History

Excavations at Phu Lon in Nong Khai province have revealed accumulations of copper ore, stone tools for processing the ore, ceramic moulds for casting, and prehistoric pottery. Radiocarbon dating of charcoal associated with these finds shows that the mining and working of the ore took place starting nearly 3,000 years ago. The archaeological evidence from this site and others around the province seem to indicate that the mining was seasonal or intermittent, but that it continued over a very long period of time.

In 1826 AD, Prince Anuwong, the ruler of Vientiane, Laos, finally rebelled against the rule of the Thai government during the reign of King Rama III, in the Rattanakosin era. He assembled an army and captured Thai people along the border with his homeland and brought them back to Vientiane. To defeat this rebellion, Prince Suwaarthamma dispatched troops from Yasothon Province to help the troops from Bangkok. At last, the Thai troops conquered the ruler of Vientiane and captured him. King Rama III gave Prince Suwaarthamma a reward, allowing him to select from four locations for the construction of a town. He decided to establish a site in Ban Phai, called Nong Khai city, in 1827 AD.

In 1886 the province was the scene of the Haw Chinese tribal rebellion and there is now a monument to commemorate those who died suppressing the rebels.

In 1891AD, Nong Khai was the old precinct of an ethnic Laotian group called Lao Praun. Until 1893 they immigrated to establish a new precinct in Ban Mak Kang. After the invasion of French troops, the French expropriated the area on the left side of the Mekong river bank. Later in 1897 Udon precinct was founded in Ban Mak Kang, and Nong Khai became one part of the precinct. After the precinct system was abolished in 1933, Nong Khai was separated from Udon precinct and established as a separate province.

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