While Khon Kaen is a reletively young city, which was established in 1789 during the reign of King Rama I, the province of Khon Kaen has a very long history. Relics found in the area indicate that the province was the home to giant dinosaurs, the first dinosaur remains found in Thailand were ciscovered in Phu Wiang a short distance from Khon Kaen city.

Geographically, Khon Kaen plays an important role at the centre of the Northeast region and is the de facto capital of Isaan (Northeast Thailand). Khon Kaen province occupies an area of 10,885 square kilometres, divided into 20 Amhoes and 5 King Amphoes. Khon Kaen is a regional center for financial institutions, government offices and transportation. The city is also an industrial center, particularly for the region's silk trade where in Amphoe Chonnabot excellent Mudmee silk is delicately woven by hand using tie-dye techniques.

Khon Kaen is the venue for many seminars and regional conferences and has played host to the Asean Regional Forum and United Nations meetings. It is also a center of education with a number of colleges and universities including Rajamangala University and Khon Kaen University (the largest university in the Northeast), with a student population in excess of 20,000.

The city continues to grow as it is the center of the East West Economic Corridor (EWEC) and this is leading to new developments in and around the city. Central Group are to open the largest shopping center in the north of Thailand in December 2009 and a new 5* hotel is expected to be developed on Pracha Samosorn road in the near future.

Bueng Kaen Nakhon	City Pillar	Phra That Kham Kaen