Thao Suranari Monument (Ya Mo)

Treat this as a place of worship and you'll get far more out of it. The bronze figure at the center is Khunying Mo, the 19th-century heroine who rallied Korat's citizens against a Lao invasion, and the people of this city have never stopped thanking her. Ya Mo, they call her. Locals arrive with flowers and incense, and traditional dancers perform in front of the statue as an act of devotion rather than a show for tourists.

The setting helps. Ceremonial gates frame the monument, a long reflecting pool runs alongside it, and the square is kept tidy enough that a slow wander is genuinely pleasant. It sits right in the middle of the city, so it works well slotted between other stops rather than as a destination in its own right. If you can time a visit for late March or April, the annual Thao Suranari Festival fills the whole area with ceremonies and crowds from across the region.