Khong Chiam Orchid Riverside Resort — a Mekong riverside resort in Khong Chiam where you wake up to Laos views
Khong Chiam is Thailand's easternmost corner, where the Moon River meets the Mekong to form the famous Two-Colour River. If you want to wake up to the Mekong and the far bank in Laos straight from your balcony, Khong Chiam Orchid Riverside Resort is the small boutique resort travellers mention most in this area — around 11 freshly decorated rooms and villas, an outdoor pool overlooking the river, and a riverside restaurant whose breakfast earns plenty of praise. It's about 90 minutes from Ubon city, but you get a location that's hard to match, from around THB 1,500/night.
The first thing that sets Khong Chiam Orchid Riverside Resort apart from anywhere else in Ubon is its location right on the Mekong River in Khong Chiam district. The resort sits in Ban Huai Mak Tai, on the bank opposite Laos, and from your balcony at dawn you'll see mist drifting over the water and the first light coming from the far side. This isn't a city hotel built for convenience — it's a place people deliberately drive out to, specifically for the Mekong setting.
There are around 11 rooms and villas, in several styles to suit your budget and the view — from Standard and Deluxe rooms up to villas and riverside rooms whose balconies open straight onto the water. Rooms are freshly decorated and clean, with AC, a TV and hot water, which guests note feels above what they expected for a resort in a small district. Many reviews say the rooms are roomier than anticipated and the beds comfortable — better suited to a proper unwind than a one-night stopover.
"Beautiful resort, clean new rooms, lovely and helpful staff, and tasty breakfast and dinner. Sitting by the pool in the morning looking out at the Mekong and Laos — great value."
The outdoor pool facing the river is the most photographed and talked-about feature. A coffee by the pool in the morning, or a swim in the evening as the sun drops behind Laos, is an atmosphere few resorts in Ubon can offer. The riverside restaurant serves Thai, international and pizza, and the breakfast is the dish guests consistently single out as freshly made and tasty. There's also a bar, a massage room and a riverside garden to wander.
On service, the staff are the strength reviewers mention most — friendly, full of tips on what to see around Khong Chiam, helpful with transport, and attentive in the way a small resort that remembers your face can be. Many guests say the team's warmth makes it feel more like staying with friends than at a hotel. There's an airport transfer from Ubon (for a fee) and free parking for anyone driving in.
Now the honest part. The biggest factor is the distance — about 70–80 km from Ubon city, roughly 90 minutes by car, and the resort sits a little outside Khong Chiam town itself, so you really want your own car or a rental; it's not ideal without one. Second, some reviews mention weak Wi-Fi in rooms far from reception, and at night the surroundings are quiet and dark in a rural-riverside way — if you want buzz or shops within walking distance, this isn't it. Restaurants and convenience stores in town also mean a short drive out.
The scores help set expectations. Khong Chiam Orchid Riverside Resort sits at around 8.6 on Booking.com and about 8.6 on Trip.com from real reviewers, and it ranks near the top of Khong Chiam stays on TripAdvisor. Location by the river, the cleanliness of the newer rooms and the service are what guests rate highly. The marks people knock off tend to be about the distance from the city and the internet signal — both things you can plan around in advance.
Bottom line: Khong Chiam Orchid Riverside Resort suits couples, families or anyone wanting to escape the city for a genuine stay on the Mekong, using it as a base for the Two-Colour River, Kaeng Tana and Pha Taem. If you have a car, can embrace the quiet of a rural riverside, and want a river-view pool with clean new rooms for a little over a thousand baht, it delivers. If you have no car, want a central base you can explore on foot, or are only stopping one night in transit, a stay in Ubon city may be more practical.
A tip from following the reviews here: choose a riverside room or villa for the full view and morning light, and head out early to the Two-Colour River viewpoint nearby — it's the best part of coming to Khong Chiam. Fill up on petrol and grab some snacks before you check in, as shops around the resort are few and close early.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Beautiful location on the Mekong with Laos views
- ✓ Freshly decorated, clean and comfortable rooms and villas
- ✓ Friendly, helpful staff
- ✓ Tasty, freshly made breakfast and dinner
- ! Far from Ubon city — a car is strongly recommended
- ! Weak Wi-Fi in rooms far from reception
- ! Quiet surroundings, no shops within walking distance
- ✓ Pool overlooking the river — a relaxing atmosphere
- ✓ A great base for the Two-Colour River and Kaeng Tana
- ✓ Rooms roomier than expected, comfortable beds
- ✓ Quiet and peaceful — ideal for a city escape
- ! A drive out to reach restaurants in town
- ! Dark and quiet at night, rural-riverside style
- ! Rates rise over long weekends and festivals
- 💡If you don't have your own car — the resort is about 90 minutes from Ubon city and outside Khong Chiam town → drive yourself or rent a car; it isn't suited to relying on public transport
- 💡If you depend on the internet for work — some reviews note weak Wi-Fi in rooms far from reception → request a room near the main building and bring a mobile data backup
- 💡If you like wandering shops at night — the area is quiet and shops close early → fill up on petrol and grab snacks beforehand, or choose a central stay instead