Nakhon Phanom is a town (thesaban mueang) in northeastern Thailand, capital of the Nakhon Phanom Province. The town covers the whole tambon Nai Mueang and Nong Saeng and parts of tambon At Samat and Nong Yat, all of Mueang Nakhon Phanom district. As of 2006 it has a population of 27,591.The town is home to Nakhon Phanom University, formed in 2005 by the merger of several local schools inlcuding the former Nakhon Phanom Rajabhat University.Nakhon Phanom is located at the banks of the Mekong river, about 580 km northeast from Bangkok. Across the Mekong river is the Laotian town Thakhek. The town is served by the Nakhon Phanom Airport.