Ban Dung District

Ban Dung บ้านดุง
—  Amphoe  —
Shrine in Sri Sut Tho
Amphoe location in Udon Thani Province
Coordinates: 17°42′4″N 103°15′35″E
Country	Thailand
Province	Udon Thani
Tambon	13
Muban	140
Amphoe established	1959
Government
• District head officer	Manit Phianthong (มานิต เพียรทอง)
Area
• Total	923.768 km2 (356.669 sq mi)
Population (2010)
• Total	123,227
• 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.

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.

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. It was upgraded to a full district on July 16 1963.

Administration

Provincial Government

The district is subdivided into 13 subdistricts (tambon), which are further subdivided into 140 villages (muban). Ban Dung is a town (thesaban mueang) which covers parts of the subdistrict Ban Dung and the whole subdistrict Si Suttho. The town is subdivided into 34 communities (chumchon). There are further 12 Tambon administrative organizations (TAO).

No.	Name	Thai	Villages	Inh.
01.	Si Suttho	ศรีสุทโธ	12	14,708
02.	Ban Dung	บ้านดุง	18	13,414
03.	Dong Yen	ดงเย็น	08	06,558
04.	Phon Sung	โพนสูง	17	10,937
05.	Om Ko	อ้อมกอ	10	08,424
06.	Ban Chan	บ้านจันทน์	18	14,159
07.	Ban Chai	บ้านชัย	09	08,426
08.	Na Mai	นาไหม	13	10,066
09.	Thon Na Lap	ถ่อนนาลับ	08	05,208
10.	Wang Thong	วังทอง	09	06,212
11.	Ban Muang	บ้านม่วง	14	08,494
12.	Ban Tat	บ้านตาด	10	06,930
13.	Na Kham	นาคำ	13	09,691

Central Government Agencies

• Crown Prince Hospital Ban Dung
• Ban Dung Police
• Dong Yen Police
• Forest Protection Unit
• Ban Dung District Revenue
• Ban Dung Arboretum

Local Government

• Municipal Administration Ban Dung
• Administration Organization Ban Dung
• Administrative Organization Dong Yen
• Administrative Organization Phon Sung
• Administrative Organization Om Ko
• Administrative Organization Ban Chan
• Administration Organization Ban Chai
• Administrative Organization Na Kham
• Administration Organization Na Thon Lab
• Administration Organization Wang Thong
• Administration Organization Ban Muang
• Administrative Organizations Ban Tat
• Administrative Organizations Na Kham

State enterprises and organizations

• Electricity Authority
• Water Supply Authority
• Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Co-operatives
• Government Savings Bank

Local Education

• 5 Secondary schools
• 71 Elementary School
• 6 private schools
• 1 Technical School

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. There are Christian churches in the Villages of Phon Sung where the majority of the population is catholic , Si Wattana and Si Sut Tho.

Media

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

Economy

The average income per year in Ban Dung was 50,173 baht per person per year in 2009 with the majority of people being farmers . The major crop grown is rice with 271,213 rai being cultivated by 13,708 people out of a total farming area of 322,991 rai . There was also 20,462 rai of rubber under cultivation. 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 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.

Salt production

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 became 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.

Places of Interest

• Wat Kham Chanot

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.

• Voice of America

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

Essential local services are provided by songthew 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 Bandung. The other Bus route goes via Highway two before turning right at Ban Na Kha along highway 2256 to the Sum Sao intersection and then along highway 2022 to Ban Dung. Both run at run at regular intervals.

Long distance 'VIP' First Class buses operate from opposite the Police Station and run nightly to Bangkok.

External links

• amphoe.com
• www.amphoebandung.com
• www.bandunglife.info