“A 2-story aquarium building featuring a 16-meter glass tunnel, showcasing a variety of freshwater fish species and more than 24 ornamental fish tanks.”
Roi Et Municipal Aquarium is one of the key freshwater ecosystem learning centers in northeastern Thailand. It is designed as both a family-friendly tourist attraction and an environmental education hub, focusing on creating an immersive “simulated underwater world” experience that visitors can closely engage with.The building is a two-story structure with a systematic layout. The ground floor serves as the main exhibition area, designed for visitors to walk around the building through a continuous series of transparent glass tanks installed along the walls. These tanks display a wide variety of freshwater fish, including native Thai species and economically important species such as carp, Nile tilapia, snakehead fish, and gouramis, as well as various ornamental fish. Each tank is carefully designed as a miniature ecosystem with aquatic plants, rocks, sand, and oxygenation systems to closely replicate natural habitats.
At the center of the building is a massive main aquarium tank filled with a large volume of water, housing giant freshwater species such as the Mekong giant catfish and other large native fish. Surrounding this central tank is a 16-meter-long underwater glass tunnel, which serves as the main viewing pathway. Visitors can observe fish swimming above and around them in a 180–360 degree panoramic view, creating the sensation of walking beneath a real river.In addition to the main exhibition zone, there are more than 20–24 smaller freshwater and ornamental fish tanks distributed throughout the facility. Each tank features different themes, including local species, rare fish, and economically significant species, allowing visitors to better understand Thailand’s aquatic biodiversity in a structured and engaging way.
The upper floor of the building functions as an operational and ecological support area. It includes water quality control rooms, large-scale recirculating filtration systems, and aquatic animal rehabilitation ponds. These systems are essential for maintaining water quality and ensuring the health of the fish, serving as the “backstage” infrastructure that keeps the entire aquarium running smoothly and safely.In terms of education, the aquarium is widely used as an off-site learning resource for students in the region. It also serves as a center for environmental awareness, particularly in freshwater conservation. Visitors can learn about aquatic food chains, ecological relationships, and the impacts of environmental changes on freshwater ecosystems.Overall, Roi Et Municipal Aquarium is more than just a tourist attraction—it is an experiential learning center that blends entertainment with environmental education. It is suitable for families, students, and anyone interested in freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity in Thailand.
How to Get There
- By car: Drive towards Suntorn Thep Road near Bueng Phalan Chai and Wat Bueng Phra Lan Chai. Once you reach the Bueng Phalan Chai area, you can park nearby and walk to the aquarium.
Travel Tips
- Drive into Roi Et city center heading to Bueng Phalan Chai.
- Use Suntorn Thep Road as the main route.
- Look for signs to Wat Bueng Phra Lan Chai and Bueng Phalan Chai.
- Parking is available around the Bueng Phalan Chai area.
- From the parking spot, it is a short and convenient walk to the aquarium.
Andmission Fee:
- Free admission. Donations are welcome to support aquarium maintenance and animal care.
Opening Hours:
- Tuesday – Sunday
- 08:30 AM – 04:30 PM
- (Closed on Mondays and public holidays)