town, northeastern Thailand. Nakhon Phanom is a commercial centre lying along the Mekong River opposite Thakhek, Laos; it is linked by road to Udon Thani (west), Ubon Ratchathani (south), and Laos and has an airport with scheduled domestic flights. An infertile sandy loam that retains little moisture makes agriculture difficult in much of the surrounding area. There are, however, strips of fertile land along the Mekong and its tributaries. Rice is the main crop. Pop. (1992 est.) 28,869.