🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Yasothon isn't a place packed with more sights than you can see — but the upside is that everything sits close together, so one day is enough to cover the temple, the stupa and the old quarter without rushing. This plan is built around the real distances around town, keeping the driving as short as possible: start in the centre in the morning while it's still cool, head out to the rice fields mid-morning, then loop back into town to walk the old quarter in the evening when the weather is just right.
If you drive yourself, parking is easy at every stop. If you arrive in town by coach or van, it's worth renting a motorbike or hiring a car for short legs, because Phra That Kong Khao Noi sits about 9 kilometres outside town — too far to walk.
The whole day at a glance
- 08:00 — Breakfast in town (Vietnamese kuay jab / rice porridge / pa thong ko)
- 09:00 — Wat Maha That, pay respects at Phra That Anon, in the town centre
- 10:30 — Phra That Kong Khao Noi, out in the rice fields of Ban Tat Thong
- 12:00 — Lunch with Isan food (duck larb, tom saep)
- 14:00 — Phaya Thaen Public Park / rest through the hottest part of the day
- 16:00 — Walk the Ban Singha Tha old quarter, photograph the Sino-Portuguese shophouses
- 17:30 — Coffee at a café inside an old building to close out the trip
In town — Wat Maha That, Phra That Anon
Morning tip
When visiting temples in Isan, dress modestly and keep covered up, and take off your shoes before entering the ordination hall. Around 9am the sun is still gentle, which is the best time of day to photograph the stupa.
Book the activities in your Yasothon 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.
Phra That Kong Khao Noi — a stupa in the fields with a well-known legend
Phra That Kong Khao Noi (officially Phra That Tat Thong) stands in the middle of the rice fields at Ban Tat Thong, Tat Thong sub-district, about 9 kilometres from Yasothon town. It's an old square-tiered stupa that has become a landmark of the province. The appeal is the setting: the stupa stands alone in green paddies against a wide-open sky, and it photographs really well, especially in the rainy season when the fields turn a deep green.
What makes it memorable is the local legend of "Kong Khao Noi kha mae" (the small rice basket that led to a son killing his mother). The story tells of a son ploughing the fields until he was faint with hunger; when his mother brought his meal late and the basket of rice looked too small, he flew into a rage and struck her until she died. After his anger passed, he couldn't even finish the rice in the basket — and, full of remorse, he built the stupa to atone. It's a cautionary tale about patience and gratitude that Isan people have passed down for generations.
- Location — In the rice fields at Ban Tat Thong, Tat Thong sub-district, ~9 km from town, with clear road signs
- Entry — No entry fee; it's an open area with parking on the lot
- Best time — Morning or evening; avoid midday, as there's little shade out in the fields
- Be realistic — It's a short photo-and-pay-respects stop that takes about 30–45 minutes; it isn't a place to spend the whole day
Honest take
Phra That Kong Khao Noi is a stupa out in the fields that, at times, isn't kept up to its full potential, and the surroundings are fairly plain. If you come expecting a grand site you might find it underwhelming — but if you come for the atmosphere of the Isan rice fields and the town's legend, it's a worthwhile stop.
Lunch + resting through the heat
Ban Singha Tha — walking Yasothon's old quarter in the evening
Ban Singha Tha is Yasothon's old town quarter. It was once a riverside trading hub, which is why old Sino-Portuguese shophouses (some call them Sino-European) line the street — pastel tones, folding wooden doors, blending Thai, Chinese and French influences in a single building. It's a quarter that's a pleasure to walk and photograph, with a classic feel you won't find in the big cities.
Evening is the best time in this quarter: the sun is soft and golden, the light catches the old buildings, and the shops start opening — cafés inside old houses, local food stalls, and old Chinese shrines to drop into. The walk is short, and you can loop the whole quarter in an hour, but if you like taking photos and lingering over coffee, you can stay until dark.
Walk among the Sino-Portuguese shophouses
Old pastel shophouses with folding doors line the street through the quarter — you can photograph the whole stretch. It's the main highlight of Ban Singha Tha.
Cafés in old buildings (e.g. VA-CHI Old Town)
Cafés renovated from old buildings in the quarter, where you can sip coffee in a vintage setting. A good way to close out the trip in the evening.
Local food in the quarter
There's a Vietnamese kuay jab shop inside a Sino-Portuguese building, snacks, and long-running old shops scattered around — easy to eat your way along.
Ban Singha Tha tip
On weekdays some shops close early or stay shut on certain days. If you want the quarter at its liveliest, come on a Saturday or Sunday evening, when more shops are open and there are more people about.
Before you head home
- Souvenirs — Yasothon jasmine rice is a local specialty you can buy in town, along with pla som (fermented fish) and dried local snacks
- Getting around — Driving yourself is easiest, as the distances between stops are short; without a car, you can hire a car or rent a motorbike in town
- Best season — The rainy season (Jun–Sep), when the fields are deep green, is when Phra That Kong Khao Noi photographs best; May brings the town's Bun Bang Fai rocket festival, when it's especially crowded
- Extending the trip — Yasothon sits midway between Ubon Ratchathani and Roi Et, so it's easy to carry on to neighbouring provinces
Want a well-located hotel in Yasothon town as a base for exploring
See the Top 10 Yasothon hotels →