🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
People tend to assume an Isan trip means picking one city, but Udon and Khon Kaen are close enough that it makes real sense to combine them. These are the two main hubs of upper Isan: both have airports, both sit on the northeastern rail line, and they have clearly different characters. Udon is a food town leaning Vietnamese, with archaeology on the side; Khon Kaen is a lively university city full of cafes, with a stupa in the middle of town you can climb for the view. This plan is built to catch the highlights of both within 3 days.
We've written it starting in Udon (fly in or take the train to Udon first), then dropping south to Khon Kaen on day two, finishing in Khon Kaen to fly home or catch onward transport. If you're starting from Khon Kaen instead, just reverse the order of the days — the content is the same.
Getting between Udon and Khon Kaen
The two cities are about 120 km apart along the Mittraphap Highway (Route 2), a straight four-lane road that's easy to drive. There are several ways to make the trip — pick based on whether you have your own wheels.
- Self-drive / car rental — Mittraphap Highway, ~120 km, about an hour and a half. The most flexible option, since Ban Chiang and Phu Wiang have no public transport that goes straight there. In-town rentals run 800–1,500 THB per day.
- Train — the northeastern line passes through both cities; Udon to Khon Kaen takes roughly one to one and a half hours, with tickets starting at just a few dozen baht. Cheap and comfortable.
- Van / bus — these run all day from the bus terminal, fares around 90–150 THB, taking a little over 2 hours. Vans are slightly quicker than buses.
- Plane — both cities have airports, but there are no direct flights between them since they're too close. Flying into one and going overland is the better value.
Which one should you pick
If you plan to include Ban Chiang and Phu Wiang, go with a rental you drive yourself or a car hired for the whole trip, since both spots are outside the cities and public transport is inconvenient. If you're only sightseeing within the two cities, the train and vans will do fine.
Book the activities in your Udon Thani trip ahead
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.
Day 1 — Udon Thani city and Nong Prajak
Keep the first day relaxed in Udon, with no long drives. Work through the Vietnamese-leaning food the city is known for, pay respects at the Chao Pu–Chao Ya shrine, then close out at Nong Prajak Park in the evening, which is when it's at its best.
Udon city · easy walking, no long drives
Day-one tip
Nong Prajak is best between 16:30 and 18:30 — softer light, a cool breeze, and just the right number of people walking. Come at midday and it's hot with the stalls still closed, so it's worth skipping that window.
Day 2 — Ban Chiang, then south to Khon Kaen
On day two, head out of Udon to Ban Chiang in Nong Han district for the morning, then turn south down the Mittraphap Highway into Khon Kaen in the afternoon. Check in to a new place, then walk Bueng Kaen Nakhon and the night market to soak up the evening in this university town.
Ban Chiang morning · change cities midday · Khon Kaen by night
Check before heading to Ban Chiang
The Ban Chiang museum is often closed on Monday and Tuesday. If your trip lands on those two days, swap Ban Chiang to the first day, or shift the plan to Wednesday–Sunday so you don't waste the trip. Hours and entry fees can change, so calling ahead is the safest bet.
Day 3 — Khon Kaen's 9-tier stupa and dinosaurs
The last day catches Khon Kaen's highlights. Start with Phra Mahathat Kaen Nakhon (the 9-tier stupa) at Wat Nong Waeng, where you can climb up for a view over the city. Then, if you have a car and the time, carry on to the Phu Wiang Dinosaur Museum, which is fun for kids and anyone into deep-time history, before heading home.
9-tier stupa · Phu Wiang · souvenirs for the road
Phu Wiang is far — choose wisely
Phu Wiang is about 85 km from Khon Kaen city; the round trip eats up most of a day and you need a car. If you don't have a car or you're traveling with older adults, it's easier to cut Phu Wiang and do the in-town museum and cafes instead. Save the dinosaurs for a full-day visit with the kids next time.
Food in both cities you shouldn't miss
Udon shines on the Vietnamese side and with kuay jab yuan, while Khon Kaen is a university town with a wave of new cafes and restaurants opening, alongside classic Isan cooking. Here's what's worth fitting into a two-city trip.
Kuay jab yuan (Udon)
Soft, chewy rolled noodles in a clear broth with minced pork, egg, and meatballs, topped with fried shallots. The signature dish to try in Udon — well-rounded and not over-seasoned.
