The first time I visited Roi Et, in the heart of Thailand’s underrated Isaan region, my now-husband informed me of a funny fact. “Some Thai people jokingly refer to Roi Et as “L.A.”,” he referenced Los Angeles, and attempted to pronounce the Thai-language initials of the city in a way that made them approximate “L” and “A.” (He was not successful).
Which is just as well: Roi Et’s real name in Thai means “one hundred and one.” This allegedly references the number of gates in the ancient city…which was not 101; it will 11. The mystery deepens.
Nomenclature aside, there’s a much longer list of things to do in Roi Et than you might assume, sight unseen. Shall we get started going through it?
Where to Stay in Roi Et
The bad news? As is the case in my cities throughout Isaan, Roi Et hotels leave something to be desired. There’s nowhere cute or especially memorable; most accommodations are actually a bit outside the tourist center. This is fine, of course, given that you will probably need to drive to get to and away from the city. Roi Et’s center is walkable, but the province at large is anything but, making “convenience” relative.
The good news? Internet speeds are as fast in Roi Et as it is throughout Thailand. This means that you can have fruitful evenings online wherever you stay, whether you try your luck at a game like free craps, or catch up on emails and attend Zoom meetings from your job back home. Gaming is an especially attractive option, however, since there aren’t any physical casinos in Thailand as of this moment.
Things to Do in Roi Et
Go up in Roi Et Tower
Opened in 2021, Roi Et Tower is one of Thailand’s newest landmarks, although many foreign tourists don’t even know it exists. The architecture of the tower is impressive and distinctive, but more than anything, it offers a fantastic view of the city and surrounding countryside.
Walk around Bueng Phlan Chai Lake
For a city of its size (and especially one in Thailand), Roi Et has quite a lot of green space. This is particularly the case with Bueng Phlan Chai Lake, which I highly recommend adding to your Roi Et itinerary. It’s ringed by a walking and running trail that evokes Lumphini Park in Bangkok!
Admire Thailand’s tallest standing Buddha
Another Roi Et landmark? Luangpho Yai, which is Thailand’s tallest standing Buddha. It’s visible from all over Roi Et, whether you’re walking or hiking around the lake, looking down on it from Roi Et Tower or walking beneath the Buddha image and admiring it from ground-level.
Eat lots of Isaan food
Wondering what to do in Roi Et from a foodie perspective? Eat Isaan food! Like most cities in the region, Roi Et is a safe bet for spicy and delicious food, including som tam papaya salad, larb meat salad and delicious gai yang, or grilled chicken. You can also eat desserts like roti sai mai!
Make a pilgrimage to Wat Pha Nam Yoi
To be honest, Wat Pha Nam Yoi was the reason I wanted to visit Roi Et in the first place. Located about 90 minutes outside the city center, this temple (which is also known as at Phanamthip Thepprasitwanaram) is both traditional and surrealistic, and is absolutely worth the time it takes to get there.
How Long Should You Spend in Roi Et?
Roi Et isn’t a huge city, and the prefecture isn’t massive by comparison to Isaan as a whole. Still, because of the lack of infrastructure—if you don’t have your own car or rent one, you’ll need to retain the services of a private driver—it takes time to get around. As a result, even if you fly in from Bangkok on the first flight and book a seat on the last plane out, there’s no realistic way to see everything in Roi Et without spending at least one night here.
On the other hand, the topic of how many days in Roi Et you need is pretty open-ended. While spending a week (or anything approaching it) would be excessive for most travelers, I think medium-length trips (3 days 2 nights, or 2 days one night) are perfectly reasonable. This is especially true if you sandwich Roi Et between other Isaan destinations, such as Udon Thani and Ubon Ratchathani.
Other FAQ About Visiting Roi Et
What is Roi Et known for?
Roi Et isn’t known for a whole lot, to be perfectly honest. While it is home to the tallest standing Buddha statue in Thailand, it simply isn’t a popular tourist destination. Of course, you can easily use this fact to your advantage: It doesn’t get much more “off the beaten path” than Roi Et.
Is Roi Et safe?
Compared to other cities in Thailand, Roi Et is at least as safe. The main hazards here include traffic accidents, bites by stray dogs and petty theft. You are extremely unlikely to fall victim to violent crime in Roi Et, or anywhere in the Isaan region, for that matter.
How to go to Roi Et?
Roi Et is served by daily nonstop flights from Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport. Absent this, you can also access Roi Et by car from major cities in Isaan, and by limited minivan and bus services from places like Khon Kaen and Ubon Ratchathani. Note that even if you arrive by plane, you will likely need a car or motorbike to explore Roi Et and its vicinity.
The Bottom Line
I hope my round-up of things to do in Roi Et inspires you to visit. Roi Et is obscure, even among Thailand’s off-the-beaten-path destinations. Yet whether you stay in the city center and enjoy views of Thailand’s tallest standing Buddha, or take a day trip to a surreal temple the city’s periphery, Roi Et’s wonders belie the extent to which it is ensconced in a rarely-visited corner of Thailand. Of course, Roi Et shines even more brightly within the context of an Isaan road trip, so I hope you can experience it in such a way. Regardless of how or why you end up going to Roi Et, I do hope you’ll consider hiring me to plan your trip to Thailand!
