Loei

Loei, one of Thailand's most sparsely populated provinces, is a fertile basin fed by the Loei and Man rivers, tributaries of the Mekong, making it one of the country's most geographically scenic regions. Its unique topography, bordered by the Eastern and Western Phetchabun mountain ranges, and its susceptibility to China's winter winds, result in Loei bearing some of the most dramatic temperatures in the country. Summers can reach 40°C (104°F), while winter nights can drop to freezing.

Once the site of a prehistoric Bronze Age mining settlement, Loei started life in the 15th century when the kingdoms of Ayutthaya and Lan Xang, in Laos, built Phra That Si Song Rak temple in what is now the Dan Sai District. The temple's name literally translates as the "sublime love of two" and served as a sign of beneficial relations between the two kingdoms at a time when Myanmar was infringing on domains based on the Mekong. In 1853, King Rama IV bestowed Muang Loei Thai with town status and present-day Loei achieved its independent provincial status in 1933.

The province is a rare blend of culture and language between its Northern Thai neighbors, Laotian migrations, and northeastern affection. The result is a warm, traditional lifestyle and the unique Thai Loei language. Dan Sai District has its animated Phi Ta Khon festival in June, which is reminiscent of the Puyoe Yayoe festival in Muang Kaen Tao, Laos.

Despite its rich, embracing nature, the town itself is rather drab, with predictable concrete blocks and shophouses lining the streets. As a short stopover, Loei can be useful as a place to gather information, but the places worth exploring lie out of town. Phu Kradueng National Park is Loei's most visited station for its evergreen plateau and views, and Chiang Khan, with its Laotian roots and colonial architecture, is the heart of the province.