Founded in the 1890's by Prince Prajak Silapakom, Udon Thani, with a population of about 230,000 is the 4th largest city in Thailand and the largest city outside of the Bangkok metropolitan area (Krung Thep).
Udon had a USA airbase during the Vietnam War that increased its wealth and importance. Surrounded by one of the major agricultural areas of the country, Udon Thani has become a regional hub for agriculture, commercial distribution, shopping, and a fledgling tourism industry.
Because of the US presence (the airbase until 1976,a consulate until 1995, and a current Voice of America Station) many Thais were well paid and learned English making them more marketable to foreign labor recruiters. Udon has a large number of its citizens who have or are working overseas, particlarly in Middle East oilfields. This has contributed both to the wealth of the area and its desirability as an expat destination. More than 5,000 expats from Europe, Australia and North America have settled in the area.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Udon Thani
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Udon Thani - updated May 2024
SAVE up to 75% on Last Minute deals! Search for discount Udon Thani hotels, motels, apartments, hostels, guest accommodations and vacation resorts. Book now and pay at the hotel. Instant email confirmation!
Udon Thani Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
