Ubon Ratchathani National Museum
Tucked inside Thung Si Mueang park in central Ubon Ratchathani, the Ubon Ratchathani National Museum is one of the best regional museums in the Northeast. Occupying a graceful 1918 palace built for King Vajiravudh’s visit, the building itself is as interesting as what it holds inside. The Fine Arts Department took over the premises in 1989 and turned it into a showcase for Isaan prehistory, Khmer art, and Lao-Thai folk traditions.
Permanent Collections
The museum’s ground floor walks you through prehistoric finds from the region, Neolithic pottery, bronze implements, and iron-age tools from sites scattered across Ubon province. The highlight upstairs is the collection of Khmer and Dvaravati-period stone sculpture: lingas, boundary stones, and Buddha images ranging from the 7th to 13th centuries recovered from local prasat sites. A separate room covers the unique Ubon tradition of candle festival floats, with large carved-wax models and archival photographs of past processions.
Folk-life galleries on the upper level display traditional Isaan textiles, mudmee silk, indigo-dyed cotton, and elaborate ceremonial clothing. Tools of the silk weaver and rice farmer sit alongside musical instruments used in the mor lam tradition. Labels are in Thai and English throughout, making the museum accessible to foreign visitors.
Practical Information
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 9:00–16:00 (closed Monday and Tuesday)
Admission: 100 THB for foreigners, 20 THB for Thais
Location: Thung Si Mueang park, central Ubon Ratchathani city
How to get there: A short songthaew or tuk-tuk ride from the city centre
Inside the Ubon Ratchathani National Museum
