Nong Khai Car Rental
Nong Khai is a relaxed Mekong river town facing Vientiane, with no airport of its own. Fly into Udon Thani, collect your car at the terminal for free and drive north on Highway 2: you can be on the riverside promenade in about an hour.
- ~1 hairport to the Mekong, about 55–60 km
- Freepick-up & return at Udon Airport
- ฿750per day, 2+ days
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
Approximate. Near town, Highway 2 leads towards the Friendship Bridge border post; for the riverside and Tha Sadet market, head into the town centre and Rim Khong Road instead.
Getting the car
- At Udon Thani Airport (most popular): free delivery and return daily 07:00–20:30 at lane A3, opposite Door 1. Before 07:00 or after 20:30: +฿500 per handover.
- Delivered to Nong Khai: possible on rentals of 7+ days at ฿30/km each way. Message us your address first.
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 cross on the bridge shuttle bus with your passport; pedestrians can't walk across.
- Check Lao visa rules 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 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. Times and fees change, so please check before you go.
Sala Keoku
A sculpture park of giant concrete figures mixing Buddhist and Hindu imagery, built by the mystic Luang Pu Bunleua. The tallest 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. The riverside promenade runs alongside for an evening walk and 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 in the 18th century. The ordination hall walls are covered in murals. Open daily, about 06:00–18:00, free; dress modestly.
Phra That Klang Nam (the sunken chedi)
A Lao-style chedi that toppled into the Mekong in the 19th century. In the dry season, when the river drops, part of it shows above the water; in the rainy season it is hidden. 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, Daeng Namnueng on Rim Khong Road is the town's best-known Vietnamese-style restaurant for naem nueang (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. In 2026 the night falls on 26 October: book your car early.
Nong Khai in a day, starting at Udon Thani Airport
A realistic plan with about 2 hours of driving in total, back before 20:30 so the return stays free. Swap the order if you'd rather see Sala Keoku in the softer late-afternoon light.
- 08:00 · Pick up at the airport. Lane A3, opposite Door 1. 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 watch the sun set over Laos.
- 18:30 · Dinner, then drive back. About 1 h to the airport or Udon city. On Saturdays, stay for the walking street first; returns after 20:30 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 with plenty of curves: plan it as a second day, not an add-on.
Daily rates include CDW and airport delivery
All automatic. Card prices are for 2+ days (1-day rentals cost more per day).
- 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
A 3-day example, all fees shown
Documents, deposits and delivery fees are listed in our rental terms.
Planning around Naga weekend
- Around the end of Buddhist Lent (26 Oct 2026), 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 slow after dark.
- Coming back late? A return after 20:30 costs ฿500; tell us in advance and we'll arrange it.
Staying overnight in Nong Khai
- Stay near the riverfront and you can walk to Tha Sadet Market and the promenade without moving the car.
- An overnight stay lets you catch the Saturday walking street or 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 within opening hours
- ฿790 × 3 days
- ฿2,370
- Airport delivery & return
- Free
- CDW insurance (excess ฿10,000)
- Included
- Rental total
- ฿2,370
- 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 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 07:00–20:30) 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 at sunset and still be back before 20:30. 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 20:30 cost ฿500, so let us know your plan when you book. Read our Naga fireballs 2026 guide for viewing spots and parking.
Can I continue along the Mekong to Sangkhom or Chiang Khan?
Yes. Rentals of 1–7 days may be driven 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.
More along the Mekong and around Udon
Send us your landing time, we'll have your car for Nong Khai ready
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Information by the O Car Rent team · last updated 26 Sep 2026