Roi Et is not a well-known province and is not a popular travel destination. Located in the heart of Isaan, it is off the beaten track. This relaxed, rural feel adds to its appeal.
Roi Et is a hidden gem with a rich history that is palpable and celebrated into the current day. It is an easily “livable” province, where it is not uncommon to see expats and as a bonus, the main roads are in great shape.
See what to do in Roi Et!
When you go to Roi Et, there are two ubiquitous motifs that you will see across the province. First, is the number: 101. The name “Roi Et” translates roughly to 101. The name derives from its historic foundation, with the uniting of 11 separate states into a single Roi Et civilization. During that time, the number 11 was written as 101 (10+1), which later was interpreted as 101 hence the name Roi Et. Restaurants and shops will often include “101” in their names.
Second, is the “Wot” (โหวด – rhymes with boat), which is a traditional wooden flute-like instrument from the Isaan region. You can hear its nostalgic sound throughout many modern Isaan country songs. The Wot is renowned across Roi Et, as replica Wots are seen decorating lightposts, roundabouts, and there is now a tower dedicated to the Wot.
The city of Roi Et is surrounded by a moat for protection in its past (similar to Chiang Mai) and has many old temples across the city (some over 800 years old). There is a big Loy Krathong festival in Roi Et city, as some districts have the locally popular rocket festival. Roi Et city has all the essentials (culture, good weather, big hospital, large but not obtrusive department stores and home improvement stores, hip cafes and indie bars, a small artwalk) that compel some expats to retire in Roi Et.
Finally, the way Thai people pronounce Roi Et is more like “Loy Aet.” Playfully, people will often refer to Roi Et as LA.
That is the 101 on Roi Et.
What to eat
Isaan food: grilled fish (Nile Tilapia) – pla pao, Isaan/Lao papaya salad – som tum bu plaara, whatever you eat, eat it with sticky rice
Locally grown produce: Variety of Mushrooms, watermelons,
There’s also a few Vietnamese-influenced dishes like kuay jab yuan (noodles), pak mor (sticky spring-roll like snack) that are found around town.
One of the newer, popular Vietnamese-influenced breakfast spots is ปาก หม้อ พุ พาน Pak Mor Phu Pan
What to do in Roi Et – Click Here
How to get there
There is a small airport with about 3 incoming flights per day from Don Mueang (Bangkok). The flight from Bangkok takes just under an hour.
Or you can take a bus from Mo Chit Station in Bangkok. The bus takes between 8-20 hours. Long holiday weekends means more traffic and it might even take a day to return to Roi Et.
How to get around
Car rental services are limited but available for about 1300 baht/day – which is a bit expensive for Thailand
Where to stay
There are some hotels to choose from, I cannot make recommendations on hotels because I stay with friends when I go there.
People staying long term can rent a room in an apartment/dormitory in town.