Amphoe Phen offers specific reasons to visit, spanning culture, local commerce and seasonal nature: Phra That Nang Phen Chedi at Wat Ko Kaeo, Sin Charoen Fish Market on Huai Luang, the Nong Si Charoen wetland and the Ban That Rocket Festival. These places and themes can be considered individually. Those interested in temples and festival culture will focus on different things from those interested in winter birdlife. The guide below separates these local highlights and supplements them with selected attractions in the wider destination of Udon Thani.
Temple Sites in Amphoe Phen
Phra That Nang Phen is a chedi at Wat Ko Kaeo in Phen Subdistrict. Wat Phra That Ban Nad is in Ban Nad village, Na Bua Subdistrict, also in Amphoe Phen. This identifies two distinct religious sites in the district: the first is notable as a chedi, while the second is precisely located by village and subdistrict. If you are including temples in your travel plans, you can use these precise place names as a guide.
Sin Charoen Fish Market
Sin Charoen Fish Market is on Huai Luang in Tao Hai Subdistrict. Its origins date back to 1996, when local people began selling fish from Huai Luang by the roadside; this grew into a market. Its history highlights the connection to river fish and trade. The market sells freshwater fish and a range of distinctive products; the selection and vendors may vary. The published hours are also relevant when planning a visit: a 2023 provincial profile listed daily opening hours of 06:00 to 19:00. Check the opening hours again before your trip so you can fit the market into your day's plans.
Nature and Festival Dates
The Nong Si Charoen wetland in Ban That covers about 2,375 rai. Many migratory ducks stay there during winter, making this season especially relevant for nature enthusiasts. If you are planning to visit the area for its birdlife, consider going in winter, without assuming that any particular sightings will occur in a given year.
The Ban That Rocket Festival is held annually in Ban That on the 15th day of the sixth lunar month. Rockets are launched in honor of Phra Sri Maha That and Ma Kham Lai. Unlike the seasonal birdlife, the festival follows a lunar calendar date. If you would like to plan your trip around this event, check the specific event dates before making arrangements.
Udon Thani as the Wider Destination
The wider destination of Udon Thani offers additional attractions with a distinctly different focus. Phu Phrabat Historical Park is in Udon Thani Province. Its megalithic rock shelters were shaped by glacial movement and the differential erosion of rock layers. The surfaces of 47 rock shelters bear paintings of human figures, palms, animals and geometric patterns. Phu Phrabat is the world's most outstanding example of the Dvaravati-period SÄ«ma stone tradition, dating from the 7th to the 11th century. Since its conversion into a Buddhist religious center in the 7th century, the site has continued to be used as one.
Another provincial attraction is Ban Chiang: experts consider the archaeological site the most significant prehistoric settlement discovered to date in Southeast Asia. A site museum nearby offers educational programs for the public and facilities for visitors. These regional examples complement Amphoe Phen's local attractions with distinct archaeological, geological and cultural themes.
Discover more destinations: Na Phu, Amphoe Na Yung, Nong Han District, Ban Dung District, Mueang Udon Thani District, Amphoe Nong Han, Ban Phue District.
For the wider travel overview: Udon Thani.
