Ubon Ratchathani, often shortened to Ubon (อุบลฯ), is one of Thailand's seventy-six provinces lies in lower northeastern Thailand also called Isan. Ubon is about 630 km from Bangkok. Neighboring provinces are (from west clockwise) Sisaket, Yasothon, and Amnat Charoen. To the north and east it borders Salavan and Champasak of Laos, to the south Preah Vihear of Cambodia.

Geography

At Khong Chiam the Mun River, the biggest river of the Khorat Plateau, joins the Mekong, which forms the northeastern boundary of Thailand with Laos. It is called "Maenam Song Si" or the "Mun River alluvium" because the brown water from Mekong River mixes with the blue water of the Mun. It is about 84 km from Ubon Ratchathani city centre. The area in the Dângrêk Mountains where the borders of the three countries, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia meet is promoted as the "Emerald Triangle", in contrast to the "Golden Triangle" in the north of Thailand. "Emerald" refers to the largely intact monsoon forests there. The total forest area is 2808 km² or 18 percent of provincial area.

History

The city was founded in the late 18th century by Thao Kham Phong, descendant of Phra Wo and Phra Ta, who escaped from King Siribunsan of Vientiane into Siam Kingdom during the reign of King Taksin the Great. Later Thao Kham Phong was appointed to be "Phra Pathum Wongsa" The first ruler of Ubon Ratchathani. In 1792, Ubon Ratchathani became a province, and was also the administrative center of the monthon Isan. Until 1972, Ubon Ratchathani was the largest province of Thailand by area. Yasothon was split off from Ubon Ratchathani in 1972, followed by Amnat Charoen in 1993. Before it became a province. Ubon Ratchathani was the administrative center of the monthon Isan, of which monthon Ubon was split off. In 1925 it became part of monthon Nakhon Ratchasima, with the abolishment of the monthon in 1933 the province became a first level subdivision of the country.

Symbols

The provincial seal shows a lotus flower in a pond. This alludes to the meaning of the name of the province, which translates to 'royal city of the lotus flower'. The provincial flower is the lotus (Nymphaea lotus). The provincial tree is the Yang-na (Dipterocarpus alatus). Black-eared catfish (Pangasius larnaudii) is the provincial aquatic animal.

Economy

Ubon Ratchathani is the nation's leading rice-producing province. It earns more than 10 billion baht a year from rice sales. Ubonratchathani has many coffee cafes around the city in both downtown and in the rural area. This business runs the city lively. People tend to hang out on the weekend.

National parks

Ubon Ratchathani boasts the following national parks: There are four national parks, along with two other national parks, make up region 9 (Ubon Ratchathani) of Thailand's protected areas.

Wildlife sanctuaries

There are two wildlife sanctuaries, along with four other wildlife sanctuaries, make up region 9 (Ubon Ratchathani) of Thailand's protected areas.

Health

The main hospital of Ubon Ratchathani province is Sunpasitthiprasong Hospital.

Transportation

Air

Ubon Ratchathani is served by Ubon Ratchathani Airport.

Rail

Ubon Ratchathani Railway Station is the main railway station in Ubon Ratchathani.

Education

Ubon Ratchathani province is the home of Ubon Ratchathani University.

Administrative divisions

Provincial government

The province is divided into 25 districts (amphoe). The districts are further divided into 219 subdistricts (tambons) and 2,469 villages (mubans).

Municipalities

Local government

As of 26 November 2019 there are: one Ubon Ratchathani Provincial Administration Organisation (ongkan borihan suan changwat) and 60 municipal (thesaban) areas in the province. Ubon Ratchathani has city (thesaban nakhon) status. Chaeramae, Det Udom, Phibun Mangsahan and Warin Chamrap have town (thesaban mueang) status. Further 54 subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon). The non-municipal areas are administered by 179 Subdistrict Administrative Organisations – SAO (ongkan borihan suan tambon).

Human achievement index 2022

Since 2003, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Thailand has tracked progress on human development at sub-national level using the Human achievement index (HAI), a composite index covering all the eight key areas of human development. National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) has taken over this task since 2017.

Gallery

Sister cities

Notable people