🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Phra That Tha Uthen is one of Nakhon Phanom's birthday-day stupas that temple pilgrims make a point of visiting. What makes this one memorable is its shape — noticeably taller and slimmer than Phra That Phanom. It sits right on the Mekong in Tha Uthen District, with the Lao bank visible across the water. Coming here isn't just a quick pay-your-respects-and-leave: you get the story of Phra Ajarn Sithat who built it, you can walk a circuit around the stupa to admire the stucco work, then head out to catch the breeze along the river nearby. It's a natural stop along Nakhon Phanom's northern riverside route.
A slim white tower, roughly 66m tall on the Mekong
The Phra That Tha Uthen stupa is a square brick-and-mortar chedi modelled on Phra That Phanom, but built taller and more open. It stands about 33 wa, or roughly 66 metres. The body is painted clean white, set off against a gilded, ornately patterned spire, and standing in the middle of an open riverside plaza it looks tall and striking. The structure is divided into tiers: the lowest tier has a chamber holding valuables, the middle tier is sealed over, and the upper tier is the main chedi whose spire you can see from far off.
The plaza around the stupa is paved flat and easy to walk a circuit on, ringed by a low boundary wall and an old gateway arch. Early morning before the sun gets harsh, and late afternoon before sunset, are when the stupa looks its best — the golden light catches the spire, and photos capture both the white body and that distinctive slender shape, with the Mekong and the Lao bank as a backdrop.
On dress and timing
This is a sacred site where people come to pay genuine respects, so dressing modestly with shoulders and knees covered will feel more comfortable. You'll need to remove your shoes before stepping onto the stupa plaza, and at midday the paving gets fairly hot — bring socks and walking around is much easier. Coming in the morning or late afternoon avoids the noon heat and makes both paying respects and taking photos more pleasant.
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The history and Phra Ajarn Sithat, who built it
Phra That Tha Uthen was built by Phra Ajarn Sithat Yanasampanno, a revered monk held in esteem on both banks of the Mekong. He rallied local villagers and Buddhists to build it together, starting around 1910 and finishing somewhere between 1912 and 1916 — several years of construction in all. Inside, it enshrines relics of the Buddha brought from Yangon in Myanmar. The stupa has been restored several times, most recently around 2015 by the Fine Arts Department, and it is now registered as a national ancient monument.
Phra That Tha Uthen is regarded as the stupa of Tha Uthen District and has been a spiritual anchor for local people for a long time. The story of Phra Ajarn Sithat is told throughout this area; he was also involved in building several other sacred sites on both banks of the Mekong, which means the stupa isn't just an old chedi — it's tied to the faith of the people of that era.
A detail many people miss
The fact that it's taller and slimmer than Phra That Phanom isn't an accident. Phra Ajarn Sithat deliberately modelled it on Phra That Phanom but adjusted the proportions to be more slender. Stand and compare photos of the two and the difference is clear: Phra That Phanom is stockier and more rounded, while Tha Uthen is tall and slim. It's an easy way to tell which one you're looking at.
The birthday stupa for those born on a Friday
Phra That Tha Uthen is the birthday stupa for people born on a Friday, according to old belief, because the stupa stands to the north of Phra That Phanom — which matches the direction associated with Venus (Friday's planet). Friday-born people therefore treat a visit here as a way to boost their good fortune, with the belief that they'll receive a kind of radiant prosperity in life, like the light of dawn dispelling darkness. People not born on a Friday are welcome to come and pay respects too — it isn't limited to Friday-born visitors.
Nakhon Phanom is a province that has birthday stupas for all seven days plus one for Wednesday night — eight stupas in a single province. Many pilgrims plan trips to pay respects at the stupa for their own birthday and those of their family. Phra That Tha Uthen is the one for Friday-born people, and visitors usually combine it with Phra That Phanom or Phra That Renu, which sit in different parts of the province.
