Monuments to visit Thailand

This 47-storey skyscraper was intended to house a condominium, but its construction was halted by the financial crisis in 1997. Now 80% complete, the building is a popular site for urban explorers who climb to its summit. Beware, however: this is private property and it is totally illegal to enter. Dangers abound, and your safety is far from guaranteed. Nevertheless, it's a sight to behold... from below!

The Old Phatthalung Palace, also known as Wang Gao, consists of 3 adjacent teak houses filled with antiques, which are worth visiting. Nearby is the New Phatthalung Palace (Wang Mai) built in brick and stucco in the 19th century. To finish, a walk around the Lam Pam lagoon, particularly popular with locals at sunset. Irrawaddy (pink) dolphins can sometimes be seen there! A floating market takes place at the weekend.

Built on top of a hill in the centre of the city, the Rattanarangsan Palace (or throne room) was completed in 2015. It is a replica of a structure originally built on the same site to accommodate King Chulalongkorn on his 1890 tour of the Malay Peninsula. Guided tour in English. There is a wealth of information on the history of Ranong as well as photos of the original palace and antiques. After visiting the palace, it is advisable to climb to the top of Khao Nives to enjoy the panorama.

Located on the banks of the Mekong River, this picturesque covered market is spread over two lanes. It stands on the site of the former governor's house. The adjoining harbour was once known as "the governor's jetty". Over the years, trade developed here and the area became a thriving market, mainly for products from Indochina and Eastern Europe. The pier was later renamed Tha Sadet. Today, it's where local people cross the river between Thailand and Laos.