Udon Thani Opens Its Doors: Come Visit the Udon Thani World Horticultural Expo 2026 and Experience the Beauty of a Land of Two World Heritage Sites

Udon Thani, one of the most important provinces in Thailand’s Northeast, is filled with the charm of culture, history, and beautiful nature. Visitors can experience a rich diversity of attractions, ancient sites, and the local way of life. Udon Thani is the only province in Thailand with two World Heritage Sites within a single province: the Ban Chiang Archaeological Site and the Phu Phrabat Historical Park. These serve as key highlights that will help showcase the diversity of Thai culture to an international audience through the “Udon Thani World Horticultural Expo 2026,” to be held from 1 November 2026 to 14 March 2027.

Mr. Nathaphon Withi, Deputy Governor of Udon Thani Province, revealed that Udon Thani has strong potential for promoting cultural tourism, being a province with two World Heritage Sites in one: the Ban Chiang Archaeological Site and the Phu Phrabat Historical Park. The Ban Chiang Archaeological Site is one of Thailand’s most important prehistoric archaeological sites, home to the Ban Chiang pottery civilization, which was inscribed as a Cultural World Heritage Site in December 1992. It earned this distinction under the World Heritage cultural criteria for being a rare and unique testament — evidence of traditions or a civilization that either still survives or has since disappeared. The area comprises the Ban Chiang Archaeological Site and the Ban Om Kaeo Archaeological Site, with Ban Chiang being the 359th Cultural World Heritage Site in the world and the 3rd in Thailand.

As for the Phu Phrabat Historical Park, it is no ordinary historical park but a place where everyone can experience the wonder of nature and ancient civilization blending together in perfect harmony. A distinctive feature of the Phu Phrabat Historical Park is the many sandstone rock formations scattered across the area. In addition, there are prehistoric rock paintings found in numerous spots throughout the Phu Phrabat mountain range, painted in red ochre depicting realistic images, geometric patterns, and red handprints. These were created by prehistoric people as part of rituals or as symbols for communication among members of the tribe, confirming the prosperity and ancient civilization that once flourished on the land of Udon Thani. On 27 July 2024, at the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee held in New Delhi, Republic of India, “Phu Phrabat Historical Park” in Udon Thani was inscribed as a new World Heritage Site under the name “Phu Phrabat, a Testimony to the Sīma Stone Tradition of the Dvaravati Period.” It became Thailand’s 8th World Heritage Site and 5th Cultural World Heritage Site, as well as the 2nd World Heritage Site in Udon Thani after the Ban Chiang Archaeological Site.

Udon Thani is also home to many other popular attractions, such as Kham Chanot, the Dhamma Chedi Museum of Phra Dhammavisutthimongkol (Luang Ta Maha Bua Ñāṇasampanno), the Red Lotus Sea, and Wat Pa Phu Kon, among others. It also features important cultural traditions, including the Udon Thani City Founding Celebration, the Ban Chiang World Heritage Festival, the Kumphawapi District Boat Racing Festival, and the annual Thung Si Muang Fair. There is also community-based tourism, spiritual tourism at religious sites, nature-based tourism, and cultural and heritage tourism at historical attractions, along with travel to nearby provinces such as Nong Khai, Nong Bua Lamphu, Loei, and Khon Kaen.

The Ban Chiang Archaeological Site and Phu Phrabat Historical Park are key highlights that enhance Udon Thani’s role as host of the “World Horticultural Expo 2026.” Beyond this, the area boasts rich biodiversity, an abundance of local plant species, economic crops, herbs, and ornamental flowering plants. It is a hub for cultivating native plants that can be further developed toward organic and smart agriculture, while its wetlands help create biological balance and can be developed into an ecotourism destination. The “Udon Thani World Horticultural Expo 2026” will be held from 1 November 2026 to 14 March 2027 at the Nong Dae wetlands in Kut Sa Subdistrict, Muang Udon Thani District, Udon Thani Province, welcoming visitors from around the world. This will also mark the world’s first horticultural expo held on a wetland.

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