🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Phaya Thaen Park sits within Yasothon's municipal area, just off Highway 23 (Chaeng Sanit Road). The park hugs the edge of Lam Thuan reservoir, with a small winding waterway looping around it, covering roughly 18 rai (about 2.9 hectares). The name "Phaya Thaen" comes from the Isan god of rain, whose legend ties directly into the rocket festival that Yasothon is known for.
For travellers, the park's strength is its location: it's right in town, easy to reach, easy to park, and it packs a lot into one spot — walking paths, a wide open lakeside, and a museum. If you've got a free evening in Yasothon, a single stop here is enough to get a feel for the city's rocket-festival culture.
A lakeside park where locals come to relax
The heart of the place is the park along Lam Thuan reservoir. It's a plain, unpretentious city park — nothing fancy — but it's shady and genuinely used by locals every day. In the morning and evening you'll see people walking, jogging and cycling around the lake, parents bringing kids to the playground, and a free outdoor gym to use.
- Lakeside walking/running path — the loop around the reservoir is great for a morning or evening workout, with more shade and breeze than the town centre.
- Flower and ornamental gardens — corners of trees and flowers to stroll through and photograph.
- Bandstand and open plaza — regularly used for municipal events and activities.
- Playground and fitness park — good for bringing the whole family.
Best time to go
The park is free to enter and open to walk through all day, but the nicest stretch is from mid-afternoon (around 3pm) into the evening — the sun softens, the breeze off the lake is pleasant, and you'll catch locals out living their everyday routine.
Want more out of Yasothon? 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 rocket festival grounds, the soul of the city
Phaya Thaen Park is the main venue for Yasothon's annual Bun Bang Fai (rocket festival), held around May at the start of the rainy season. The tradition holds that homemade rockets must be fired into the sky as an offering to Phaya Thaen, the rain god, so the rains come on schedule. It's the city's biggest event, with rocket parades, traditional seung dancing, and competitions to launch rockets as high as possible.
Outside rocket season the grounds still host other city events through the year, from short-course boat races on the lake to the Songkran celebrations. If you visit when nothing's on, it's simply a wide-open lakeside space to sit and relax.
Want to see the rocket festival
If you're coming specifically for Bun Bang Fai, check that year's festival dates well in advance. It's a major event and rooms in Yasothon fill up fast — book several weeks ahead.
Phaya Khankhak Museum, the giant toad landmark
The most photographed spot in the park is the Phaya Khankhak Museum, a building shaped like a toad (khankhak means toad in Isan), standing about 19 metres tall — roughly five storeys — right beside the reservoir. Inside, it tells the legend of Phaya Khankhak, the origin story behind the rocket festival, along with exhibits on toads and frogs from around the world and a 4D short film. The top floor is a viewpoint over Yasothon town.
Just to the north of the toad building is the Phaya Nak (Naga) Museum, with zones telling the story of the local beliefs around the naga and great serpents. Together the two buildings are often called "Wiman Phaya Thaen," and they've become the city's main check-in spot.
Phaya Khankhak (Toad) Building
A 19m toad-shaped building telling the legend behind the rocket festival, with a 4D film and a town viewpoint on the top floor.
Phaya Nak (Naga) Museum
The building to the north, with walk-through zones exhibiting the beliefs around the naga and great serpents.
Hours, entry fees and what to know
- The park itself — free to enter, open to walk through all day.
- Phaya Khankhak / Naga Museum — open Wednesday to Monday, closed Tuesdays (except when a Tuesday falls on a public holiday).
- Museum entry fee — roughly 40 THB for adults, 20 THB for children.
- Location — within Yasothon's municipal area, just off Highway 23 next to Lam Thuan reservoir, only a few minutes from the town centre.
Check before you go
The museum's opening hours shift with the season, and it's mainly closed on Tuesdays. It's worth calling the Yasothon municipality or checking the museum's page before you travel — especially if you're planning to go on a Tuesday or during a long holiday weekend.
Phaya Thaen Park pairs easily with other spots in town since it's so central. From here you can carry on to the old quarter at Ban Singha Tha, Wat Maha That, or go hunting for Yasothon food, all within a short distance. It makes a good evening stop before finding somewhere for dinner.
Plan a full day in Yasothon
See the Yasothon travel guide →