Ban Dung District

Ban Dung
บ้านดุง
Amphoe

300

Shrine in Sri Sut Tho

Amphoe location in Udon Thani Province
Coordinates: 17°42′4″N 103°15′35″E / 17.70111°N 103.25972°ECoordinates: 17°42′4″N 103°15′35″E / 17.70111°N 103.25972°E
Country  Thailand
Province Udon Thani
Tambon 13
Muban 159
Amphoe established 1959
Government
 • District head officer Paitoon Chitsuttipon (นายไพฑูรย์ จิตต์สุทธิผล )
Area
 • Total 923.768 km2 (356.669 sq mi)
Population (2013)
 • Total 124,812
 • Density 133.2/km2 (345/sq mi)
Time zone THA (UTC+7)
Postal code 41190
Geocode 4111

Ban Dung (Thai: บ้านดุง) is a district (Amphoe) in the northeastern part of Udon Thani Province, northeastern Thailand.

Geography

Neighboring districts are (from the south clockwise) Thung Fon, Phibun Rak, Phen and Sang Khom of Udon Thani Province, Phon Phisai and Fao Rai of Nong Khai Province, and Ban Muang, Charoen Sin and Sawang Daen Din of Sakon Nakhon Province.

A view of Nong Pla Tao from the far side of Bnadung
Nong Pla Tao

To the North of Ban Dung Is a large expanse of Marsh and open water called Nong Pla Tao.

The major river is the Songkhram, which marks the boundary of the district to the east.

Climate

Rainfall is unpredictable, but is concentrated in the rainy season from May to October. The rainy season begins with occasional short but heavy showers, eventually raining very heavily for longer periods almost every day, usually in the late afternoon or at night, until it ends abruptly at the onset of the cool season.

Climate data for Ban Dung
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 29
(84)		 31
(88)		 34
(93)		 35
(95)		 33
(91)		 32
(90)		 32
(90)		 31
(88)		 31
(88)		 31
(88)		 30
(86)		 28
(82)		 31.4
(88.6)
Average low °C (°F) 15
(59)		 18
(64)		 21
(70)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 25
(77)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 22
(72)		 19
(66)		 16
(61)		 21.3
(70.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 5
(0.2)		 19
(0.75)		 36
(1.42)		 82
(3.23)		 219
(8.62)		 231
(9.09)		 221
(8.7)		 276
(10.87)		 253
(9.96)		 84
(3.31)		 8
(0.31)		 3
(0.12)		 1,437
(56.58)
Source: Weatherbase [1]

The other seasons are the cool season from October to February, when the people sit outside around fires in the evenings, and the hot season from February to May with its sudden peak of high temperatures in April.

History

The minor district (King Amphoe) Ban Dung was established on May 16, 1959, when three subdistricts were split off from Nong Han district.[2] It was upgraded to a full district on July 16, 1963.[3]

Administration

Central administration

The district Ban Dung is subdivided into 13 subdistricts (Tambon), which are further subdivided into 159 administrative villages (Muban).[4]

No. Name Thai Villages Pop.[5]
1.Si Sutthoศรีสุทโธ1214,571
2.Ban Dungบ้านดุง1813,756
3.Dong Yenดงเย็น86,720
4.Phon Sungโพนสูง1711,160
5.Om Koอ้อมกอ108,568
6.Ban Chanบ้านจันทน์1814,277
7.Ban Chaiบ้านชัย98,615
8.Na Maiนาไหม1310,232
9.Thon Na Lapถ่อนนาลับ85,272
10.Wang Thongวังทอง96,252
11.Ban Muangบ้านม่วง148,584
12.Ban Tatบ้านตาด106,987
13.Na Khamนาคำ139,818

Local administration

There is one town (Thesaban Mueang) in the district:

There are 12 subdistrict administrative organizations (SAO) in the district:

Central Government Agencies

Has 114 beds and 10 doctors.
Has 14 officers and 79 Non-commissioned officers
Has 10 officers and 25 Non-commissioned officers

State enterprises and organizations

Local Education

Culture

The culture has much in common with that of the neighboring country of Laos. This affinity is shown in the cuisine, dress and temple architecture.

Food

The food is distinct from Thai and Lao cuisines, but has elements in common with each. The most obvious characteristics are the use of sticky rice that accompanies almost every meal rather than plain rice, as well as fiery chiles. Popular dishes include papaya salad and grilled chicken.

Religion

As in the rest of Thailand, the population is almost exclusively Theravada Buddhist, although this is combined with elements of animism and in rural areas there are pockets of Christianity. Overall within the district 91.13 per cent are Buddhist with Catholics representing 8.87 per cent. Within the amphoer there are currently 104 Budhist temples and 7 Catholic churches located in the villages of Phon Sung, Ban Thung Kwang Patana, Ban Non Sombun, Ban Pak Dong. Sri Wattana and Sri Sut Tho and 1 Protestant church also in Sri Sut Tho .

Media

In common with may other districts Ban Dung has its own local Radio Station which broadcasts on FM 103 MHz. All the broadcasts are in Thai.

