Since the 10th century, Ubon Ratchathani, or simply Ubon, was part of the Khmer Empire until the Kingdom of Ayutthaya conquered it. Towards the end of the 18th century, Laotians immigrated to the northern banks of the Mun River and founded the provincial capital. The Laotian influence is evident in the architectural structure of some of the city's religious buildings. This incident was told in the provincial seal which features a pond with a lotus flower and leaves in a circular frame. It symbolizes the ancient community of the people who fled the massacre of King Siriboonsarn of Vientiane and came to settle in Nong Bua Lam Phu Province in 1779 during the reign of King Thonburi. This community was established as a province with the name Ubon Ratchathani Srivanalai in 1792 during the reign of King Rama I, the first king of the Chakri Dynasty.

During the reign of King Rama V, Ubon Ratchathani was annexed to Lao Kao town. Later in 1899, the area was under the supervision of Northeastern Monthon, with Ubon Ratchathani serving as an administrative hub. In 1900, the name was changed to Monthon I-San. When the Monthon system was abolished, the city has become Ubon Ratchathani province. During the Vietnam War, Ubon encountered expansive growth due to its proximity to an American air base.

travel

By Car
A)From Bangkok, take Highway No. 1 to Saraburi and Highway No. 2 to Nakhon Ratchasima, then use Highway No.226 and proceed to Ubon Ratchathani via Buri Ram, Surin and Si Sa Ket, for a total distance of 629 kilometers.
B) From Bangkok, take Highway No. 1 and Highway No. 2 unil arriving at Sikhio, then turn into Highway No. 24 and proceed to Ubon Ratchathani via Chok Chai, Nang Rong, Prasat, Det Udom and Warin Chamrap.

By Bus
Buses depart from Bangkok's Northern Bus Terminal (Mochit 2 Bus Terminal) to Ubon Ratchathani every day. Contact Transport Co.Ltd at Tel: 0 2936 2852-66 for more information.

By Train
Regular trains depart from Bangkok's Hua Lamphong Railway Station to Ubon Ratchathani every day. Call 1690, 0 2223 7010-20 for more information.

By Air
Thai Airways has several daily flights connecting Bangkok with Ubon Ratchathani. For more information, contact their Bangkok office at tel. 0-2280-0060, 0-2628-2000 or view their website at www.thaiairways.com. Air Asia operates two flights every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday to Ubon Ratchathani International Airport. The flight time is 1.05 hours. Call 02 515 9999 or visit www.airasia.com for more details.

Kaeng Sa Peu Songkarn Festival
Kaeng Sa Peu Songkarn Festival is held yearly in April. Villagers will splash water on each other and swim in the Mun River. The festival also features local sports and northeastern folk music.

The Candle Festival
The Candle Festival is the largest religious ceremony in Ubon Ratchathani. It is celebrated yearly on Asalha Bucha Day and Khao Phansa (Buddhist Lent) Day in July. The ceremony is held at Thung Si Muang and Chaturamuk Pavillion. At night, there is entertainment to celebrate the Lent candles. The reflection of lights on the candles creates a picturesque effect during the festival.

Hat Khu Duea
This is a sandy river shore on the Mun River bank about 12 kilometers from town. There are varieties of local food sold along the shore.

Hat Wat Tai
This is a sandy island in the middle of the Mun River. The island becomes larger than usual in summer. It is also used as a recreation place by townspeople.

The Stone Inscription at Phu Manat Cav
This is believed to date back to the 12th or 13th Buddhist Century. This sandstone inscription records the spreading of King Srimahanetaravoramans (Jitrasane) power to the Mun River area. A rectangular shape 82 centimeters in length and 24 centimeters in height, it narrates the victory of the King in the Sanskrit language. Blurred but still readable, it is now kept at the National Museum of Ubon Ratchathani.

Ubon Ratchathani National Museume
This is on Khuean Thani Road. Built in 1918, the building was once used as the City Hall. It is regarded as the museum with the best arrangements and displays artifacts from all districts in the province. Within the museum are displays of prehistoric events, history, and culture of Ubon Ratchathani natives. The Museum is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.

Phu Chong Na Yoi National Park
This was declared as a national park on 1 June 1987. Covering an area of 687 sq. km over mountainous areas in Ubon Ratchathani, the park is where borders of Thailand, Laos and Cambodia meet. To get superb view of the three countries, visitors are recommended to ake hiking trails which lead on to the high plateau. The best view can be seen from the cliffs at Pha Pheung. Interesting attractions include: the 40-metre Bak Tew Yai waterfall, which is located approximately 4 kms from the park office, rock formations at Phlan Yaw and a group of springs in the forest at Bo Nam Sap.

Kaeng Tana National Park
This park can be reached on two routes. The first route is by taking Highway No. 2222 where visitors will be presented with a beautiful view of Kaeng Tana. On the other hand, visitors can take the route to the National Park Office along Highway No. 217 (Phibun Mangsahan-Chong Mek route) and turning left onto Highway No. 2173 and proceeding for another 13 kilometers.

