The tourism season has opened at "Hat Hae," the Isan Sea in Nakhon Phanom Province, transforminga crisisof drought — with the Mekong River water level dropping — into a source of income that circulates through the community economy, generating hundreds of thousands of baht daily.
On 25 Feb 2026 GMT+7, reporters described the atmosphere at the tourist site of the sandbar beach in the middle of the Mekong River, located in Nam Kam Subdistrict, That Phanom District, Nakhon Phanom, locally known as "Hat Hae." Tourists are becoming lively after the annual opening during the dry season when the Mekong's water level drops.
Locals collectively allocate space and set up more than 200–300 bamboo stalls for shops and restaurants. They also offer equipment rentals for water activities such as jet skiing.Banana boat rides are also available.As for food, there is a wide variety of Thai-Isan dishes along with all kinds of drinks, earning it the name 'Isan Sea.' This creates a vibrant economy, circulating money within the community and establishing the area as an important commercial and tourist spot for cooling off in Nakhon Phanom Province.
Additionally, it lies along the same route as Wat Phra That Phanom Woramahawihan in That Phanom District, Nakhon Phanom, allowing locals and tourists to relax after paying respects and praying at the temple. This has led to lively trade extending through Songkran until the Mekong's water levels rise, with daily economic turnover reaching hundreds of thousands of baht, especially on Saturdays and Sundays when activity peaks.
When asked, Thongfa, a restaurant owner, revealed that the highlight of Hat Hae, aside from free boat rides to the beach, is its wide variety of dishes, including Mekong River fish with a guaranteed delicious taste. It is also a safe and clean place to cool off, as Hat Hae consists of gravel over sand without deep channels, allowing swimming at all points, making it suitableforparents to bring their children for water play. Complete water activity equipment is also available, inviting everyone to visit Hat Hae, the Isan Sea of Nakhon Phanom.