Laem Phayom

Laem Phayom is a point of land on the eastern side of Bung Phon Thong, a roughly 700-rai reservoir in Phon Thong district, about 2 km from the district town and 40-50 km from Roi Et city itself. Entry is free and the site opens daily from 06:00 to 18:00. The reservoir doubles as a fish breeding and propagation area for the district, and Laem Phayom is the shoreline point locals treat as the picnic spot.

The reservoir sits on flat Isan farmland rather than in hills — there’s no mountain scenery here, just open water framed by rice paddies and scattered trees. Local families come to fish from the bank, and the site is one of Phon Thong’s main venues for Loy Krathong, when hundreds of floating lantern-candles drift across the water on the November full moon. During Songkran (13-15 April) it turns into a water-splashing spot for the district. Waterfowl work the shallows year-round, and the reservoir attracts a few migratory species outside the hot season.

Insider Tip: Go for Loy Krathong if your dates line up — Laem Phayom is one of the better places in Roi Et province to watch hundreds of krathong lit up on the water without a Bangkok-sized crowd.

Weekday mornings are quiet: a handful of anglers, maybe a few motorbikes parked near the entrance. Weekends and festival dates bring in families from Phon Thong and nearby villages. There’s no admission booth and no dress code — this is a local recreation ground, not a religious site.

Access is via the Phon Thong-Nong Pok road on the reservoir’s east side; there’s parking near the entrance but no public transport link, so you’ll need your own car, motorbike, or a hired ride from Phon Thong town. Bring sun protection and water — shade is limited along the open shoreline. Watch out: the banks can get slick after rain, so mind your footing if you’re walking right at the water’s edge.

Laem Phayom won’t fill a whole day, but it’s a genuine slice of rural Isan life — not a manufactured attraction — and pairs easily with a stop at Roi Et or a look at Bueng Phlan Chai, the city-centre lake back in Roi Et town.