🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
The belief in birthday stupas comes from the idea that people born on each day of the week have their own presiding Buddha and element. Getting to pay respects at the stupa for your own birthday at least once in your life is considered auspicious. Nakhon Phanom is lucky to have old stupas spread right across the province, so people grouped them into a full week-long set of birthday stupas, turning it into a merit-making route that folks all over Isan set out to complete.
Before you set off there are two things to understand. First, in birthday-stupa tradition Wednesday is split into daytime and nighttime, which is why the total comes to 8 rather than 7. Second, these stupas sit in different districts and are fairly spread out. If you genuinely want to visit them all, you'll need a car and at least two days set aside. We'll lay out the locations and distances clearly so you can plan accurately.
Which Stupa Matches Your Birthday
Here's the overview of which stupa goes with which birthday, what district it's in, and roughly how far it is from Nakhon Phanom city. Look over this list first, then decide whether to visit just your own stupa or collect the whole set.
- Sunday — Phra That Phanom · That Phanom district · about 50 km south of the city. The principal stupa of the whole province, enshrining a relic of the Buddha's breastbone.
- Monday — Phra That Renu Nakhon · Renu Nakhon district · about 45 km south. A smaller echo of Phra That Phanom, the cultural center of the Phu Thai people.
- Tuesday — Phra That Si Khun · Na Kae district · about 70 km south. A square stupa with finely detailed stucco work.
- Wednesday (daytime) — Phra That Maha Chai · Pla Pak district · about 40 km southwest. A golden bell-shaped stupa.
- Wednesday (nighttime) — Phra That Marukkha Nakhon · That Phanom district · about 40 km south. A newer stupa resembling Phra That Phanom, set on the Mekong.
- Thursday — Phra That Prasit · Na Wa district · about 95 km north of the city. An old chedi enshrining a relic of the Buddha.
- Friday — Phra That Tha Uthen · Tha Uthen district · about 26 km north. A tall white stupa on the Mekong riverside road.
- Saturday — Phra That Nakhon · Mueang Nakhon Phanom district · right in town, the easiest of the set to reach.
Can't do them all? Just visit your own birthday stupa
Locals say if you're short on time, getting to the stupa for your own birthday is enough — you can come back for the rest another time. But if you're making the trip and want the full set, the stupas in and near the city (Phra That Nakhon, Phra That Phanom, Renu Nakhon, Tha Uthen) are easily done in two relaxed days. The far-out ones at Na Kae and Na Wa can be added on a third day.
Want more out of Nakhon Phanom? Book tours & activities
Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.
The Four Main Stupas Most People Visit
Out of the whole set, four stand out as the most-visited because they're close to the city and fall on a convenient route: Phra That Phanom, Phra That Renu Nakhon, Phra That Tha Uthen and Phra That Prasit. These four are the heart of this article and the ones most travelers actually manage to collect in a single trip.
Phra That Phanom (Sunday)
The province's most cherished stupa, enshrining a relic of the Buddha's breastbone. The white-and-gold chedi stands about 53 metres tall on the Mekong in That Phanom district, roughly 50 km south of the city. It's the stupa for those born on Sunday and in the Year of the Monkey. The big homage festival runs from late January into early February every year. Free entry; dress modestly.
Phu Thai culturePhra That Renu Nakhon (Monday)
A smaller version of Phra That Phanom in white tinged with pink, about 35 metres tall, in Renu Nakhon district roughly 45 km south of the city. It's the center of a Phu Thai community that still keeps its traditional dress and Phu Thai dance alive. Most people pair it with Phra That Phanom on the same route.
Mekong riversidePhra That Tha Uthen (Friday)
A tall white stupa shaped like a replica of Phra That Phanom but slimmer and taller, in Tha Uthen district about 26 km north of the city on the Mekong riverside road. It's the closest of the northern stupas to town and an easy stop on the way up toward Ban Phaeng.
Phra That Prasit (Thursday)
An old square chedi about 24 metres tall enshrining a relic of the Buddha, in Na Wa district roughly 95 km north of the city. It's the farthest of the set, and people born on Thursday come specifically to pay respects here. If you fold it into the trip, set aside a full half-day.
Four More to Add to the Set
Four more stupas round out the full week. Some are in town and easy to reach, others sit in farther-flung districts. Anyone set on completing all seven days will track these down too.
Phra That Nakhon (Saturday)
The only stupa right in Nakhon Phanom town, at Wat Mahathat on the Mekong. It's a square-based stupa enshrining a relic of the Buddha and the easiest of the set to reach — a good one to start or finish the trip with, since it's close to the in-town hotels.
Phra That Si Khun (Tuesday)
A square stupa with finely detailed stucco work, about 24 metres tall, in Na Kae district roughly 70 km south of the city. It's on the southern route past Renu Nakhon. People born on Tuesday come specifically to pay respects, usually combining it with the Phra That Phanom–Renu Nakhon route.
Phra That Maha Chai (Wednesday daytime)
A golden eight-sided bell-shaped stupa about 37 metres tall, in Pla Pak district roughly 40 km southwest of the city. Inside there are mural paintings to see. It's the stupa for those born during daytime on Wednesday.
Phra That Marukkha Nakhon (Wednesday nighttime)
A newer stupa resembling Phra That Phanom, about 50 metres tall, on the Mekong in That Phanom district roughly 40 km south of the city. It's the stupa for those born at nighttime on Wednesday, and sits on the same route as Phra That Phanom so you can pair them.
Etiquette and dress
Every one of these is an active temple still used for religious life, so dress modestly — no tank tops or shorts above the knee — and take off your shoes before stepping onto the stupa platform. Flowers, incense and candles can be bought at the temple gates everywhere. At larger stupas like Phra That Phanom there's a candlelit circumambulation area around the chedi; the custom is to walk clockwise three times.
Planning the Birthday Pilgrimage Route
If you're set on visiting the whole set, the route that works best is to split it into two directions from the city: one day heading south for the That Phanom group, one day heading north for the Tha Uthen group, then start or finish with Phra That Nakhon in town. The far ones — Phra That Prasit (Na Wa) and Phra That Si Khun (Na Kae) — you can add if you have the time. Here's a sample two-day plan that actually flows on the road.
South — the Phra That Phanom group
North — Tha Uthen and Wednesday daytime
There's no fixed order to visit them in
There's no rule that you have to visit them in order from Sunday to Saturday. Locals plan by whichever direction is most convenient so they don't waste a trip. What you should check is temple opening hours — most are open from morning to evening, around 6:00 to 18:00. Some smaller stupas in far-out districts aren't staffed all day, so going during daylight hours is best.
Getting Around and What to Bring
- Rent a car / self-drive — essential if you want to visit them all, since the stupas are spread across several districts. The roads are good and traffic is light, so it's the best way to stay in control of your time.
- Rent a motorbike — fine if you're only collecting the stupas near the city (Phra That Nakhon, Tha Uthen). There are rental shops in town for a few hundred THB a day.
- Hired car / local driver — handy if you'd rather not drive yourself. Agree on the round-trip price and number of stops in advance; some drivers will arrange the full stupa route for you.
- Bring cash and offerings — flowers, incense and candles can be bought at the temple gates, but many places still don't take bank transfers, so carry cash and keep drinking water in the car.
Want a detailed plan for a full Nakhon Phanom trip?
See the Nakhon Phanom travel guide →