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Nakhon Phanom is situated on the bank of the Mae Khong River opposite Muang Ta Kaek of Laos. It is where the phra that Phanom, the most sacred and ancient religious monument of the Northeast, is located. For the Phra That is venerated by both Thais and Laotians along the Mae Khong. Although is partially collapsed some time ago, it has since been restored to its glory. Nakhon Phanom is 740 kilometers from Bangkok.

Phra That Phanom is about fifty kilometers from town proper. It has not been conclusively proved when it was built. However, according to archaeologists, it is bout 1,500-year-old. Fifty-two meters high, each of its rectangular bases measures 12.33 meters, and its decorative top is made of gold weighing 110 kilograms. The annual Phra That Phanom Fair is celebrated on the full-moon evening of the 3rd Lunar month. Thousands of worshippers flock to Nakhon Phanom to pay homage to this most important religious shrine in the Northeast. Stalls and performances staged throughout the 7-day celebration.

The most interesting amphoe in Nakhon Phanom is probably Renu Nakhon, about fifty kilometers from town. Its main religious monument, the Phra That Renu Nakhon, is similar to the Phra That Phanom but in a smaller scale. Renu Nakhon boasts a market place not unlike San Kamphaeng in Chiang Mai, with cotton, silk, dresses and quilted blankets as leading local products.

Illuminated Boat Procession held annually in October or November, the event represents a traditional Loi Krathong ceremony of northeasterners marking the end of the Buddhist Lent. The illuminated boats are made of banana barks, bamboo or other float able materials with a length of at least 6 meters. The boat will be elaborately fashioned into various shapes. The procession will be advanced in the streets during the day while at night, religious rites will be observed. Later, the boats will be illuminated and launched into Mekhong river.