Ho Kaeo Mukdahan is a 65.50-meter-high concrete tower. From there, visitors can enjoy views across the city of Mukdahan, the Mekong and Savannakhet on the Laotian side of the river. Mukdahan is home to eight different ethnic minorities. At the base of the tower, exhibitions showcase the way of life of these eight ethnic groups, the lives of people on both banks of the Mekong, and the history of the city. The exhibition themes connect cultural ways of life along both banks with the history of Mukdahan itself. The tower thus offers two ways to engage with the area: views of the river landscape and an exploration of cultural and urban themes.

The Mekong as a View and a Border

At Kaeng Kabao, the Mekong also serves as a border. The site is in Ban Na Kae Noi, Pong Kham, Wan Yai, Mukdahan, opposite the village of Kaeng Kabao in Laos; the river forms the border between the two sides. From Ho Kaeo, Savannakhet is part of the view, while Kaeng Kabao identifies a specific village on the opposite bank. This distinguishes a panoramic view from a precisely named border location, even though both offer a way to experience Mukdahan’s river landscape.

Kaeng Kabao is used for recreation, family activities and swimming. Inner tubes are available to rent for visitors who want to get in the water; check before your trip whether rentals are available. The Second Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge is the border crossing between Mukdahan and Savannakhet. The viewpoint shows Savannakhet as part of the panorama, while the bridge identifies the border crossing: the view and the crossing offer two different geographical perspectives.

Nature and Early Traces

Phu Sa Dok Bua National Park is a nature destination in Pa Rai, Don Tan, Mukdahan. The park has the approximately 500-meter-long Phu Pha Taem Nature Trail. Phu Pha Taem is a rock wall bearing handprints and prehistoric rock paintings. The nature trail and the rock wall have different focuses: one refers to a route through a natural area, the other to an archaeological trace. Nature exploration and prehistoric rock art thus feature side by side as distinct themes in the park.

At the summit of Phu Sa Dok Bua are eleven rock basins, approximately two to three meters wide, which hold water year-round and are covered with small lotus plants. Unlike the rock wall at Phu Pha Taem, with its handprints and paintings, the focus here is not on traces of earlier people, but on water and small lotus plants. These two features offer different ways to experience Mukdahan’s landscape: as an archaeological rock wall and as a summit with water-filled basins.

Local Cuisine

Khao Piak, Vietnamese kuai chap, rice porridge and blood curry are recommended at the five-way intersection of Mukdahan’s Vietnamese community. If you want to get to know Mukdahan through its cuisine as well, you can start with these four recommendations. Since vendors and menus may change, it is worth checking what is currently available locally.

Discover more destinations: Amphoe Mueang Mukdahan, Amphoe Khamcha-I, Kok Tum, Si Bun Rueang, Phangnga, Tak, Nan, Ang Thong.

For the main travel overview: Thailand.