Major city · Thailand
Phon Phisaiโพนพิสัย
Skip unless you are in Nong Khai during the Mekong fireballs (October); otherwise, a half-day stop is enough.
Phon Phisai is a small Mekong-side village in Northern Isaan, best known for the Naga fireballs that rise from the river on the last day of Buddhist lent. Outside that event, the village offers little for travellers beyond a quiet riverside walk and a volunteer programme. Most visitors use it as a short stop between Nong Khai and other Isaan towns.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- THB
- Best months
- Oct (fireballs), Nov–Feb (cool season)
- avoid Mar–Jun (hot and dry), Jul–Sep (rainy)
- Airport
- UTH
- Nights
- 0
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 6Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Thailand ↗Check entry rules and any arrival card on the official Thai government sites for your passport; visa-exempt stays and pre-arrival forms change.
- Thailand ↗Do not criticise or mock the monarchy: insulting the royal family is a criminal offence.
- Thailand ↗Temples and palaces: shoulders and knees covered, shoes off before entering halls.
- Thailand ↗E-cigarettes and vapes are illegal to import or use; do not pack them.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Phon Phisai191 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Phon Phisai, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Thai baht (THB, ฿).Thailand-wide
- SIM or eSIMAIS and TrueMove H sell tourist SIMs at airport arrivals; passport registration is required.Thailand-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.Thailand-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: Leave ฿20–100 (≈ US$1–4) or the coins; skip it if a 10% service charge is on the bill.Thailand-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B/C/O. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Thailand-wide
- SafetyPhon Phisai is safe.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in malls and hotels; squat toilets with a water bucket in rural stops.Thailand-wide
- Emergency numbers191 police · 1669 ambulance · 1155 tourist police (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany Bangkok street-food vendors stay off the main roads on Mondays (street-cleaning day in several districts)…Thailand-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportUTH Udon Thani International Airport (About 1 h 30 min by road; buses and taxis available).
- Getting aroundWalk across the village.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Street or quick mealStreet meal (rice or noodle dish)฿40–60 (≈ US$2)
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Tuk-tuk within village฿20–40 (≈ US$1–2)
- Metro or bus rideLocal bus to Nong Khaicheck฿50–70 (≈ US$2–3)
- Budget bedHomestay with fan, a night, per room฿300 (≈ US$10)
- Mid-range bedBasic guesthouse room, a night, per room฿600 (≈ US$19)
- High-end bedBasic guesthouse room, a night, per room฿1,000 (≈ US$35)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ฿600 (≈ US$19) · Mid ฿1,200 (≈ US$40) · High ฿2,500 (≈ US$80)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- UTH Udon Thani International Airport (About 1 h 30 min by road; buses and taxis available)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Feb
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Mar
Avoid
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
Apr
Avoid
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
May
Avoid
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Jun
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Jul
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Aug
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Sep
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Oct
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Nov
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Dec
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Best: Oct–Feb. Avoid: Mar–Sep. Month by month →
Warmest Apr (36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)), coolest Jan (16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C) low), wettest Aug (17 rain days), driest Dec (1). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Phon Phisai: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
2 rd
Feb
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
3 rd
Mar
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
4 rd
Apr
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
6 rd
May
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
13 rd
Jun
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
15 rd
Jul
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
16 rd
Aug
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
17 rd
Sep
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
15 rd
Oct
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
8 rd
Nov
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
3 rd
Dec
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
1 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Walk across the village. Tuk-tuks idle near the bus depot for short trips.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 1 h
Bus from Phon Phisai bus depot, about 40 min
Sala Kaew Ku sculpture park and the Mekong promenade.
Door to door: About 2 h
Bus via Nong Khai or direct, about 1 h 30 min
City markets, Red Lotus Sea (Dec–Feb) and Phu Phra Bat historical park.
Vientiane, Laos
cautionDoor to door: About 1.5–2 h
Bus to Nong Khai, then cross the Friendship Bridge
Check visa requirements before crossing.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Village centre
Near the bus depot and market; basic guesthouses and homestays.
Riverside
A few simple lodgings with Mekong views; quiet at night.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ฿600–1,000 (≈ US$19–35) excl. bed
- Mid
- ฿1,000–2,000 (≈ US$35–65) excl. bed
- High
- ฿2,000 (≈ US$65)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Basic guesthouse room1 × 1 night × ฿400 | ฿400 |
| Food, local transport, entries1 × 1 day × ฿600 | ฿600 |
| Bus Nong Khai–Phon Phisai, one way1 × ฿60 · check | ฿60 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ฿106 |
| Trip total≈ ฿1,166 per person per day, bed included | ฿1,166≈ US$40 |
2026 estimate in baht; flights excluded.
Prices of common things
| Street meal (rice or noodle dish) | ฿40–60 (≈ US$2) |
| Bottled water | ฿7–10 (≈ under US$1) |
| Local bus to Nong Khaicheck | ฿50–70 (≈ US$2–3) |
| Tuk-tuk within village | ฿20–40 (≈ US$1–2) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Fireball night draws huge crowds: book accommodation and transport weeks ahead.
- No ATMs in the village centre; bring enough cash from Nong Khai or Udon Thani.
- Internet cafés exist but speeds may be slow.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 191
- Ambulance
- 1669
- Tourist police
- 1155
Pocket card
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Phon Phisaiโพนพิสัย
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
ไปที่อยู่นี้ครับTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police191
- Ambulance1669
- Tourist police1155
Embassy
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Bus Nong Khai → Phon Phisai: about ฿50–70 (≈ US$2–3), 40 min (check)
- Bus Udon Thani → Phon Phisai: about ฿80–120 (≈ US$3–4), 1.5 h (check)
Say or show
- สวัสดี — Hello (sà-wàt-dee)
- ขอบคุณ — Thank you (khàawp-khun)
- เท่าไหร่ — How much? (thâo-rài)
- รถไปหนองคายอยู่ที่ไหน — Where is the bus to Nong Khai? (rót bpai nǎawng-kaai yùu thîi-nǎi)
Cash only in Phon Phisai; no ATMs.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Phon Phisai. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Oct (fireballs), Nov–Feb (cool season) · avoid Mar–Jun (hot and dry), Jul–Sep (rainy) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 3 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Fireball night logistics: accommodation, transport and viewing spot verified for 2026.
- Isan Survivor programme details and contact hours confirmed.
- Bus schedules from Nong Khai and Udon Thani with current fares.
Sources
Ask about Phon Phisai
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