Nong Khai Car Rental
Nong Khai is a relaxed town on the Mekong, across the river from Vientiane. It has no airport, so fly into Udon Thani, collect your car free at the terminal and drive north on Highway 2. You'll be on the riverfront in about an hour.
Route, sights and a one-day plan ↓One straight road north to the river
From the airport, follow the Udon Thani ring road to Highway 2 (Mittraphap Road) and stay on it heading north. It's a four-lane divided highway the whole way, and it ends at the Mekong and the Thai–Lao border. O Car Rent is a car rental company in Udon Thani with no branch in Nong Khai, so this is the drive nearly all our Nong Khai customers make.
The drive
- Road
- Highway 2, north
- Airport → Nong Khai town
- about 55–60 km
- Driving time
- about 1 hour
- Town → Sala Keoku
- about 3–5 km
Distances are approximate. Near town, Highway 2 heads for the Friendship Bridge border post. For the riverside and Tha Sadet Market, turn into the town centre and follow Rim Khong Road instead.
Getting the car
- At Udon Thani Airport (most popular): free pick-up and return daily 07:30–19:00 at lane A3, opposite Door 2. Before 07:30 or after 19:00 it's ฿500 per handover.
- Delivered to Nong Khai: available on rentals of 7+ days at ฿30/km each way. Send us the address before you book.
The Friendship Bridge and Laos
- The First Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge (opened 1994, about 1.2 km long) links Nong Khai with Vientiane.
- Rental cars may not be taken into Laos. To visit Vientiane, leave the car parked in Nong Khai and take the bridge shuttle bus with your passport or border pass. You can't walk across.
- Check the entry rules for Laos before you go.
Or call +66 84 408 0443. LINE @ocarrent. Staying 7+ days and want the car in Nong Khai? Send us the address.
Six Nong Khai stops worth the drive
Nong Khai town is compact: most of these are along or close to the river, a few minutes apart by car. Opening times and fees can change, so check before you go.
Sala Keoku
A sculpture park of giant concrete figures that mixes Buddhist and Hindu imagery, created by Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat. The highlight is a Buddha sheltered by a seven-headed naga, about 25 m high. It's on the south-eastern edge of town, usually open 08:00–18:00 (last tickets around 17:00), with a small entrance fee.
Tha Sadet Market & the Mekong promenade
Also called the Indochina Market: a long covered market on Rim Khong Road selling snacks, textiles and goods from Laos, Vietnam and China, open roughly 07:00–18:00. It gets hot inside after midday, so go in the morning. Right next to it, the riverside promenade is lovely for an evening walk and a sunset over Laos.
Wat Pho Chai
One of Nong Khai's most revered temples, home of Luang Pho Phra Sai, a Lan Xang-era Buddha image brought from Vientiane about 200 years ago. Murals cover every wall of the ordination hall. Open daily, about 06:00–18:00. Entry is free; please dress modestly.
Phra That Klang Nam (the sunken chedi)
A Lao-style chedi that collapsed into the Mekong around 1847. In the dry season, when the river drops, the top shows above the water; in the rainy season it disappears completely. A white replica stands on the bank at the end of the riverfront road.
Saturday walking street & food
On Saturday evenings the riverfront becomes a walking street with food stalls, crafts and live music. For lunch, try Daeng Namnueng on Rim Khong Road, a long-running restaurant and the town's best known for naem nueang (Vietnamese-style grilled pork wraps), open about 08:00–22:00.
Naga fireballs, Phon Phisai
On the night Buddhist Lent ends, glowing balls are said to rise from the Mekong. The main viewing area, Phon Phisai, is further down the river, about 1.5–2 h from Udon. Rental cars go quickly around the end of Lent, so book early.
Nong Khai in a day, starting at Udon Thani Airport
About 2 hours of driving in total. Leave Nong Khai by about 17:45 and you're back by 19:00, so the return is free. If you'd rather photograph Sala Keoku in the late-afternoon light, swap the order.
- 08:00. Pick up at the airport. Lane A3, opposite Door 2. Drive north on Highway 2 (about 1 h).
- 09:15. Wat Pho Chai. Pay respects to Luang Pho Phra Sai and see the murals while it's still cool.
- 10:30. Tha Sadet Market. Browse before the midday heat, then walk the promenade.
- 12:00. Lunch by the river. Naem nueang at Daeng Namnueng or another riverside restaurant on Rim Khong Road.
