Udon Thani (Thai: อุดรธานี) is a city in the north-east of Thailand (Isan). It has a population of 142,670. Geographical location 17°25′N, 102°45′E and is approximately 560 km from Bangkok. Udon is also the capital of Udon Thani Province, and is a major commercial center in northern Isan. It is the site of a Voice of America relay station alleged to have been a CIA black site.
The city became a bustling support center for the nearby Udon Royal Thai Air Force Base during the Vietnam War, and so retains reminders of that time, with bars, coffee shops, and hotels. 47 km east of Udon Thani is Thailand's premier Bronze Age excavation at Ban Chiang, the world-renowned archaeological site. Although there is little attraction to see in the city for most travellers, there are a few quite interesting temples.
Asia Pacific Resources, a wholly owned subsidiary of Italian-Thai Development PLC, owns the concession to the Udon Thani potash mines and plans to develop them. According to press reports, Udo Thani has enough potash to mine 2 million tonnes per year for 25 years. Potash is one of the main components in fertilizer.