Khong Chiam District
The Khong Chiam district overlooks the Mekhong River and is located 80 kilometers from Ubon Ratchathani. Boat rental services are available here to go to Kaeng Tana cataract and to go sightseeing at Mae Nam Song Si or the bicolor river where the Mekhong and Mun Rivers meet.

Maenam Song Si
Maenam Song Si or the Bi-colored River or the Mun Rivers alluvium, is the place where two rivers join: the brown Mekong River and the blue Mun River. It is located in Khong Chiam District, about 84 kilometers from Ubon Ratchathai City centre. Visitors can hire a boat from Khong Chiam district to see the alluvium.

Namtok Saeng Chan
This waterfall is only 1 kilometer from Thung Na Muang Waterfall. This is a very beautiful waterfall with a special characteristic of its own the small stream of water cascades down the face of the cliff through an opening in the rock resembling a hole. Visitors viewing he waterfall at noon when the sunlight shines through the hole will be presented with a view of the cascading water similar to that of the full moon shining onto the world. Travelling can be made from Highway No. 2134, followed by Highway No. 2112, and then turning right to the waterfall.

Namtok Soi Sawan
This is a big waterfall cascading from two sides of steep cliffs about 20 metres high and is located 30 kilometers from Khong Chiam District.

Namtok Tat Ton
This waterfall is on Highway No. 2173, which is about 6 kilometers off Highway No. 217. This beautiful waterfall is created from Tat Ton Brook flowing past a stone platform and plunging onto the plain forming a basin large enough to swim in that is surrounded by flowering shrubs and forests in the shady area.

Pak Mun Dam
Constructed from stone and reinforced with clay soil, this dam has a width of 17 metres and a length of 300 metres. The dam,which facilitates agriculture and generates electricity, is located approximately 75 kilometers from town, or about 6 kilometers from the area where the Mekong River meets the Mun River. It is possible to travel along the top of the dam wall as a short cut from Khong Chiam District to Amphoe Sirinthon without driving back to Phibun Mangsahan District. Cruising along the beautiful Mun River is possible from the end of the dam to the Bicolored River, where the Mun River joins with the Mekong River.

Pha Taem National Park
This park covers an area of 140 square kilometers, where plateaus and hills dominate the parks landscape. There are sheer cliffs, which resulted from earthquakes. Most trees are of the deciduous dipterocarp forest. Irregular shaped sandstone is found scattered throughout the area. Beautiful flowering plants grow among the rocky ground. Travelling can be made from Khong Chiam District along Highway No. 2134, followed by Highway No. 2112, and then turning right for another 5 kilometers.

Pha Taem and Pha Kham are located near the national park headquarters. On the cliffs surface are numerous prehistoric cave paintings dating back 3,000-4,000 years ago that offer insight into the way of life that existed during the pre-historic days and reflect the ancient lifestyle of the people who once lived in the area. These painting depict scenes of fishing, rice farming, figures of people, animals, hands and geometric designs. It should be noted that the most extensive site for cave paintings in the country is that of Pha Taem.

Home to one of the world's oldest agrarian communities, Ubon Ratchathani is also the 'cradle of northeastern civilisation'. Recently discovered archaeological evidence suggests that humans settled in the region between 14,000 to 6,000 years ago.

Sao Chaling
Sao Chaliang, which is 11 kilometers from Khong Chaim District on Highway 2112 is a place that is scattered with natural mushroom-like piles of stone slabs with a large amount of shells embedded in their surface. The area is believed by geologists to be a long dried up seabed (over a million years ago).

Kaeng Saphue
Kaeng Saphue, which is the most beautiful cataract in Ubon Ratchthani, is in the Mun River near the Phibun Mangsahan District Office, about 45 kilometers from Ubon Ratchathani City center, on the left-hand side of Highway No. 217. This beautiful cataract of natural rocks is visible for half the year during the dry season.

Wat Phukhao Kaeo
This temple is on the slope of a hill in Phibun Mansahan District along Highway No. 217, 43 kilometers from Ubon Ratchathani. The main attraction inside the temple is a beautiful ordination hall built entirely from ceramics. In addition, within the hall are replicas of all the
Buddha relics found in Thailand.

Chong Mek Border
Chong Mek is the boundary between Thailand and Laos that marks the end of Highway No. 217, which is 89 kilometers long. This highway will be connected to a 38-kilometre road in Laos leading to Pak Sae, which will be part of the Asian Highway.

The Sirindhorn Dam
This is about 70 kilometers from the city center on Highway No. 217. Turn right at the 71-km. marker and proceed for about 500 metres. A multi-purpose dam, it was built to generate electricity and to facilitate agriculture across a tributary of the Mun River. The nearby forests have been turned into the park which recently has gain an increasing amount of popularity. As an ideal recreational area,water sports and boat trips are available.