Nong Khai province - Definition and Overview

Nong Khai
หนองคาย

Statistics
Capital:	Nong Khai
Area:	7,332.3 km² Ranked 27th
Inhabitants:	883,704 (2000) Ranked 22nd
Pop. density:	121 inh./km² Ranked 37th
ISO 3166-2:	TH-43
Map

Nong Khai (Thai หนองคาย) is the one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from south-east clockwise) Nakhon Phanom, Sakon Nakhon, Udon Thani and Loei. To the north it borders Laos.

Geography

The province is located in the valley of the Mekong river, which also forms the boundary with Laos. To the south it has some highlands. The Laotian capital Vientiane is only 25 kilometers away from the provincial capital Nong Khai. The Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge which connects them was built jointly by the governments of Thailand, Laos and Australia and was opened in 1994.

History

The area of the province changed ownership often, and it was part of the Laotian kingdom Lan Xang as well as part of the Thai kingdom Ayutthaya.

Symbols

The provincial seal shows a pond with bamboo around it. The bamboo symbolizes stability, glory and continuity for the peaceful and fertile land. The provincial tree is the tamalan or Burma pallisander (Dalbergia oliveri).

Administrative divisions

The province is subdivided into 13 districts (Amphoe) and 4 minor districts (King Amphoe). The districts are further subdivided into 115 communes (tambon) and 1099 villages.

External links

• Province page from the Tourist Authority of Thailand (http://www.tourismthailand.org/province.php?id=54&region=northeast)
• Golden Jubilee Network province guide (http://kanchanapisek.or.th/cgi-bin/kp8/oncc/province.cgi?prov=e15)
• First Global Community College (http://www.fgcc.ac.th)
• Wikitravel: Nong Khai (http://wikitravel.org/en/article/Nong_Khai)

Provinces of Thailand

North: Chiang Mai | Chiang Rai | Kamphaeng Phet | Lampang | Lamphun | Mae Hong Son | Nakhon Sawan | Nan | Phayao | Phetchabun | Phichit | Phitsanulok | Phrae | Sukhothai | Tak | Uthai Thani | Uttaradit North-East: Amnat Charoen | Buriram | Chaiyaphum | Kalasin | Khon Kaen | Loei | Maha Sarakham | Mukdahan | Nakhon Phanom | Nakhon Ratchasima | Nongbua Lamphu | Nong Khai | Roi Et | Sakon Nakhon | Sisaket | Surin | Ubon Ratchathani | Udon Thani | Yasothon Central: Ang Thong | Ayutthaya | Bangkok | Chainat | Kanchanaburi | Lopburi | Nakhon Nayok | Nakhon Pathom | Nonthaburi | Pathum Thani | Phetchaburi | Prachuap Khiri Khan | Ratchaburi | Samut Prakan | Samut Sakhon | Samut Songkhram | Saraburi | Sing Buri | Suphanburi South: Chumphon | Krabi | Nakhon Si Thammarat | Narathiwat | Pattani | Phang Nga | Phattalung | Phuket | Ranong | Satun | Songkhla | Surat Thani | Trang | Yala East: Chachoengsao | Chanthaburi | Chonburi | Rayong | Prachinburi | Sa Kaeo | Trat edit  (http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Template:Thailand_provinces)