Nakhon Panom

Tourists flock to see illuminated boat procession

October 22, 2012 3:42 pm



File photo : isanchula.com

Bustling crowds are expected at the nine-day illuminated boat procession at the end of the Buddhist Lent in northeastern province of Nakhon Panom.

Hotels along the Mekong River have already been fully booked, Thai News Agency reported. The event is scheduled to be held from October 23 to 30. Fifty hotels, providing 1,700 rooms are now fully booked. The room prices are up from around Bt700 per room/night to about Bt2,000-3,000 baht and reaching Bt5,000 for rooms with riverside view.

Tharin Panthumai, chairman of the Nakhon Phanom Tourism Association, said that he is confident the event will be packed with crowds this year after the opening of the third Thai-Lao friendship bridge last year.

The bridge spanning the Mekong River connects Nakhon Phanom and Laos's Thakhek in Khammouane, so tourists can travel further into the neighbouring country. It is expected that at least Bt50 million will be circulated during the event, Tharin added.

Tourists flock to see illuminated boat procession - The Nation