Economy

The average income per year in Ban Dung was 42,023 baht per person in 2011 with the majority of people being farmers . However there is an increasing number of people employed in the Retail and building trades as the town continues to increase in size with a steady influx of people moving into Ban Dung including a significant number of ex-pats and their spouses.

Farming

The major crop grown is rice with 259,066 rai being cultivated by 13,708 people out of a total farming area of 327,480 rai . There was also 15,667 rai of rubber under cultivation, 550 Rai of Palm Oil and 1,445 Rai used for Rock Salt extraction. Other crops included maize, cassava, eucalyptus, sugar cane and various fruit and vegetables. Other farming activities included the rearing of Buffalo, Cattle, Pigs and chickens with a small number of people raising fish in lakes or ponds.

Water Buffalo
Water Buffalo

Water buffalo are a regular feature being walked to and from the fields at dawn and dusk. Although rarely used nowadays for working the land, they are considered an important status symbol.


Retail

The retail sector plays a large part in the local economy and in addition to its two large Markets Ban Dung also has two Tesco Lotus's, two 7-Elevens, nine Gold Shops, seven Motorcycle retail outlets, two Car Sales Show rooms, Eleven Karaoke Bars, five Hotels, and over twenty resort Hotels. It also has many other shops ranging from Internet cafes and Farang Bars to Agricultural supplies.

OTOP

There are various products produced in the Tambons under the OTOP ( One Tambon One Product) scheme. These include textile dyeing, silk weaving, knitwear products, woven reed mats, mattress and pillows, woven blankets, shampoo and local herbs.

Salt production

Salt Bags
Salt production

The salt making area around Ban Dung has produced salts for industrial purposes for more than 25 years. The production method used as in many other places in N.E. Thailand is called solution mining. The mining is done by local co-operative groups.

Refined salt for domestic use is made by evaporating salt water in large open vats using ovens with Rice Husks used as the fuel source . This method produces very clean, fine grained salt in which the Impurities are removed during cooking. Traditionally, the stove used in salt making was wood-fueled. Latterly wood has become more expensive prompting a shift to rice hull stoves. The abundance of rice hulls has made it economically feasible to reprocess the salt and is a renewable source of fuel. The residue Rice Hull Ash(RHA)is then sold back to the farmers who use as a fertilizer.

Places of Interest

Bridge to Kham Chanot Shrine
Kham Chanot

Approximately 10k from Ban dung Wat Kham Chanot is said to be an entrance to the water world, a legendary place where the Naga, a mythical large snake often suggested to have seven heads is supposed to live . Covering an area of over 20 rai of land it is nothing but an islet surrounded by water teeming with dense palm trees called Chanot.


The Pagoda and Temple host relics of the Lord Buddha brought from India on May 1, 2000A.D.

Pagoda at Ban Dong Sawan

The Bones and Possessions of the Ajahn Luang Pu reside here and is a sacred place for many Buddhists.


The Voice of America headquarters for South East Asia is situated 2 miles out of Ban Dung on highway 2022. Many 500 kW shortwave transmitters are installed here. Call sign: Udon Thani

Transportation

The town is situated adjacent to the intersection of highway 2022 with highway 2096.

Buses

Pick Up Bus
Pick Up Bus

Essential local services are provided by songthaew truck and pickup truck buses, while regional and long distance destinations are served by regular buses from Udon Thani.

There are two main public buses both start at the central bus station in Udon Thani. One bus route goes via Highway 22 and then turns left at Nong Mek along highway 2096 to Ban Dung( Kham Takla bus route ). The other Bus route goes via Highway 2 before turning right at Ban Na Kha along highway 2256 to the Sum Sao intersection and then along highway 2022 to Ban Dung ( Bueng Kan Bus route). Both run at regular intervals.

Long distance 'VIP' First Class buses operate from opposite the Police Station and run nightly to Bangkok. There are also direct night buses to and from Pattaya.


References

  1. ↑ "Weatherbase: Weather for Udon Thani, Thailand". Weatherbase. 2011. Retrieved on November 22, 2011.
  2. ↑ ประกาศกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง ยกฐานะตำบลขึ้นเป็นกิ่งอำเภอ. Royal Gazette (in Thai) 76 (53 ง): 1368–1369. 1959-05-19.
  3. ↑ พระราชกฤษฎีกาตั้งอำเภอบ่อพลอย อำเภอไทรโยค อำเภอหนองเรือ อำเภอหนองสองห้อง อำเภอประทาย อำเภอห้วยแถลง อำเภอละหานทราย อำเภอกุยบุรี อำเภอตาพระยา อำเภอหนองไผ่ อำเภอนาเชือก อำเภอวัดเพลง อำเภอพนัสนิคม อำเภอภูกระดึง อำเภอปรางค์กู่ อำเภอท่าช้าง อำเภอบ้านด่านลานหอย อำเภอบ้านดง อำเภอสว่างอารมณ์ และอำเภอกุดชุม พ.ศ. ๒๕๐๖. Royal Gazette (in Thai) 80 (72 ก): 362. 1963-07-16.
  4. ↑ Bandung Administrative website
  5. ↑ "Population statistics 2013" (in Thai). Department of Provincial Administration. Retrieved 2014-12-18.

External links