Most people think of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai when they draw plans for a trip to northern Thailand. These are well marketed destinations and admittedly have their own appeals. But it comes a point in a traveler’s life that the usual places get tiring, and the need to explore other corners just comes knocking on the door.
When Thailand reopened itself to tourism in 2022, I suddenly jumped in for a little escape. I have been going back and forth to Thailand since 2007 as it was and is still a very enthusiastic host to international debate tournaments. But having seen most of its popular sites, I just had to tweak that trip a bit, which led me to visit that humble part in the north right across the capital of Laos.
Nong Khai is a city by the Mekong River that is usually glossed over by many as a mere transit hub when crossing the…
