Khon Kaen

A university town some 450 km from Bangkok in I-San's geographic center, Khon Kaen is famous for its "Mat Mi" silk. Unlike other kinds of Thai silk, Mat Mi is made from tie-dye yarn which permits the weaver to work distinctive, multicolored patterns into the design. This is a silk of rare distinction and here in Khon Kaen, there is a week-long annual silk festival held in early December. There is also a museum here which displays artifacts from the historical archeological site of Ban Chiang.

Sakhon Nakhon

Sakhon Nakhon is the site which hold the annual "Wax Castle" Ceremony. This ceremony is celebrated on the full moon of the 11th lunar month around October and features a procession of elaborate miniature Buddhist chapels and palaces made from bees' wax which are offered at various temples to make merit for ancestors. Further, regattas featuring long boat races can be seen here during the end of the Buddhist Rains Retreat in October.

Buri Ram

This is the site of Prasat Hin Phanom Rung, a lovely hilltop Khmer sanctuary once connected by road with Angkor. The ruins of Prasat Hin Phanom Rung is arguable more impressive than those of Phimai. Another, a 12th century structure, Prasat Hin Phanom Rung is a well preserved Khmer temple complex, its superb architecture being considerably enhanced by a dominant hill-top location which commands panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. Nearby are the smaller but picturesque ruins of Prasat Muang Tam. With 10th century foundations, the temple predates Phanom Rung and although less well preserved, it possesses a romantic atmosphere in its state of abandoned beauty.