How to pay your respects at Phra That Tha Uthen properly
Paying respects here isn't complicated — it's what locals have done for generations, and first-timers can follow along easily. Start by buying flowers, incense and candles from the shops in front of the temple, then go through these steps.
- Circle the stupa three times — walk clockwise around the stupa plaza three times. As you go, hold in mind the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha.
- Make your wish — find a quiet spot in front of the stupa, light your incense and candles in offering, and make your wish for whatever you have in mind. Friday-born visitors often ask for prosperity and progress in life and work.
- Offer flowers — place your flower tray at one of the designated points around the stupa as an offering.
- Apply gold leaf and make merit — at some points you can apply gold leaf and drop a donation in the box as your faith moves you, which helps maintain the stupa.
- Walk around the temple — finish by walking past the old gateway arch and the riverside plaza within the temple, soaking up the atmosphere before you leave.
An honest word on making wishes
Paying respects here has no strict ceremony — just do it with a calm mind and respect for the place, and there's no need to worry about getting the steps wrong. On weekdays it isn't crowded, so you can pay respects in peace and photograph the whole stupa, while during the annual festival it gets far busier.
The annual Phra That Tha Uthen homage festival
Once a year there's a homage festival for the Phra That Tha Uthen stupa, held around the fourth lunar month — from the 13th day of the waxing moon to the 1st day of the waning moon, which usually falls in March. During the festival, people from Tha Uthen District and beyond pack in to pay their respects, with merit-making, processions and religious activities. If you want to see the full atmosphere of local devotion, come during this time — but be prepared for crowds and a packed car park. The rest of the year you can come and pay respects whenever it suits you.
Getting there and what to know before you go
Wat Phra That Tha Uthen is in Tha Uthen District, near the district office, about 26 kilometres north of Nakhon Phanom town. Take Highway 212, the road that runs along the Mekong, and it's roughly a 30 to 40 minute drive. The road is good the whole way and the riverside views are lovely along the entire route. The stupa sits in the middle of the district, its spire visible from far off, so it's easy to find. Across the Mekong is the town of Hinboun in Laos.
- Opening hours — open for visitors every day during daylight, generally around 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Late afternoon, when the sun has softened, is the nicest time to be there.
- Entry fee — no entry fee; there's a donation box for making merit as you wish, and flowers, incense and candles are available from the shops out front.
- Getting there — by far the easiest way is your own car or a rental. From Nakhon Phanom town there's a songthaew running the Tha Uthen route, but allow time for the wait.
- Time needed — paying respects, circling the stupa and getting your photos takes about 40 minutes to an hour.
How to make the trip worthwhile
Phra That Tha Uthen sits on the northern riverside route. If you leave town in the morning and pay respects here first, then carry on driving up the Mekong toward Ban Phaeng, or loop back down to the riverside spots in town, you get a full day of sightseeing without backtracking. You can also combine it with the province's other birthday stupas in a single trip.
Where to eat and what to see near Phra That Tha Uthen
In Tha Uthen District and all along the riverside route there are waterfront restaurants and viewpoints to stop at after paying respects, so there's no need to rush back to town. You can sit down to a meal with views across to the Lao side at your leisure.
Riverside restaurants in Tha Uthen town
There are à la carte spots and river-fish restaurants along the Mekong in the Tha Uthen market area, where you can sit with views over to Laos. Local prices, not expensive — a good stop for lunch or dinner after paying respects at the stupa.
Mekong viewpoints along Highway 212
On the way up from town to Tha Uthen there are several riverside pull-offs to stop for photos and catch the breeze, with wide river views and the Lao bank — a good rest stop along the way.
Tha Uthen morning market and souvenirs
The market in town has local food and Nakhon Phanom-style souvenirs — a pleasant wander, and easy to grab a few things to take home. A simple, easygoing border-town feel.
Planning a half-day visit to Phra That Tha Uthen
Drive up the Mekong to pay respects at the stupa
Carry on sightseeing, then loop back to town
See the full Nakhon Phanom accommodation and travel guide before you set off
See the Nakhon Phanom guide →