Pho & banh canh (Udon)
Flat rice noodles or thicker rice-flour noodles in a fragrant, spiced broth, eaten with fresh herbs Vietnamese-style. This is a breakfast Udon genuinely does well.
Nem nuong (Udon)
Grilled pork wrapped in rice paper with fresh herbs and noodles, dipped in a Vietnamese-style sauce — a fun set to assemble yourself, great for sharing across a few people on the trip.
Khao Suan Kwang grilled chicken (Khon Kaen)
Khon Kaen's famous grilled chicken — tender meat, a sweet-savory flavor, and crisp skin, eaten with sticky rice and jaew dipping sauce. A dish locals take pride in.
Som tam, larb & nam tok (both cities)
Bold, classic Isan food — som tam with salted fish and crab, dry-fried pork larb, beef nam tok. Easy to find in both Udon and Khon Kaen, tasty and easy on the wallet.
Roast8ry coffee (Khon Kaen)
A specialty coffee shop with championship pedigree out of Chiang Mai that opened a Khon Kaen branch. A two-floor bare-concrete loft with plenty of seating — a good rest stop before the drive home.
New-wave Khon Kaen cafes
As a university town, Khon Kaen has loads of new cafes — GLYN Coffee Roastery, Roots Coffee Downtown, Anotherroot — with sharp design and their own roasts, good for working or hanging out.
Khon Kaen mee noodles
Khon Kaen's mee noodles are known for their chewy texture — stir-fried or blanched and served with broth. A local staple you can eat in town or buy dried to take home as a souvenir.
Moo yo, naem & kun chiang (both cities)
Classic upper-Isan souvenirs — firm moo yo, naem with just the right tang. Buy a batch to take home or snack on along the way; you'll find them in both cities.
Coconut ice cream & lakeside desserts (Udon)
Dessert spots along Nong Prajak with a charming atmosphere and photo corners — an evening sweet to finish off after a walk around the lake.
Where to stay, budget, and how to plan your days
This trip stays in two cities — the first night in Udon, the second in Khon Kaen. Picking in-town hotels in both makes it easiest to walk to food and sights. Mid-range hotels in either city run 600–1,300 THB a night, with plenty to choose from.
- Udon location — the area around Nong Prajak or near UD Town puts you within walking distance of food and the evening market, so you don't have to drive at night.
- Khon Kaen location — the Si Chan area or near Bueng Kaen Nakhon is close to the walking street and in-town restaurants, and the airport is in the city, under a 20-minute drive.
- Budget per person, 3 days 2 nights — lodging split two ways for two nights is about 700–1,300 THB; 7–8 meals run ~900–1,400 THB; entry for Ban Chiang plus Phu Wiang comes to under 100 THB combined; transport/fuel depends on your group. Roughly 2,500–4,000 THB per person all in.
- Best season — good year-round, but if you want to add the Red Lotus Sea at Kumphawapi (which is on the way between Udon and Khon Kaen), come December–February and arrive before 10am, when the lotuses are in full bloom across the lake.
Add the Red Lotus Sea in the cool season
The Red Lotus Sea at Kumphawapi is south of Udon city, right on the way down to Khon Kaen. If you come December–February, you can hop on a boat to see the lotuses in the morning before driving on — just plan to set off a bit earlier on day two.
Want to trim it to 2 days or stretch to 4
This 3-day plan stretches and shrinks to fit the time you have — cut or add stops to suit your group's style.
Trim to 2 days
Day one for Udon city plus Nong Prajak, day two move to Khon Kaen for Bueng Kaen Nakhon plus the 9-tier stupa. Drop Ban Chiang and Phu Wiang and focus on the two city centers.
Red Lotus Sea
On the way between Udon and Khon Kaen, stop at Kumphawapi for a boat ride among the red lotuses — at its best December–February, mornings before 10am.
Add a day 4 in Khon Kaen
Do both Phu Wiang and the in-town museum, plus a full day of cafe-hopping. This university town has enough cafes to fill an entire day.
Udon forest temples
If you're into merit-making, add Wat Pa Ban Tat or Wat Pa Phu Kon on the first day in Udon, before dropping down to Khon Kaen.
See all the sights, food, and places to stay in Udon Thani and plan your whole trip in one place
See the Udon Thani travel guide →