Why should you go there and how do you do it right?

Come for the river as well as the shopping. A long, covered promenade lined with stalls stretches along the Mekong in Nong Khai. The water is right in front of you as you browse clothing, handicrafts, and souvenirs. This unique atmosphere sets the market apart from your average provincial market.

The selection of goods meets expectations: everyday clothing, Thai trinkets, and the usual souvenirs at local prices. I would consider shopping more of a bonus and instead focus on the street food stalls and wandering the streets rather than sitting down somewhere. The area is busiest in the late afternoon, although it's cooler in the morning and the stalls are still well-stocked. It gets humid under the covered but open walkway at midday, so dress accordingly.

Many of the people who end up here are on their way to or from the Friendship Bridge to Laos, and it's a good place to kill a few hours at a border crossing, rather than serving as a destination in its own right.