Ubon Ratchathani Province Guide: History, Towns and Local Products
Ubon Ratchathani sits at the far eastern corner of Thailand, where the Mun river meets the Mekong and Laos and Cambodia are just across the water. It is one of the country's largest and most populous provinces, and for one week each summer it becomes famous for giant carved candles.
Here we cover the city's founding and its forest monasteries, the districts from the capital to the cliffs of Pha Taem, the Candle Festival and other dates, and the brass, silk and rice the province produces.
Ubon Ratchathani
Candles, Cliffs and the Mekong
Thailand's far east: prehistoric paintings above the Mekong, a famous candle festival and the country's biggest rice harvest.
By the SnapSellGo Thailand Desk · Updated September 2026 · 8 min read
Made in Ubon Ratchathani
The things Ubon Ratchathani is proud of. Shops from the province are on their way.
"Known for" cards are editorial, not listings. Live products from Ubon Ratchathani replace them automatically.
Why Ubon is the proud eastern edge of Isan
Ubon Ratchathani is the fifth-largest province by area and the third most populous, with about 1.87 million people. Until 1972 it was the largest province in Thailand, before parts of it were split off. It also leads the country in rice production, earning more than 10 billion baht a year from rice.
Its landscapes are dramatic. At Khong Chiam, the brown Mun river flows into the Mekong, and further north the cliffs of Pha Taem National Park carry rock paintings made 3,000 to 4,000 years ago, showing fishing, farming and daily life.
Pha Taem's rock art
Paintings from 3,000 to 4,000 years ago decorate the cliffs above the Mekong.
Two rivers meet
At Khong Chiam, the Mun river flows into the Mekong.
The Candle Festival
Giant carved wax candles are paraded at the start of Buddhist Lent.
Thailand's rice bowl
The province leads the country in rice production.
A short history of Ubon Ratchathani
Ubon was founded in the late 18th century by settlers from the Lao kingdoms and grew into the capital of eastern Isan.
- 3,000–4,000 years agoPrehistoric people paint scenes of fishing and farming on the cliffs of Pha Taem.
- Late 1700sThao Kham Phong founds the city during the reign of King Taksin.
- 1792Ubon Ratchathani becomes a formal province.
- 1960sA US air base operates at Ubon during the Vietnam War.
- 1972Parts of the province are split off; until then it was Thailand's largest province.
Where to go in Ubon Ratchathani: the main districts
Ubon has 25 districts, 219 sub-districts and nearly 2,500 villages. Four of them shape most visits.
| District | What you find there |
|---|---|
| Mueang Ubon Ratchathani | The city, its temples and the Candle Festival parade. |
| Warin Chamrap | The railway station, a university and forest monasteries across the river. |
| Khong Chiam | The confluence of the Mun and the Mekong, and the cliffs and rock paintings of Pha Taem National Park. |
| Sirindhorn | The Sirindhorn dam and its large reservoir. |
When to go: festivals and seasons
Ubon's calendar is built around the Buddhist year. These dates are the highlights.
Local products and what OTOP means here
Under OTOP, every product is linked to the sub-district where it is made, and Ubon's list includes a rare craft: in the village of Ban Pa Ao, artisans cast brass using the lost-wax method, making bells, bowls and figurines.
Silk and cotton weaving, fermented fish, and above all rice from the country's biggest rice-producing province complete the picture.
The carousel at the top of this guide shows live products from Ubon Ratchathani producers as they go online, and makers keep all of every sale.
Short on time? The city temples and the Mun river at sunset. Into history? The rock paintings of Pha Taem. Visiting in July? The Candle Festival. Buying local? A Ban Pa Ao brass bell.
Good to know before you go
When is the Ubon Candle Festival?
The Candle Festival takes place at the start of Buddhist Lent (Khao Phansa), usually in July or August.
How old are the Pha Taem rock paintings?
The paintings on the cliffs of Pha Taem National Park are 3,000 to 4,000 years old and show fishing, farming and daily life.
Where do the Mun and Mekong rivers meet?
At Khong Chiam, in Ubon Ratchathani province, where the brown Mun flows into the Mekong.
What is Ban Pa Ao known for?
Ban Pa Ao is known for brass casting using the lost-wax method, producing bells, bowls and figurines.
Sources: Wikipedia entries for Ubon Ratchathani province, Pha Taem National Park and the Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival. Population: 2024 registration data. Lunar festivals move from year to year, so check dates before travelling. Cover photo: Pha Taem National Park by Martin Künzel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.