Loei Province Guide: History, Towns and Local Products
Loei does not fit the image of flat, dry Isan. Its districts are folded into mountains, and in the cool season it often records some of the lowest temperatures in the country, with seas of mist below the viewpoints of Phu Ruea and Phu Kradueng.
This guide looks at Loei's border history, the districts from Chiang Khan to Dan Sai, the ghost festival that made the province famous and the crafts and foods its villages sell. Producers will also find how to sell their work to buyers across Thailand and abroad.
Loei
Ghost Masks, Mist and a Table Mountain
A hilly corner of Isan where the mist sits in the valleys at dawn, ghosts dance through Dan Sai and the Mekong slows past Chiang Khan.
By the SnapSellGo Thailand Desk · Updated September 2026 · 8 min read
Made in Loei
A first look at Loei's local products, before sellers list them.
For now these cards are a guide to Loei's specialities; live products will take over here.
Why Loei feels like a mountain province
Loei lies in the north-west corner of Isan, bordered by Laos along the Heung and Mekong rivers. The land rises into sandstone plateaus, the best known being Phu Kradueng, a flat-topped mountain whose summit plateau is reached on foot. It became one of Thailand's first national parks in 1962.
The province is also a meeting point of cultures. In Dan Sai, the chedi of Phra That Si Song Rak was built around 1560 to seal a pact between the kingdoms of Ayutthaya and Lan Xang. The same district now hosts Phi Ta Khon, a festival of masked ghosts that draws visitors from across the country.
Phu Kradueng
A flat-topped mountain and one of Thailand's first national parks.
Phi Ta Khon
Masked ghosts parade through Dan Sai each year.
Phra That Si Song Rak
A chedi built to mark friendship between Ayutthaya and Lan Xang.
Chiang Khan
Wooden houses on a quiet bend of the Mekong.
Loei: a timeline
Loei's story is one of borders and pacts, followed by a modern life built around parks and festivals.
- c. 1560Phra That Si Song Rak is built in Dan Sai to mark an alliance between Ayutthaya and Lan Xang.
- 1962Phu Kradueng becomes one of Thailand's first national parks.
- 1979Phu Ruea is declared a national park.
- 2010sChiang Khan's wooden riverside street becomes one of Isan's most visited towns.
Fourteen districts in the hills of Isan
Loei has 14 districts and roughly 640,000 residents. These are the ones visitors and buyers hear about most.
| District | What you find there |
|---|---|
| Mueang Loei | The provincial town and its markets. |
| Chiang Khan | The wooden walking street on the Mekong and the Kaeng Khut Khu rapids. |
| Dan Sai | Phi Ta Khon and Phra That Si Song Rak. |
| Phu Kradueng | The national park and its long hike to the plateau. |
| Phu Ruea | Cool hills, flower farms and misty viewpoints. |
The year in Loei: festivals and seasons
Loei's year belongs to the ghosts in summer and to the mist in winter. Plan around these.
Made in Loei: OTOP and local specialities
OTOP ties each product to the sub-district that makes it, and in Loei the most recognisable craft is the Phi Ta Khon mask, carved from the base of a coconut palm frond and topped with a woven sticky-rice steamer, then painted in bright colours.
Chiang Khan's shops sell coconut sweets and local snacks along the riverside street, while the cool hills of Phu Ruea grow flowers, vegetables and fruit that are rarely seen elsewhere in Isan.
Buyers can check the carousel above for items listed by Loei makers, while producers can open a shop with zero commission on sales.
Short on time? A night in Chiang Khan and the dawn mist. Visiting in June? Phi Ta Khon in Dan Sai. Love hiking? The climb to the Phu Kradueng plateau. Buying local? A painted Phi Ta Khon mask.
Questions people ask about Loei
What is Phi Ta Khon?
A festival in Dan Sai district, Loei, in which villagers dress as ghosts with masks and costumes. It takes place during Bun Luang, usually in June or July, and the dates change each year.
Can you climb Phu Kradueng?
Yes. A marked trail leads to the summit plateau. The park usually closes the summit in the rainy season, so check dates before going.
Why is Loei so cold in winter?
Its hills and plateaus sit higher than most of Isan, and in the cool season it often records some of Thailand's lowest temperatures.
What is Chiang Khan known for?
A street of old wooden houses along the Mekong, facing Laos, with morning alms rounds and riverside cafés.
Sources: Wikipedia entries for Loei province, Phu Kradueng National Park, Phu Ruea National Park, Phi Ta Khon, Phra That Si Song Rak and Chiang Khan. Dates tied to the moon shift a little every year, so confirm them before you book. Cover photo: Cliff view from Phu Kradueng by Nicetory, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.