Bun Bang Fai PhangKhon May 8 through 10

Unfortunately I saw no announcements of the event ahead of time, 

 Happens every year about that time. 

Phang Khon 55km from Sakon City

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Temple tourism

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Isaan Thailand Travel Guide 2026 —--- Sakon Nakhon Episodes -- Part 1

Well done video, an error regarding the location of the 'fire boat parade," usually in September at Tao Ngoi. Some of the costs seem outdated 

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Wat Wong Sri Daram Bun Mahachat Festival March 27th to 30th

About 15 minute drive from Sakon City สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Music Festival Thursday thru Saturday

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Hotel construction continues on ITU

Meanwhile a house which has been stting empty since the music bar moved out is now another coffee shop. 

Business seems to be picking up. Once the hotel is in operation, the neighborhood may experience a bigger push in tourism

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Tourism woes, a regular topic during the low season

Many articles about Thailand tourism are a bit exaggerated. There are some troubles ahead. Some solutions are needed.

Border conflict some uncertainty that truce will hold. Provinces along the border feel the effects the most. Lots of booking cancellations, how many depends on what newsmedia you follow.

Competition Japan and Vietnam are making headlines with big increases in tourism

Crime  on and by tourists makes daily headlines. Leave your expensive jewelry in a safe at home.  You flaunt it you may lose it.  Learned my lesson: only carry enough cash you are willing to lose in one day

Over tourism, mass tourism.

My own experience a while back.

Phuket day boat trip was a big disappointment to me.  

TOO MANY PEOPLE.   

To see the spot on Maya Bay made famous by a movie with Leo Dicaprio you had to be in step with hundreds of people. Nothing special to see there. 

Lunch at another part of the islands. There was barely a space left for more boats on the beach. At least 20 speedboats, if not many more. Lunch in a building which housed nearly 100 people, you had to grab fast before someone else did.

Personally prefer travel off season or choose less crowded destinations

 

Travelers avoid France, Italy, Thailand as overtourism surges

A recent USA TODAY article lists Thailand first  in a list of "Places you should skip this summer" . . . . "Prices are inflated, pollution is rising, and the quality of life for locals is declining . . . "

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55 interesting places to visit in Sakon Nakhon Province

Great photograpy, great sound. A minute of intrigue to entice the travel mood

FIRST Sakon Nakhon Pride Parade (updated)

 

A full video and photos of the parade are also available at  https://www.facebook.com/sakonnakhon

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Nakhon Phanom Fire Boat Festival extended to 12 Days this year

Concerts and plenty events between 27 September - 8 October 2568 (2025). Dates of the fire barge parades, which are usually a couple days, have not been announced  

 Similar Fire Barge Parade ares conducted in September at Tao Ngoi ⤵️

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International Food and Balloon Festival Sawang Dan Din

International Amusement Park 8-17 May. สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Khokhun Phon Yangkham Beef festival

further details click on image for facebook link  

 Map location

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Easter celebrations begin this Saturday

Information provided by
สำนักงานการท่องเที่ยวและกีฬาจังหวัดสกลนคร
Sakon Nakhon Tourism and Sports
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Sorry, Songkran price hike was a computer glitch

For flight between Bangkok and Sakon Nakhon no tickets were sold at the higher price of over 14,000฿ posted on their website according to AIR ASIA.

Flights from 10 to 12 April are sold out. Keep in mind airlines raise their rates when there is a higher demand. Therefore it may be beneficial to travel early and stay a few extra days till rates decrease

Additional Reading: It was a glitch: AirAsia explains price hike on Songkran flights | Thaigerสกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Don't drink alcohol in public places

It is illegal to drink alcohol in public places. It can result in heavy fines and jail time.

This is especially important during the Songkran holidays when people tend to overlook this law.

You are within the law if you drink your alcohol while standing on private property.

So if you step into the street to throw water at passersby leave your alcoholic beverage behind.

 
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Hot season is here, yet there have been complaints of a late start

Mountain people complained of the late start of the extreme heat.  It hindered the growth of forest vegetation they usually harvest and bring to market beginning in March

During these hot days, if you don't have a pool, a trip to canals or rivers is a great alternative to keeping cool and having fun

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Thailand Digital Arrival Card goes into effect May 1, 2025

The form must be completed prior to departure flight to Thailand.

There seems to be some apprehension that there may be some hiccups in the online process.

 

click on image for full article
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Many new hotels in the past decade, and more to come

Back in 2009, before there were any local hotel listings, I had made a list of local hotels for this blog, with with the help of Martin.  There were only a handful at the time. 

These days you can't count them on two hands.  I imagine occupancy rate is quite low with a few exceptions. My opinion is based on empty parking lots.

For my travels I use Google map frequently to find a hotel.  

Most often letting a Thai make reservations over the phone turns out less expensive than using online reservation services.  

A number of times when an online service indicated no rooms available, the hotel actually had plenty of accommodations available.  Some hotels limit the availability to online vendors.
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Futsal TODAY

Futsal: a modified form of soccer played with five players per side on a smaller, hard surface field
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Setting up for the RED CROSS FAIR January 24 - February 2

Admittance during the afternoon hours has been free over the past 21 Red Cross Fairs I have attended. Admittance is charged beginning around 5 pm 20฿

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