Yasothon Attractions and Travel Guide

Attractions

Phaya Tan Park 

Phaya Tan Park (Phaya Tan is the God of rain for Isan people. Local rockets will be launched in every May to please Phaya Tan who controls the rain). Located on highway 23 (Chaeng Sanid Rd.) in Muang municipality next to Lamtuan Reservoir, the park is surrounded by winding stream. It comprises beautiful garden, outdoor stage, playground, and health park. Phaya Tan Park is the venue for significant fairs and festivals of the province such as Annual Rocket Festival, Short Boat Racing, and Songkran.

Wat Maha That 

Wat Maha That is an important temple of the province in the town. The building of importance here is Phra That Yasothon or Phra That Anon, an ancient square pagoda with the top similar to that of Phra That Phanom. The architecture is in the Laotian style which was popular in the late Ayutthaya to early Rattanakosin periods. The pagoda houses the relics of Phra Anon. A state minister from Si Sattana Khanahut (Vientiane) who took migrants to settle here about 200 years ago constructed it around 1778.

Another historical site within the compound is the scripture hall that is in the Isan art style. The doorway and the door are beautiful carved woods with exquisite lacquer designs. The designs on the walls show a mixture of art from the Central Region. Built during the reigns of Rama IV and Rama V of the Rattanakosin period, the hall stores scriptures on dried palm leaves and art objects from Vientiane.

Phra That Kong Khao Noi 

Phra That Kong Khao Noi is at Tambon Tat Thong. Take the Yasothon-Udon Thani route for 2 kilometres to get to the site. Built during the 23rd-25th Buddhist century in the late Ayutthaya period, the small, square brick pagoda has a distinctive top. The middle part has designs of doorways on all 4 sides. A brick wall surrounds the pagoda. A sacred Buddha image is behind the pagoda. Legend has it that it was built by a young farmer who was repentant after killing his mother because he was upset with hunger.

Hor Trai

Hor Trai, or library of Wat Sra Trinurak. Hor Trai is located in Wat Sra Trinurak, Ban Na Wiang, Moo 1, Tambon Na Wiang, 25 kms. from Yasothon City. The ancient pavilion, over a century old, located amidst pond is housing Buddhist scriptures since ancient time. The Burmese-style wooden architecture is 8.30 metre wide and 10.50 metre long, with 4-level metal-sheet roof and long eaves at all sides. The front door is delicately carved.

Ban Si Than 

Ban Si Than is where typical pillows are made. The village is 20 kilometres from Yasothon on the way to Amnat Charoen. Villagers make Khit pillows and weave after the harvest is done. They are famous products of the province.

Phu Tham Phra 

This large cave, located to the west of the mountain, houses countless sacred Buddha images.

Phra Phutthabat Yasothon 

Situated in Wa Phra Phutthabat Yasothon, the hall enshrines the Lord Buddha's Footprint in the form of a white sand dune at the fertile ara of the Chi River. 

Wat Song Yae Catholic Church

Located in Ban Song Yae, Amphoe Thai Charoen.  Initially, the church was a tiny hut, and it was rebuilt many times. This is the fourth church built in 1947 by wood contribution by the villagers. Built in Thai traditional style, the country’s biggest wooden church is 16 metres wide and 57 metres long.

How to get there: From Yasothon, use highway 2169, turn left after passing Amphoe Kut Chum for 7-8 kms, and keep going for 600 metres. The school and the church share the compound.

Phaya Thaen Public Park 

Phaya Thaen is a rain god according to the belief of Isan people. Phaya Thaen Public Park is on Chaeng Sanit Road in the municipality. The large area is surrounded by a small waterway and is decorated with flowers and decorative plants. It also has a health park. The park is the venue of various provincial fairs like the Rocket Festival, the annual boat race and the Songkran Festival.

Chi River Beach 

This is a natural beach formed by the receding water level in the Chi River in the dry season, which is never higher than 70 centimetres. The beach is nearly 2 kilometres long. Locals like to come here to relax and have a meal.

Phra That Yasothon or Phra That Arnon. พระธาตุยโสธร หรือ พระธาตุอานนท์ It is significant ancient stupas of Isan. Housing ashes of Phra Arnon inside, the square base stupa has its head similar to Phra That Phanom.

