Roi Et is a province in the lower Northeast.  It is the land of Thung Kula Rong Hai that was formerly regarded as a wasteland.  However, it is now one of the sources of high-quality rice in the country.

   Roi Et has an area of about 8,299 square kilometres, consisting of the  following districts:  Muang, Thawat Buri, Selaphum, Phon Thong, Nong Phok, At samat, Phanom Phrai, Chaturaphak Phiman, Kaset Wisai, Suwannaphum, Pathum Rat, Pho Chai, Muang Suang, Phon Sai, Moei Wadi, Si Somdet, Chang Han, Chiang Khwan, Nong Hi and Thung Khao Luang.

ATTRACTIONS

AMPHOE MUANG

   Bung Phlan Chai  is a large lake with an island in the middle.  The lake is regarded as the symbol of Roi Et.  The area has a public park and is the site of the city shrine.

   Wat Klang MIng Muang  is an old temple on a hill in the town.  The convocation hall was built in the late Ayutthaya period.  The outer wall has a mural on the life of Lord Buddha.  In the old days the temple was the site of a pledge of allegiance to the king.

   Wat Sa Thong  is where Luang Pho Sang Katchai is located.  This revered Buddha image was discovered by Phraya Khattiya Wongsa, the first lord of Roi Et, in 1782.  He then brought the image to the temple and made it the province's main image.  Government officials were once obliged to swear in front of the image every year.

   Wat Burapha Phiram  has the tallest Buddha image in the giving  blessing posture in Thailand.  This is another provincial symbol.  The image is called Phra Phuttha Ratta Mongkhon Maha Muni, or called Luang Pho Yai by locals.  The 67-metrehigh image is concrete with reinforced steel.  The base is a museum.  To the west is an old city moat where the revered Chao Pho Mahesak Shrine is located.

AMPHOE THAWAT BURI

   Prang Ku  is at Ban Yang Ku, Tambon Ma-i.  To get there, take the Roi Et-Phon Thong Road (Highway No. 2044)  for 8  kilometres.  This medical centre of the Khmer period was built in the 18th Buddhist century and comprises a main pagoda, a wall, a doorway, and a pool outside the wall.  The artefacts displayed here include a sand stone lintel that was once above the doorway of the main pagoda, door columns and a lotus-shaped top part of the pagoda.

AMPHOE KASET WISAI

   Ku Ka Sing   can be reached via 2 ways.  One way is by taking a branch road off the Kaset Wisai-Suwannaphum road for 10 kilometres.  The other is by taking the Roi Et-Surin route to Ku Phra Ko Na and then a right-hand road  for 18 kilometres.  Ku Ka Sing is a large Khmer structure built in the 16th Buddhist century. It consists of 3 pagodas on the same base.  This base has elaborate designs.  Many statues and lintels are kept in the province's museum.

AMPHOE SUWANNAPHUM

   Ku Phra Ko Na  is in Tambon Sa Khu, 60 kilometres from Amphoe Muang on the Roi Et-Suwannaphum-Suring route.  The site is 3 brick pagodas on a sandstone base lined from north to south.  A wall and a doorway are also present.  Estimated to have been built in the 16th Buddhist century, much of the pagoda had been altered.  There used to exist a lintel, a Naga bridge and sheltered walkway leading to the pool nearby.

   Thung Kula Rong Hai   used to be an expansive, dry, harsh place in the middle of the region.  It covers 5 provinces which are Roi Et, Surin, Buri Ram,  Yasothon, and Maha Sarakham.  One-third of the area is in Roi Et.  There is a legend that says the Kula people were traders in ancient times who were also great fighters with excellent stamina.  However, they cried when they got to Thung Kula Rong Hai because it was such a desolate place without water and big trees.  Nowadays  the area is fertile due to the efforts of the government to develop it and is suitable for agriculture.  The development centre is 6 kilometres from the district office, a bit past Ku Phra Ko Na.

   Pha Nam Yoi Forest Park  is at Ban Khok Klang, northeast of Nong Phok district office.  To get there, take Highway No. 2044 and  2136  for 62 kilometres.  The park has a steep cliff that rises about 200 metres.  Water seeps down the entire year.  The area is a thick jungle teeming with wildlife.

   Northeastern Botany in Literature Park  is in Tambon Pha Nam Yoi, 85 kilometres from Yasothon.  Plants here are from Thai literature like Phra Wetsandon and Lilit Phra Lo.  There are also herbs categorized according to their medicinal attributes.

EVENTS

   Khao Pun Bun Phawet Fair  is held every March 1-2 at Bung Phlan  Chai. Many Buddhists attend this merit-making ceremony.  The main activity is the sermon by monks on Maha Wetsandon Chadok.  A procession on the tale is must-see event, as are the cultural performances.  There are shops selling local products, particularly Khao Pun (or Khanom Chin as known in the Central region).

   Boat Races  are at Bung Phlan Chai in December.  Teams actively compete in pageants and contests.

LOCAL PRODUCTS

   Ban Wai Lum in Thawat Buri is a centre for silk with colorful and exquisite patterns.  The source for Khaen (a northeastern musical instrument) is Ban Si Kaeo in Amphoe Muang.  These products can be purchased from the local handicrafts sales centre in front of the provincial hall or city stores.  Roi Et is also famous for pork products such as sausages and dried pork, all of which can be bought in the city.