Nong Prachak Public Park

Right in the heart of Udon Thani, a large lake and public park give the city its favourite place to slow down. Nong Prachak Public Park is where locals walk, jog, cycle and gather every evening, and it is an easy, relaxed way for visitors to see everyday city life rather than just its temples and markets.

It is free, it is central, and at sunset it is one of the prettiest spots in the city.

A Lake at the Centre of the City

Nong Prachak takes its name from the lake itself, a large body of water surrounded by landscaped gardens, walking paths and shade trees right in central Udon Thani.

The park loops the lake with a wide pedestrian and cycling path, making it a popular spot for exercise in the cooler hours of the morning and evening. Benches, pavilions and small bridges are dotted around the shoreline, giving plenty of places to stop and take in the view.

The Giant Yellow Ducks

The park's best-known landmark is a family of giant inflatable yellow ducks floating on the lake, which have become one of Udon Thani's most photographed sights.

Modelled on the famous giant rubber duck art installations that have toured cities worldwide, Nong Prachak's ducks sit against the backdrop of the city skyline reflected in the water, especially striking around sunset.

Walking, Running and Cycling

For residents, Nong Prachak is primarily a place to exercise. The path around the lake is flat, well maintained and shaded in parts, making it comfortable for a walk, run or bike ride at almost any time of day.

Early morning and early evening are the busiest and most sociable times, when the heat has eased and much of the city seems to be out on the path at once.

Sunset on the Lake

As the afternoon heat fades, Nong Prachak turns golden. The lake's still water mirrors the sky and the city's low skyline, and the park fills with families, joggers and couples out for the evening.

It is one of the simplest and most reliable ways to see Udon Thani at its most relaxed, with no entrance fee and no schedule to work around.

Evening Food Stalls

As evening sets in, food stalls open up along the lakeside paths, selling grilled skewers, noodles, sweets and cold drinks to the crowds out for their evening walk.

It is a good, low-key way to try Isan street food alongside locals, with nowhere to book and nothing formal about it.

Quick Facts

Is Nong Prachak Park Worth Visiting?

Yes, especially as an easy add-on to a stay in Udon Thani rather than a destination in itself.

It won't give you the mythology of Sala Keoku or the history of Ban Chiang, but it gives you something just as valuable: an evening walk among the people who actually live here, with the giant ducks and a golden sunset thrown in for free.