Hor Trai or Library for Buddhist scriptures. หอไตร The pavilion is used for keeping Buddhist scriptures. The rectangular pavilion has terrace around for housing the Buddhist scriptures chest board, cradles, and shelves from Vientiane. The niche and wooden door are well carved and covered with gold leaves.

Phra That Kong Khao Noi. พระธาตุก่องข้าวน้อย Different from other monuments which are often mainly concerned with Buddhism, Phra That Kong Khao Noi was built by an ordinary man. The legend says: A young farmer has been working since dawn. At noon, his mother came late with his lunch. Great hunger and sudden anger to see a tiny amount of rice drove him to kill his mother. So, the young farmers built this stupa, wishing for forgiveness and expiate.

Ban Thung Nang Oak. บ้านทุ่งนางโอก The village is famed for its bamboo basketry for household use and souvenir.

Ban Na Samai. หมู่บ้านนาสะไมย Located close to Ban Thung Nang Oak, the village is famed for bamboo basketry and carved miniature cart.

The old building of Ban Singha Tha. ย่านเมืองเก่าบ้านสิงห์ท่า Ban Khum Singha Tha, in Muang municipality, is the old area whose name is found in the city’s history.

Khit Pillow at Ban Sri Than. หมู่บ้านทำหมอนขิตบ้านศรีฐาน The village is famed for Khit Pillow, local style pillow with beautiful patterns. After harvest, most villagers earn extra by producing Khit Pillow.

Phu Tham Phra. ภูถ้ำพระ Housing lots of Buddha statue, the cave Phu Tham Phra is 6 metres wide and 16 metres long. The shady mountain is blanketed with lush forest. Other caves in the area include Than Keng, Tham Ngu Suang, Tham Kliang, and Tham Prombutr.

Ban Song Puey Archeological Site. แหล่งโบราณสถานบ้านสงเปือย Its significant attractions include:

Big Buddha Image. พระพุทธรูปใหญ่ Made of brick, the principle Buddha of Wat Song Puey is 3 metres wide and 8 metres high. This sacred image can be dated back to more than 200 years.

Pagodas containing soil from holy sites of Buddhism. เจดีย์บรรจุดินจากสังเวชนียสถาน The old pagoda, more than 200 years old houses soil from holy site of Buddha, namely the place of birth, enlightenment, the first sermon, and nirvana, brought from India by a Buddhist monk, Khien Ammaphand.

The replica of Buddha Footprint. รอยพระพุทธบาทจำลอง The footprint was built by sponsoring of Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsongkram and his lady. Lots of local people come to bath the footprint During Songkran Festival.

Antique Museum. พิพิธภัณฑ์ของโบราณ The museum features antiques found from Dong Muang Toey, an ancient Khmer town. The antique include stone bed of the mayor, and stone inscription in ancient Khmer letter.

Dong Muang Toey Ancient town. ซากเมืองโบราณดงเมืองเตย Foundation of temple, pond, and town wall are found. Although they are ruined, their remaining indicated that it once was settlement in Chenla-Dhavaravadi period. Chenla King’s inscription indicated that this ancient site is religious place for Shivism.

Ku Chan. กู่จาน is an ancient pagoda similar to Phra That Phanom. Legend says it has been built in the same period to Phra That Phanom in Nakhon Phanom province.

Yasothon Buddha Footprint. พระพุทธบาทยโสธร The Buddha Footprint is placed on white sandy hill. It is considered a sacred antique of the province. An antique found nearby is a two-foot wide laterite Buddha image in the attitude of meditation under naga protection, and a laterite inscription which is a metre high and 50 centimetre wide.

Hor Trai, or library of Wat Sra Trinurak. หอไตรวัดสระไตรนุรักษ์ The ancient pavilion, over a century old, located amidst pond is housing Buddhist scriptures since ancient time. The Burmese-style wooden architecture is 8.30 metre wide and 10.50 metre long, with 4-level metal-sheet roof and long eaves at all sides.

Wat Song Yae Catholic Church. โบสถ์คริสต์วัดซ่งแย้ The church serves villagers of Ban Nong Song Yae, all of who are Catholics. This is the fourth church built in 1947 by wood contribution by the villagers. Built in Thai traditional style, the country’s biggest wooden church is 16 metres wide and 57 metres long.