Khon Kaen Province Guide: History, Towns and Local Products
Khon Kaen is where Isan goes to study, trade and do business. Sitting in the middle of the north-east, it has the region's oldest university, a growing skyline and, a short drive away, villages where mudmee silk is still tied and dyed by hand.
We look at how a small settlement became the hub of Isan, the districts known for silk and dinosaur fossils, the festivals worth timing a visit for, and the products its makers sell.
Khon Kaen
The Heart of Isan
Isan's modern hub: the north-east's oldest university, the silk looms of Chonnabot and the dinosaurs of Phu Wiang.
By the SnapSellGo Thailand Desk · Updated September 2026 · 8 min read
Made in Khon Kaen
Specialities of Khon Kaen. Makers from the province are setting up shop.
The "Known for" cards describe what Khon Kaen is famous for; real listings take their place as soon as producers publish.
Why Khon Kaen is the capital of modern Isan
With about 1.77 million people, Khon Kaen is the fifth most populous province in Thailand, and its capital has grown into the main service and education centre of the north-east. Khon Kaen University is the largest and oldest university in Isan.
Yet the province keeps deep rural roots. Chonnabot is one of Thailand's best-known silk districts, and at Phu Wiang a geologist's find in 1976 opened a new chapter in the study of dinosaurs in Southeast Asia.
Isan's university city
Khon Kaen University is the largest and oldest in the north-east.
Chonnabot silk
Mudmee ikat silk, tied and dyed before weaving, made in Chonnabot district.
Dinosaurs of Phu Wiang
Fossils found at Phu Wiang in 1976 made it a key dinosaur site.
A big, young province
About 1.77 million people, the fifth largest population in Thailand.
Khon Kaen through the centuries
Khon Kaen is a young city by Thai standards. It was founded in the late 18th century and grew fast in the 20th, when roads, a railway and a university arrived.
- 1783A first settlement is established in the area.
- 1797Khon Kaen is incorporated as a city.
- 1879The city moves to its present location.
- 1976Dinosaur fossils are discovered at Phu Wiang.
- 2001Khon Kaen becomes a sister city of Nanning, China.
Where to go in Khon Kaen: the main districts
Khon Kaen has 26 districts, 198 sub-districts and more than 2,100 villages. The ones below matter most to visitors and buyers.
| District | What you find there |
|---|---|
| Mueang Khon Kaen | The capital, the university, Bueng Kaen Nakhon lake and the nine-tiered Phra Mahathat Kaen Nakhon. |
| Chonnabot | Mudmee silk weaving villages and silk shops. |
| Phu Wiang | Phu Wiang National Park and its dinosaur fossil sites. |
| Ubolratana | The Ubolratana dam and its large reservoir. |
Dates to plan a trip around
Khon Kaen's biggest celebration honours its silk. These are the dates to know.
Made in Khon Kaen: OTOP and local specialities
Thailand's OTOP programme, One Tambon One Product, pins each product to its home sub-district, and Khon Kaen's star is Chonnabot mudmee silk. The threads are tied and dyed in patterns before weaving, a slow technique that gives the cloth its blurred, rippling designs.
Sticky rice from the province's farms, cotton weaving and dried and fermented foods typical of Isan complete the list.
The carousel at the top of this guide shows live products from Khon Kaen producers as they go online, and makers keep all of every sale.
Short on time? Phra Mahathat Kaen Nakhon and the lake at sunset. Into textiles? A morning in Chonnabot. Travelling with kids? The dinosaur sites of Phu Wiang. Buying local? A length of mudmee silk.
Good to know before you go
What is Khon Kaen famous for?
Khon Kaen University, Chonnabot mudmee silk, the Phu Wiang dinosaur fossils, the Silk Festival and its role as the business hub of Isan.
What is mudmee silk?
An ikat silk: the threads are tied and dyed in patterns before weaving. Chonnabot district is one of its best-known centres.
When were dinosaurs found in Khon Kaen?
Dinosaur fossils were discovered at Phu Wiang in 1976, making it a key site for dinosaur research in Thailand.
How many people live in Khon Kaen?
About 1.77 million people lived in Khon Kaen province in 2024, the fifth largest population in Thailand.
Sources: Wikipedia entries for Khon Kaen province, Khon Kaen University and Phu Wiang National Park. Population: 2024 registration data. Lunar festivals move from year to year, so check dates before travelling. Cover photo: Phra Mahathat Kaen Nakhon by Newsabra, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.