Uttaradit
Odorless durian capital (Longlaplae/Linlaplae varieties), Sirikit Dam (Thailand's largest earth dam, 250 km² reservoir), tin/tungsten/gold mining.
Uttaradit grows durian that doesn't smell. Laplae District produces Longlaplae and Linlaplae varieties—named for the district—that lack the "offensive odour" that divides durian lovers from haters. The province holds an annual durian festival each June; approximately 20,000 tonnes grow across 10,600 acres of orchards. Beyond durian, rice and langsat round out agricultural production.
The Queen Sirikit Dam—Thailand's largest earth dam—impounds a 250-square-kilometer reservoir 45 kilometers north of the provincial capital. Built in 1978, the dam controls flooding, generates hydropower, and supports fishing and recreation. The province also mines tin, tungsten, and gold; small industrial zones produce textiles, furniture, and electronic components.
Location isolates Uttaradit from central Thailand's economic integration. The province lacks major highways and rail connections that link Chiang Mai or Khon Kaen to Bangkok supply chains. Eco-tourism development aims to monetize natural resources—waterfalls, forests, Sirikit reservoir—without industrializing. By 2026, Uttaradit's niche remains specialty agriculture and dam-generated power rather than manufacturing or services.