- 13:30. Sala Keoku. Allow about 1.5 hours among the sculptures; bring water and a hat.
- 16:00. The sunken chedi and the riverfront. Look for Phra That Klang Nam (dry season), then enjoy the late-afternoon light over Laos.
- 17:45. Drive back. About 1 h to the airport or Udon city. Want to stay for sunset, dinner or the Saturday walking street? You can (returns after 19:00 cost ฿500).
Going on to the Skywalk at Wat Pha Tak Suea in Sangkhom (about 120 km from Udon)? Highway 211 follows the Mekong west from Nong Khai and has plenty of bends, so give it a separate day rather than squeezing it into this one.
Daily rates include CDW and airport delivery
All automatic. Prices shown are the daily rate for a 2+ day rental starting tomorrow (1-day rentals usually cost more per day); longer rentals that run into a new season can cost more. Prices also change on long weekends and at festivals. Pick your dates in the form above to see an estimate.
- A day on the Mekong for two → Suzuki Celerio
- Couples, small families → Toyota Vios / Honda City
- Families of 5–7 → Mitsubishi Xpander
- Naga fireballs with a big group → 7-seaters
-
Isuzu D-Max Automatic
- 5 seats
- Cargo bed
- 2.5L diesel
A 3-day example, all fees shown
Documents, deposits and delivery fees are listed in our rental terms.
Planning around the end of Lent
- Around the end of Buddhist Lent, hotels in Nong Khai and cars in Udon book up early.
- Many visitors stay in Udon and drive up for the evening; roads near the viewing spots are jammed after dark.
- Coming back late? A return after 19:00 costs ฿500. Tell us in advance and we'll arrange a time.
Staying overnight in Nong Khai
- Stay near the riverfront and you can walk to Tha Sadet Market and the promenade without moving the car.
- Stay a night and you can catch the Saturday walking street, or make an early start west along the Mekong.
- Keep the car on the Thai side: it may not cross the Friendship Bridge.
Example: Toyota Yaris Ativ, 3 days, airport pick-up & return between 07:30 and 19:00
- ฿890 × 3 days
- ฿2,670
- Airport delivery & return
- Free
- CDW insurance (excess ฿3,000–10,000)
- Included
- Rental total
- ฿2,670
- Cash deposit at pick-up
- ฿3,000 (refunded)
- Optional SCDW (excess ฿0)
- +฿750 (฿250 × 3)
- Out-of-hours pick-up or return
- +฿500 each
Rate for 2+ days (1 day: ฿1,290/day). Booking deposit ฿500–5,000 by transfer; the rest on pick-up day. We confirm the final price before any booking deposit.
Nong Khai car rental FAQ
Do you have a branch in Nong Khai?
No. We're based in Udon Thani. Most customers pick up at Udon Thani International Airport (free, daily 07:30–19:00) and drive about an hour to Nong Khai. On rentals of 7+ days we can deliver to Nong Khai at ฿30/km each way.
How far is Nong Khai from Udon Thani Airport?
About 55–60 km, roughly 1 hour, almost all of it on four-lane Highway 2.
Can I drive the rental car to Vientiane?
No. Rental cars may not be taken into Laos, including over the Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge. Park in Nong Khai and cross on the bridge shuttle bus with your passport instead.
Is Nong Khai a good day trip from Udon Thani?
Yes. With about 2 hours' driving in total you can see Wat Pho Chai, Tha Sadet Market, Sala Keoku and the riverfront and still be back by 19:00. See the one-day plan above.
Can I drive to the Naga fireballs and come back the same night?
Yes. Phon Phisai is about 1.5–2 h from Udon, and traffic is heavy after the event. Returns after 19:00 cost ฿500, so let us know your plan when you book. Read our Naga fireballs guide for viewing spots and parking.
Can I continue along the Mekong to Sangkhom or Chiang Khan?
Yes. On rentals of 1–7 days you may drive in Nong Khai and Loei as well as Udon Thani, Nong Bua Lamphu, Sakon Nakhon, Bueng Kan, Nakhon Phanom and Khon Kaen, so the river road west (Highway 211) is fine. Allow a full day: it's slower and curvier than Highway 2.
Send us your landing time and we'll have your car ready for Nong Khai
We confirm the car and price before any booking deposit. No payment now.
Written by the O Car Rent team, last updated 5 Nov 2026