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The Pearl on the Bank of the
Mekong
From its origin on the Jinhai Tibet Plateau through Yunnan into Chiang
Saen District In Chiangrai, the Mekong river flows through 6 countries
from Chian, through Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and finally
Vietnam. Standing on the river bank near the Indochinese market in front
of the city of Mukdahan, one can imagine how far this river travels. Mukdahan has a saying "Beautiful city on the Mekong's bank, sweet
tamarind, origin of Phaya River, splendid mountains, valuable ancient
drums, eight-tribe cultures, picturesque Manorom Mount, and beautiful
Kra Bao lslet".
 Mukdahan is located in
Northeastern Thailand, bordering Laos to the east with the Mekong in
between. Mukdahan has a saying "Beautiful city on the Mekong's bank,
sweet tamarind, splendid mountains, valuable ancient drums, eight-tribe
cultures, picturesque Manorom Mount, and beautiful Kra Bao Islet".
Most of the area of Mukdahan is
a high plateau with dense forests in the west. The eastern part of the
province is mostly agricultural areas. The weather is hot in the winter
with the highest temperature of 33 C and the lowest of 10 C. There is
little rain.
The Mekong River, running 70
kilometers along the eastern border, remains the main lifeline of the
province. Other water sources include Huay Chanod, Huay Muk and Huay
Bung Ee Streams which are narrow and very shallow during the dry season.
Mukdahan still has relative well preserved forest areas in the Northeast
with 18 national forests or wildlife areas.
Mukdahan comprises 7 districts
and has eight tribes of Thai people, each of which has its distinct
tradition and culture. These eight tribes are Phu T'ai, Yu, Kha, Soe,
Kar Lerng, Saek, Kula, and Thai-Lao.
Mukda or Mukdahan is one of the
nine types of precious stones called Nopparatana. According to the
legend told for hundreds of years, on certain nights of the religious
days a Mukda would brighten, emerge from the Manorom Mount, float along
the bank of the Mekong River and fall into the area where a stream meets
the river. Thus the stream was named "Huay Muk" or Muk Stream. |
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 Mukdahan
is an ancient city. The historical evidence told that Chankinnaree,
Prince of Phonsim on the left side of the Mekong, had moved his people
across the river to build a new city on the month of Huay Muk in the
fourth mouth of B.E. 2312 or1770. He named the new city after the stream
as "Mukdahan".
Mukdahan
was part of the Udon Region. In B.E. 2450(1907) when the Udon Region was
upgraded into a province, Mukdahan became a district within Nakhon
Phanom Province. In B.E. 2525(1982), the Mukdahan District was upgraded
to the 73rd province of Thailand. |
By Bus
