In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Thailand
Chong Mek
Visit Chong Mek for a border crossing and sunset at Saen Tor Beach; half‑day visit, 2–3 h total.
Chong Mek is a small Isaan township serving as a Thai‑Lao border crossing. The main attraction is the Saen Tor Beach on the Sirindhorn Reservoir, ideal for a quick stop while transiting. One half‑day is enough unless you plan to continue into Laos.
- Country
- Thailand
- Best months
- Nov–Feb (dry, cooler)
- Avoid
- Apr–Oct (rainy season)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- THB
- Money
- Currency is the Thai baht (THB, ฿). Cards work in malls, hotels and many restaurants; street food, markets, boats and small taxis are cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ฿500–800 excl. transport · Mid ฿800–1,200 excl. transport · High ฿1,200+ excl. transport (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AIS and TrueMove H sell tourist SIMs at airport arrivals; passport registration is required.
- Emergency
- Police 191 · Ambulance 1669 · Tourist police 1155
- Plugs
- Types A, B, C, O · 220 V · 50 Hz · Most sockets take flat US pins and round European pins; type O is the Thai three-pin standard. UK plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food: Nothing.; Sit-down restaurant: Leave ฿20–100 or the coins; skip it if a 10% service charge is on the bill.; Taxi / Grab: Round up to the next ฿10 or ฿20.; Massage: ฿50–100 per hour to the therapist, in hand.; Guide / driver day: ฿300–500 for the guide, ฿200–300 for the driver.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ฿20–50.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Street refill machines charge about ฿1 a litre; bottled water everywhere.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in malls and hotels; squat toilets with a water bucket in rural stops. The hose ('bum gun') replaces paper; paper goes in the bin in older buildings. Some public toilets cost ฿3–5.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Taxi from Ubon airport | ≈1,000 THB |
| Local bus to border | ≈100 THB |
| Border exit fee (Lao) | ≈40 THB (10,000 kip) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- UBP · Ubon Ratchathani Airport
- Taxi to Chong Mek about 60 km (37 mi), under 1 h, ≈1,000 THBTaxi to Chong Mek about 37 mi (60 km), under 1 h, ≈1,000 THB
Typical fares
- Taxi Ubon → Chong Mek
- ≈1,000 THB, <1 h (check)
- Bus Ubon → Chong Mek
- ≈100–200 THB, 1–2 h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Taxi from Ubon Ratchathani airport (≈1,000 THB, <1 h) or bus (≈200 THB, 1–2 h). Once at the border, walk to Saen Tor Beach (≈100 m).
See and do
Known for
- Thai‑Lao border crossing
- Saen Tor Beach on Sirindhorn Reservoir
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ubon Ratchasani | Taxi from Ubon airport or bus from Ubon bus terminal, 60 km (37 mi), ≈1 hTaxi from Ubon airport or bus from Ubon bus terminal, 37 mi (60 km), ≈1 h | ≈1 h |
| Pakse, Laos | Cross border, then bus from border to Pakse (≈45 km (28 mi), 45 min)Cross border, then bus from border to Pakse (≈28 mi (45 km), 45 min) | ≈1.5 h total |
Sleep
- No dedicated hotels
- Most travellers stay in Ubon Ratchasima (≈60 km (37 mi)) or Pakse, Laos.Most travellers stay in Ubon Ratchasima (≈37 mi (60 km)) or Pakse, Laos.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much does it cost? | ราคาเท่าไหร่?râakaa thâo rài? |
| Where is the border? | ที่ชายแดนอยู่ที่ไหน?thîi chaai-dâen yùu thîi năi? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A wai (palms together, slight bow) to return a greeting; a smile and nod for shop staff; avoid: Waiing children or service staff first — it confuses; hugging strangers
- Head and feet: Keep feet on the floor, sit with legs folded to the side in temples; avoid: Touching heads (even children's), pointing feet, stepping over people or food
- Temples: Covered shoulders and knees, shoes off, sit lower than monks; avoid: Women touching monks or handing them things directly; climbing Buddha images
- Monarchy: Stand for the royal anthem in cinemas and at 08:00 and 18:00 in public places; avoid: Any joke or comment about the royal family; stepping on a banknote
- Keeping calm: Stay polite and smiling when things go wrong ('jai yen' — cool heart); avoid: Raising your voice; public anger loses the argument
- Names: Khun plus first name ('Khun Somchai'); nicknames are normal; avoid: Using the family name alone
- Home visit: Shoes off; bring fruit or sweets; step over the threshold, not on it; avoid: Sitting with feet towards the family shrine
- Beckoning and pointing: Palm down, fingers waved towards you; point with the whole hand or chin; avoid: Pointing at people with a finger or with your foot
Scams and watch-outs
- Border fees: 10,000 kip (≈40 THB) to exit Laos; holiday fee may be higher – check locally.
- Thai visa on arrival limited to 2 entries per year – verify before travel.
Border area is generally safe; watch belongings near the market and follow border staff instructions.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Chong Mek yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Thai‑Lao border crossing
- Saen Tor Beach on Sirindhorn Reservoir
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Chong Mek: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Chong Mek, revision 5214381 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5214381
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/chong-mek). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.