What Is the Largest City in Thailand?

Bangkok is the largest city in Thailand. With a metropolitan population of fourteen million people, around 20% of all Thais live here. It is an Asian powerhouse, larger than all other Southeast Asian capitals except Jakarta, Indonesia. 

Despite Bangkok’s gravity as the centre of Thailand’s national economy, other provincial capitals are also dense and fascinating. Khon Kaen is a rising star in Thailand’s east, and is now in the top five largest cities in the country. 

Visitors needing a car rental in Khon Kaen can turn to Drive Car Rental. Our location is just two km from the airport. Below is some additional information about Bangkok and Khon Kaen’s status as an up-and-coming economic hub. 

Thailand’s Beating Heart

They say New York is the city that never sleeps, but whoever said this has clearly never visited Bangkok. Night markets don’t even open until the sun goes down, and that’s when the city truly comes alive. 

Bangkok’s place on the international stage is a large one. Towering skyscrapers are everywhere you look. Major global brands have offices here, and they use Thailand as a manufacturing hub thanks to its fantastic infrastructure and positioning between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. 

Factories dot the suburbs of Bangkok in every direction, all the way to Pattaya in the southeast and Hua Hin in the southwest. These factories aren’t simply for local production. They churn out products destined for cities around the world. 

All of the money from these factories goes to Bangkok then makes its way into Thailand’s financial system. From here, the wealth spreads to the provinces as workers send their paychecks home to their families. This has resulted in several provincial capitals experiencing a population boom. One such capital is Khon Kaen. 

The Rise of an Eastern Thai Giant

Much like the central US, the eastern half of Thailand is dominated almost entirely by agriculture. Thailand is one of the world’s largest rice exporters, and most of the county’s rice is grown in this region. In order for these goods to make their way to other countries, they need to reach the coastal ports of Bangkok and Pattaya. 

Enter the Thai railway system. In 1933, Khon Kaen received its first train station. This instantly propelled it to the top of the region. All those agricultural goods now had to be sent first to Khon Kaen for distribution to the south. 

With the arrival of Highway 2 in 1955, Khon Kaen became further connected to Thailand’s economy. Trucks from around eastern Thailand would pass through Khon Kaen, further cementing its importance. 

In modern times, Khon Kaen has seen an economic surge thanks to government initiatives such as the Smart City plan. It is also increasingly seen as a medical and educational hub for Eastern Thailand. Khon Kaen University is one of the most prestigious in Thailand. Prospective graduates can study an array of subjects, though most of the focus is on medicine and agriculture. 

Why Visit Khon Kaen?

There are several things to do in Khon Kaen. It has a rich cultural history dating back more than a thousand years–millions of years, if you count the dinosaur fossils found in the nearby hills. 

The city’s most famous landmark is arguably Phra Mahathat Kaen Nakhon. This nine-tiered stupa dominates the skyline near the Bueng Kaen Nakhon Reservoir. Around the reservoir are other cultural sites, such as museums and parks. Sunset from the eastern shore looking west is an especially popular spot. 

Ninety minutes to the east of the city is Phu Wiang National Park. This site is home to numerous ongoing paleontological digs for dinosaur bones. Travellers can see several specimens still in the ground being carefully excavated by hand over months and years. 

Let Drive Car Rental Take You

Drive Car Rental has locations throughout Thailand’s major airports and provincial capitals, and Khon Kaen is no exception. Our airport location is just two km from the arrivals hall. 

We offer a fleet of vehicles of all types, from family sedans to SUVs–even electric cars from Tesla and BYD. Book early to get the best rates and guarantee you drive away in the vehicle you want. 

To save even more money, long-stay tourists, expats, and business travellers can rent our vehicles on a monthly or even yearly basis. This saves the headache of purchasing and selling a car, and it’s vastly cheaper than the small fortune you’ll pay in taxi fare. Browse our full selection today and choose the car that’s right for you!