Tohsang Khongjiam — A Mekong River Balcony with Laos on the Far Bank
If you are planning a trip to the far eastern edge of Isan — to Khong Chiam, where the Mun River meets the Mekong and creates the famous "Two Colour River" — the name that comes up most among travellers who have made the drive is Tohsang Khongjiam Resort & Spa. The resort sits on a bluff above the Mekong, every room turned toward the water with the mountains of Laos forming the backdrop. What guests mention again and again is the room balcony where you can sip morning coffee and watch the sun come up over the river, and Cafe de Khong on the cliff edge, where at night you can see the lights of Lao villages flickering far across the water.
Tohsang Khongjiam is part of the Tohsang group and has anchored Khong Chiam for more than two decades. The resort is laid out across a bluff above the Mekong with 55 rooms and villas — a main river-view building plus a scatter of villas dropping down toward the bank. The design pulls Thai, Khmer and Balinese influences into one place: high pitched roofs, dark timber, fretwork screens and green gardens wrapping the buildings. Almost every room has a balcony facing the river, which is the detail guests keep returning to in reviews — you open the curtains in the morning and the Mekong and the Laos mountains fill the window.
The main restaurant is Cafe de Khong, an open terrace that reaches out over the cliff with a panoramic view of the Mekong and the mountain ridge on the Laos side. The menu runs across Thai food, local Isan dishes and simple Western options. A number of reviews single out the fresh Mekong river fish and a terrace breakfast as a highlight of the whole trip. There is also a Sunset Bar that opens in the evening for a drink as the sun goes down, plus a small riverside café set apart near the Two Colour River viewpoint.
"Sat on the room balcony in the morning with a hot coffee, mist still hanging over the water, the Laos mountains right across — so quiet you could hear a fishing boat pass."
Tian Spa focuses on traditional Thai massage and herbal treatments, with rooms open to the breeze off the river. The outdoor pool sits on the edge of the bluff, so you look out at the Mekong while you swim, with a pavilion bar and sun loungers alongside. In the late afternoon the pool deck and riverside lawn become the gathering point for sunset, since the resort faces exactly the direction where the last light of the day lands on the water.
The character of the place is in the river activities. The resort runs Mekong cruises to see the Two Colour River and the life along both banks, along with kayaking, cycling around Baan Huay Mak Tay village, Isan cooking classes, and an early-morning trip to watch the sunrise from Pha Taem. Many guests choose to stay two nights so there is time to do these properly rather than just passing through for a single sleep.
What to know before booking — Khong Chiam is about 75 km from Ubon city, roughly a 90-minute drive, and almost 90 km from Ubon Ratchathani Airport. This is genuinely a destination resort: there are no convenience stores or a strip of restaurants to wander to nearby. Some reviews note that food prices inside the resort run higher than restaurants in town, and that hot water can be slow to arrive in some rooms in the morning. If you do not have your own car, arrange a transfer with the resort in advance.
On price, a river-view Deluxe room starts around ฿2,800–3,200/night on weekdays including breakfast, while a riverside or Pool Villa rises to ฿5,000–8,000 depending on the dates. During the cool-season high season (November–January), when the air is crisp and the morning mist sits beautifully on the river, rooms fill quickly — especially over long weekends — so book at least 3–4 weeks ahead.
The bottom line: Tohsang Khongjiam suits travellers who want a quiet stay on the Mekong and a base for Pha Taem, the Two Colour River and Kaeng Tana National Park. You get a riverside resort setting that is genuinely hard to find in southern Isan, at a reasonable price — in exchange for a long drive and no urban convenience on the doorstep. For the best view, choose an upper-floor room on the river side, or if the budget stretches, a villa closest to the bank.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ River and Laos-mountain views are stunning from every room
- ✓ Genuinely quiet and restful setting
- ✓ Friendly, attentive local staff
- ✓ Convenient base for Pha Taem and the Two Colour River
- ! Far from Ubon city — you need a car
- ! Resort food prices higher than restaurants in town
- ! Hot water slow to arrive in some rooms in the morning
- ✓ Room balcony to watch the sunrise over the river every morning
- ✓ Hillside pool looks out at the Mekong while you swim
- ✓ River cruises and kayaking arranged for you, no hunting around
- ✓ Thai-Khmer-Balinese design gives it real character
- ! Approach road is narrow in places — take care driving at night
- ! Wi-Fi signal weak in some spots given the remote location
- ! In the dry season the water level drops and the river view changes
- 💡If you do not have a car — Khong Chiam is ~75 km from Ubon city with no convenient public transport → arrange a resort transfer from the airport or town in advance, or rent a car and drive yourself
- 💡If you want a full river view — specify a River View room on an upper floor when booking → some room types face the garden or have the view partly blocked by trees
- 💡If you want to see the Two Colour River clearly — the colour contrast is sharpest in late rainy/early cool season (Oct–Dec) → in the dry season the water clears and drops, and the colour difference fades, so time your visit