Chewa Khong Nakhon Phanom — a new riverside hotel with a rooftop pool looking straight onto the Mekong
Among Nakhon Phanom's riverside stays, Chewa Khong is the newcomer guests keep praising for how clean and fresh the building feels. It is a boutique hotel that opened around 2023, set right on the Mekong riverside in Mueang Nakhon Phanom. The part everyone loves most is the rooftop pool that looks straight out over the Mekong and the Laos bank, paired with a rooftop cafe and river-view rooms with private balconies. Bikes and electric scooters are available to rent for riding along the river. It suits travellers who want a new, spotless room and a quiet riverside mood. From approx. THB 1,100/night.
Chewa Khong is a hotel that opened around 2023, set on the Mekong riverside along Nakhon Phanom-Tha Uthen Road, on the northern edge of town. Because the building is new, guests talk a lot about how clean and well-kept the rooms are — bright tones, new furniture, soft beds and pillows. There are 63 rooms in a comfortable size that works for couples and small families alike.
Rooms split into two sides. River-view rooms have balconies that look across the Mekong to the Laos bank — these are the ones guests recommend, since the river is the whole reason to stay here. City-view rooms cost less but miss the river. Every room has air-conditioning, a flat-screen TV, a fridge, a safety box, and a clean new bathroom. You can choose either twin or double beds on both sides.
"Went up for an evening swim on the rooftop, watching the Mekong stretch out with Laos on the far bank — the sunset was beautiful. The room was new and spotless, slept great. Genuinely good value."
The highlight that wins guests over is the rooftop pool that looks straight out over the Mekong. Many call it the best part of staying on the river here, especially in the late afternoon when the light catches the water. The rooftop also has a cafe for a drink with the view (it closes around 8pm). Breakfast is a buffet with a decent spread, and guests single out the comfortable beds and the cleanliness of the rooms. The honest downsides: restaurant service is still inconsistent and the drinks/bar options are limited, as you'd expect from a recently opened hotel.
For facilities, there is free parking, a front desk through the day, and a touch travellers like — bicycles and electric scooters for rent to ride along the Mekong. The location is on the northern side of town, right on the river, quieter than the central area. The trade-off is distance from the main sights: the Mekong walking street and the Phaya Sri Sattanakharat naga monument sit in the southern part of town, about a 5-10 minute drive away. So it works better for travellers with a car, or happy to use a bike or scooter, than for those who want to walk to everything.
Plainly put, Chewa Khong suits travellers who want a new, clean room, a Mekong-view pool and a quiet riverside setting at an affordable price. Real guest scores stay consistently high, especially for cleanliness, the view and the riverside location. The honest caveats: it is a newly opened hotel, so some services — the restaurant and bar — are still finding their feet, and a few reviews mention ants in the room. The northern location is also outside the tourist core, so without your own transport, sightseeing on foot is harder than from a central hotel.
A tip from reading the reviews: confirm a river-view (River View) room with a balcony when you book, as that view is the heart of the stay. Head up to the rooftop pool in the late afternoon to catch the sunset over the Mekong. Rent one of the hotel's bikes or scooters to ride along the river into town for the walking street and the naga monument. If you come during the October Illuminated Boat Procession at the end of Buddhist Lent, riverside hotels fill fast and rates climb, so book months ahead.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Newly opened hotel, rooms very clean and tidy
- ✓ Mekong-view rooftop pool is the standout feature
- ✓ River-view rooms have balconies facing the Laos bank
- ✓ Soft beds and pillows, quiet riverside setting
- ! Northern location, away from the in-town sights — a car helps
- ! Restaurant service still inconsistent, limited bar/drinks
- ! A few reviews mention ants in the room
- ✓ Mekong views from the rooftop pool and rooms are the real draw
- ✓ New, clean building with a bright, pleasant feel
- ✓ Bicycles and electric scooters to rent for riverside rides
- ✓ Staff speak English and Lao and help with local tips
- ! No full bar, limited drink options
- ! No gym or in-house laundry service
- ! Breakfast choice still limited, slow at busy times
- 💡If you want a Mekong view from your room — you must confirm a river-view (River View) room with a balcony at booking, since city-view rooms are cheaper but miss the river → choose a River View room first.
- 💡If you have no car and want to walk to the walking street and the naga monument — this hotel sits on the northern side outside the main tourist area, about a 5-10 minute drive away → use the hotel's bike/scooter, or pick an in-town stay instead.
- 💡If you come during the October Illuminated Boat Procession (end of Buddhist Lent) — riverside hotels fill very fast and rates rise → book months ahead and lock a free-cancellation rate.