🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Than Thong Waterfall sits inside Than Thong Waterfall Arboretum in Ban Pha Tang, Sangkhom district, about 83 km from Nong Khai town. The waterfall is fed by the Sai Ngua stream coming down off the mountains, then runs across a wide rock terrace in small stepped tiers before joining the Mekong. The part everyone loves most is the riverside rock terrace you can sit on, with shallow pools to wade into, and it's so close to the Mekong that a few steps gets you a view of the Laos side. It's an easygoing nature spot with no hard hiking involved — perfect if you want to escape the town crowds and just sit by some quiet running water.
The Riverside Rock Terrace, Where People Come to Relax
The real star of Than Thong isn't the height of the falls — it's the wide rock terrace the stream flows across. The rock here is big and smooth, with clear water sliding over it in a thin sheet. People come to sit on the rock, dip their feet, lay out a mat for a picnic, and let the kids splash in the shallow pools. When the flow isn't strong it's an easy place to wade. Walk up along the rock terrace and you'll hit a few small waterfall tiers along the way, while at the far end the water drops down a cliff about 30 m high before reaching the Mekong.
- Wide rock terrace — big smooth slabs that are easy to sit on; the favorite spot for laying out a mat, having a picnic, and dipping your feet.
- Shallow pools — pools you can wade into, good for kids, but keep an eye on the current in the rainy season.
- Small waterfall tiers — stepped flows along the rock terrace that you can walk up and photograph.
- Where it meets the Mekong — the stream drops off a cliff into the Mekong at the end, a rare sight of a waterfall finishing in a major river.
Honest note about the water level
Than Thong depends heavily on the season. Come in the early-year dry season and there's so little water you'll mostly see dry rock — some people leave disappointed. So the time it really looks its best is the rainy season, June to October: plenty of water, lush green surroundings, and the rock terrace running full the way it should.
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The Sangkhom Mekong-Side Route, Scenic the Whole Way
What makes this trip worth more than just the waterfall itself is the drive there. From Nong Khai town you take Highway 211 along the Mekong toward Si Chiang Mai and Sangkhom — a two-lane road that runs almost parallel to the river the whole way. Look to your right and you'll see the Laos side, river bends, and villages along the bank, pretty the entire route. As you get close, switch onto Highway 2186 toward Ban Pha Tang; at around the 97–98 km marker, turn left and go about 2 more kilometers to reach the waterfall.
- Distance — about 83 km from Nong Khai town, roughly an hour and a half by car because the Mekong-side road winds a lot.
- Route — Highway 211 along the Mekong, then 2186 toward Ban Pha Tang, turn left at the 97–98 km marker and go 2 km in.
- Getting there — you need your own car or a motorbike; there's no public transport that goes all the way to the waterfall.
- Allow extra time — you can stop for riverside photos along the way; this is the same road as the route to the Wat Pha Tak Suea skywalk.
Route-planning tip
Than Thong Waterfall and the Wat Pha Tak Suea skywalk are on the same Mekong-side road in Sangkhom district, so it's easy to do both in a single day. We'd suggest leaving town early, hitting the skywalk in the late morning before the sun gets harsh, then coming over to relax at Than Thong from midday into the afternoon — you get the clifftop views and the cool water in one trip.
Entry Fee, Opening Hours, and Facilities
The good news about Than Thong is that it costs almost nothing. There's no formal entry fee, just a small registration charge when you enter the area. It's open roughly 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. On weekends, locals come out in numbers and it gets lively, with food and snack stalls set up in the area before the waterfall. That said, the arboretum asks visitors not to bring food down to eat near the water, to keep the stream clean.
Entry fee
No official entry fee, just a small registration charge when you enter the area — great value for some Mekong-side nature.
Opening hours
Open roughly 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. daily. Weekends draw more local visitors and feel busier than weekdays.
Food
On weekends there are food and snack stalls in the area before the waterfall. On weekdays, bring your own water and snacks.
Before you go
Bring shoes you don't mind getting wet, because the rock terrace gets slippery easily — rubber sandals or old sneakers make walking on the rock much easier. Bring your own drinking water and snacks, especially on weekdays, and carry your trash back out, since this is a small waterfall the locals look after together.
More to See in Sangkhom, a Full Day Out
Sangkhom district is a Mekong-side nature area that still flies under the radar, and since you've made the trip, you can fill a whole day — the main sights sit along the same Mekong-side road, so there's no doubling back.
The Mekong Road, a Waterfall, and a Cliff
Wat Pha Tak Suea + Skywalk
A mountainside temple in Sangkhom district with a clear glass skywalk jutting out from the cliff, looking down over the bend of the Mekong and the Laos side stretching out below. Early mornings you might catch a sea of fog. No entry fee, with a donation box for those who wish to give. It's on the same Mekong-side road as the waterfall.
Wat Hin Mak Peng
A riverside meditation center founded by Luang Pu Thet Thetsarangsi, in Si Chiang Mai district along the way from town to Sangkhom. Shady and peaceful, with three rocks by the water that gave it its name and lovely Mekong views — a good place to stop and calm the mind.
See where to stay and the full Nong Khai travel guide before you set off
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