Mukdahan

Mukdahan (มุกดาหาร) is a city in Northern Isaan.

Understand

Mukdahan is the 73rd province of Thailand. Its history dates from the late Ayutthaya period, over 200 years ago. At first, on the left side of the Mekong River, there was a large community called Ban Luang Phon Sin located by Phrathat Ing Hang, presently in Savannakhet Province of Lao PDR. The community was ruled by Chao Chan Suriyawong. His son was Chao Kinnari. He later built a new town at the mouth of Huai Muk on the right bank of the Mekong River in 1767. The town was completed in 1770 and named "Mukdahan" (moonstone or pearl) according to a propitious sign occurring to him while the town was under construction. That is why the locals call the town "Mueang Muk".

During the reign of King Taksin the Great, Chao Kinnari was promoted as Phraya Chanthon Si Surat Upparacha Manthaturat to be the first ruler of Mukdahan in 1778.

At first, Mukdahan was part of 'Monthon Udon' or Udon Circle. In 1907, the Circle was dissolved to become a province and Mukdahan was then an Amphoe of Nakhon Phanom province. It was promoted as Mukdahan province in 1982 as the country’s 73rd province and the 17th province of Isaan.

Actually, Mukdahan is a significant gateway to Indochinese countries. The local people of Mukdahan actually have had a long relationship with the people in Savannakhet province of Laos. Although they are apart by the 70 km long Mekong River. Mukdahan is home to 8 ethnic minorities; namely, Thai Isan, Phu Thai, Thai Kha, Kraso, Thai Kaloeng, Thai Yo, Thai Saek, and Thai Kula. It has abundant natural beauty. Mukdahan covers a total area of 4,339.830 sq km.

Get in

By car

Mukdahan is 642 km from Bangkok. Take the route Bangkok - Saraburi - Nakhon Ratchasima - Amphoe Ban Phai - Maha Sarakham - Amphoe Phon Thong - Roi Et - Amphoe Khamcha-i - Mukdahan.

Another route is Bangkok - Saraburi - Nakhon Ratchasima on Highway 2. Then turn right into Highway 207 at Ban Wat and go through the route Amphoe Prathai - Amphoe Phutthaisong - Amphoe Phayakkhaphum Phisai - Amphoe Kaset Wisai - Amphoe Suwannaphum, then use Highway 2169 via Amphoe Sai Mun - Amphoe Kut Chum - Amphoe Loeng Nok Tha, and Highway 212 via Amphoe Nikhom Kham Soi to Mukdahan.

By bus

The Transport Co., Ltd. operates daily bus services from the Bangkok Bus Terminal (Chatuchak or Mo Chit 2), Tel. 0 2936 2852-66. There are also local buses connecting Mukdahan with other Northeastern provinces like Khon Kaen, Ubon Ratchathani, Nakhon Phanom, Sakon Nakhon, Udon Thani, and Maha Sarakham. For more details, please contact the Mukdahan Bus Terminal at Tel. 0 4261 1421, 0 4261 1478, 0 4261 3025-9 or click www.transport.co.th.

By train

Trains leave Bangkok Railway Station or Hua Lamphong for Ubon Ratchathani daily. From there, Mukdahan is 167 km by bus. For more information, call the State Railway of Thailand at Tel. 1690, 0 2223 7010, 0 2223 7020 or visit www.railway.co.th.

By plane

Thai Airways International does not operate any direct flight to Mukdahan. Passengers can fly to Nakhon Phanom or Ubon Ratchathani, then take a bus to Mukdahan. For more information, call THAI at Tel. 1566, 0 2280 0060, 0 2628 2000 or visit www.thaiairways.com.

Drink

Mukdahan nightlife and bar information can be found on the follwing Mukdahan Page.

The café Good Mook* is an oasis of Western retro design among everything Asian. Here you can have espresso bases coffeedrinks and cookies, read design magazines or use the WiFi. They also have custom t-shirts and photos for sale that look very nice.

Sleep

• <sleep name="Huanum Hotel" alt="" address="36 Samutsadarak Road" directions="" phone="(042) 611137" url="" checkin="" checkout="12:00" price="150-350 THB" lat="" long="" email="" fax="">Room with fan and no bathroom 150B. Clean. Free WiFi.</sleep>

Get out

Roughly 4km north of each city's center, the Second Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge [1] connects Mukdahan with the Lao city of Savannakhet on the opposite side of the Mekong river. There is a regular bus connection between the cities; a one-way ticket costs 100 Baht (December 2009). While there is no formal bus stop at either end of the bridge, passengers need to disembark for the border formalities on both sides; hence in practice it's possible to buy a ticket and board the bus on the border if you've arrived there by other means.

There is a car park on the Mukdahan side of the bridge, one night costs 100 Baht. With the correct paperwork it's also possible to drive your car over to Laos. There are no pedestrian lanes on the bridge.

Visa-on-arrival is available at the border post for those nationalities that require one (see the article on Laos for more details). Additionally, the Lao border officials charge an "entry fee" (40-170 Baht), "exit fee" (40 Baht) and after 4:00 PM, an "overtime fee" (40 Baht) for stamping one's passport.

Outline