KhonKaen-Info

About Khon Kaen

Khon Kaen is located in the center of Isaan (Northeastern Thailand), 219 km from Korat, 213 km from Nong Khai, 295 km from Nakhon Phanom, 292 km from Ubon Ratchathani, 227 km from Phetchabun, and 444 km from Bangkok. The Isaan is named after the Hindu God of Death "Ishana" and covers an area of 170.000 square kilometers.

Approx. 1/3 of Thailand's population live in Isaan. Khon Kaen area has been inhabited several thousand years ago (Dvaravati-Period) and Khon Kaen itself was founded during the reign of King RAMA I in the year 1783.

In the 60's and 70's (during the Vietnam War) the Isaan has been a crucial point of communist activities. With the help of military and social measures the government in Bangkok (financially supported by the USA) was able to turn down the influence of the Communist Party.

Because of Khon Kaen's central location many infrastructural projects have been implemented like Khon Kaen University, R.I.T, High schools, Hospitals, Northeastern Railway, Airport and Friendship Highway...

Isaan People

People in Khon Kaen speak "Isaan". This dialect is quite similar to the Lao language. They can easily talk with their Laotian neighbours but people from Bangkok have difficulties understanding their fellow countrymen.All schools teach in Thai language and most people in Isaan understand, speak and write Thai.Most signs and menus are in Thai language only, some have a sometimes funny Thai-English translations so don't be astonished to read in the menu of your favorite restaurant things like "garbage" instead of "cabbage".The culture, i. e. music, dances and several cultural buildings, is influenced by the affiliation to the Khmer empire (Cambodia).
Khon Kaen City has approx. 200.000 inhabitants, greater Khon Kaen area around 350.000.

Economy

Khon Kaen is the capital of Khon Kaen Province the most important traffic junction in Isaan. The city is located at the intersection of Friendship Highway 2 (Mithraparp Rd.) / Highway 12, and has its own airport and railway station (Northeastern Line).

About 60% of the Khon Kaen area (Province) is used for agriculture, mostly paddyfields.

Costs of living are compared to other cities relatively low. Tourism is just in an initial stage.

Khon Kaen is the northeastern administration and education center and belongs to the 9 industrial cities of Thailand, most companies are SME's.

Climate

Summer starts mid of February and ends end of May. Temperatures are often above 40°C at a modest humidity.

The raining season starts end of May and ends in October. August and September are the months with the most sometimes excessive rainfall. That does not mean it is raining all the time. Normally you can expect rain 2-3 times a day. Then many roads are flooded because the insufficient and often not well maintained sewerage cannot take up all the downpours.

The best time to travel Isaan is in Winter from November until February. Temperatures are lower than normal, the raining season just ended so plants and flower are growing (important if you plan to visit national parks).