colored river,' where the Mun River and the Mekong flow side by side in contrasting shades. A longtail boat can take you to the confluence for a closer look. On the hillside to the west, the viewpoint at Tham Temple is a great place to look over both rivers and Laos. Khong Chiam is the best base for exploring Pha Taem National Park. Prehistoric rock paintings roughly 3,000 years old survive on the cliffs of Pha Taem, and the cliff top is considered one of the earliest places in Thailand to see the sunrise. The park also has mushroom-shaped Sacharoen stone pillars, Sai Sawan Waterfall, Moonlight Waterfall and Thong Nam Mong Waterfall. From October to December, the sandstone plateau is covered in wildflowers. West of town, Kaeng Tana National Park offers views of Mekong rapids and a suspension bridge. To the south, the Chong Mek border crossing is the land route to Pakse in Laos. The best time to visit is November through February, the cool season, when the skies are clear and ideal for watching the sunrise. October and November are the best months for waterfalls and wildflowers. March through May is scorching hot, and in the rainy season the Mekong runs muddy. Getting there: fly or take the overnight train from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani, then take a minibus for about 1.5–2 hours to Khong Chiam. Public transport between the town and the national parks is almost nonexistent, so renting a car in Ubon or hiring a driver or motorbike in Khong Chiam is recommended. Stay 1–2 nights. There are plenty of riverview guesthouses, and to catch the sunrise at Pha Taem, you'll need to set off before 5 a.m.

Top sights

• Pha Taem National Park – Sandstone cliffs along the Mekong River, with prehistoric paintings dating back some 3,000 years. It is also one of the first places in Tha…
• Kaeng Tana National Park – A national park with rapids and giant rocks downstream of the Mun River. A suspension bridge crosses to an island in mid-river, with cascad…
• Wat Tham Khuha Sawan – A temple on a hillside in Khong Chiam, with a golden stupa and an observation deck overlooking the confluence of the Mekong and Mun rivers.
• Soi Sawan Waterfall – A twin-stream waterfall inside Pha Taem National Park. In late rainy season, the rock plateau above the falls blooms with small wildflowers.
• Sao Chaliang – A cluster of mushroom-shaped boulders in Pha Taem National Park, formed by weathering. It is a must-stop on the way to the cliff paintings.
• Khong Chiam Two-Colored River – Where the Mun River joins the Mekong at Khong Chiam, brown-yellow and blue-green waters flow side by side without mixing, forming a clear d…
• Saeng Chan Waterfall (Moonlight Waterfall) – Water falls from a round hole at the top of a cave, and sunlight through the stone opening makes the water curtain glow like moonlight. It…
• Thung Na Mueang Waterfall – A stepped waterfall in northern Pha Taem National Park, with a park campsite and sandstone terraces. It is a popular base for watching sunr…
• Chong Mek Border Market – A border market at the Thailand–Laos crossing, selling Lao coffee, forest products and cheap goods. It is also the land crossing to Pakse i…

Where to eat

• Mekong Riverside Restaurant – A large riverside restaurant in Khong Chiam serving Mekong fish, and a popular lunch stop for visitors.
• Cafe de Khong Riverside Restaurant – Open-air riverside restaurant at Tohsang Resort, overlooking the confluence of the Mekong and Mun rivers with Lao mount…

Itineraries

• Isan Khmer Ruins & Mekong Loop – An extensive Isan route heading east from Khao Yai to Phimai and Phanom Rung, continuing to the Mekong River, and then…