Ban Kok Thong brings together a specific local history and several named temples: Wat Si Chomphu and Wat Pa Ban Kok Thong are in Moo 3, while Wat Suwannaram is in Moo 4. A Songkran festival is associated with Wat Si Chomphu. A stay in Kok Thong therefore offers a cultural focus built around three themes: the history of Moo 3, the locations of the temples, and the festival connection. Further afield in the travel area, Huai Krathing Reservoir adds a different dimension.

Village History and the Origin of the Name

Ban Kok Thong, Moo 3, was founded about 150 years ago. A local account tells the story of the name’s origin: Pu Phia Kaeo rested by a large kok thong tree. In a dream, a spirit guarding the tree appeared to him and urged him to found a village there, where its residents would be happy. Pu Phia Kaeo had the tree toppled into a canal; according to the account, Ban Kok Thong took its name from it. The approximate founding date and the legend serve different purposes: the date places the founding of Moo 3 in time, while the naming story links the village’s name to the tree. In the story, the dream connects the guarded tree with the instruction to found a village, and the naming follows from there.

Temples and Songkran

The temples are spread across two parts of the village: Wat Si Chomphu and Wat Pa Ban Kok Thong are in Moo 3, while Wat Suwannaram is in Moo 4. Wat Si Chomphu is also the temple associated with the Songkran festival. Moo 3 thus brings together the approximate founding date, two named temples, and the festival connection to Wat Si Chomphu; Moo 4 adds Wat Suwannaram to the local overview. This makes it possible to identify which of the three temples is associated with the local festival.

Putting Distances in Context

The distances also show little difference between the two Moo: Moo 3 is about 24 km from Amphoe Mueang Loei, and Moo 4 is about 25 km away. These approximate figures are close, differing by about one kilometre. They can help you make a broad comparison between the village areas, but they do not indicate travel time. Plan the specific route to your destination, and treat the figures as distances, not times. The kilometre difference alone is small when choosing between Moo 3 and Moo 4; the temples located in each area offer another point of reference.

A Different Dimension in the Travel Area

Further afield in the travel area, Huai Krathing Reservoir offers a different kind of experience. Visitors often relax on rafts and eat while looking out over the landscape. The raft, meal, and scenery form one connected experience; unlike the temples, the focus here is a landscape-oriented break. If you organise your trip around your interests, you can place this experience alongside the village history and temple connections: a regional highlight for scenery and food rather than another historical or religious theme.

Discover more destinations: Pak Chom, Tha Li, Dan Sai, Pong, Lat Khang, Bu Hom, Kut Pong, Wang Saphung.

For the broader travel overview: Loei.