Isaan
From Wikitravel
Isaan (อีสาน; also Isan, Isarn and even Esarn), Thailand's northeast, is an often overlooked area of this Southeast Asian country. There are no beaches to draw in the sun hungry crowds. However, Isaan is where Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand all meet. It is a multicultural area rich in history. A mainly agricultural region, Isaan is the poorest part of Thailand. There is a good chance that your tuk tuk driver in Bangkok hailed from Isaan originally, but went to the big city in search of work.
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Provinces
- 1 - Amnat Charoen
- 2 - Buriram
- 3 - Chaiyaphum
- 4 - Kalasin
- 5 - Khon Kaen
- 6 - Loei
- 7 - Maha Sarakham
- 8 - Mukdahan
- 9 - Nakhon Phanom
- 10 - Nakhon Ratchasima (also known as Korat)
- 11 - Nong Bua Lamphu
- 12 - Nong Khai
- 13 - Roi Et
- 14 - Sakon Nakhon
- 15 - Si Saket
- 16 - Surin
- 17 - Ubon Ratchathani
- 18 - Udon Thani
- 19 - Yasothon
Cities
- Khon Kaen
- Nakhon Ratchasima (also known as Korat)
- Nong Khai — the gateway to Laos
- Surin
- Ubon Ratchathani
- Udon Thani
Other destinations
- Phimai — historical site near Nakhon Ratchasima.
- Preah Vihear — Khmer temple actually located in Cambodia, but no visa required to visit
Understand
Isaan is a wonderful part of Thailand to visit if you have tired of Khao San Road, one temple after another, or the beach. The relative isolation and underdevelopment of the area mean that Isaan is one of the poorest regions of Thailand; this also means that it is a good place to get a little off the beaten track.
Talk
The national language, Thai, is dominant, however other languages are spoken here as well. Significant groups of ethnic minorities in this region mean that Lao and Khmer are spoken more widely here. Remember that even if the person you meet in the market speaks minimal English (or none at all) they may already be bilingual or multilingual.
Get in
There is regular train service from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima, Surin, and other cities along the way to the termini in Ubon and Nong Khai. Bus service covers even more cities. There are also small regional airports at Nakhon Ratchasima, Udon Thani and Ubon.
Get around
Unlike the spine of Thailand running from Bangkok down to Malaysia, where you are never too far from a train, train service in Isaan is less convenient. Large intercity buses, minibuses, and shared taxis are the ways to get around.
Eat
Isaan cuisine borrows heavily from Lao cuisine and is distinctly different from central Thai cooking, although there has been a considerable amount of cross-pollination. Perhaps the best-known Isaan dish is som tam, a spicy salad prepared from unripe papayas. Other characteristic dishes include roast chicken (kai yaang), sticky rice (khao niaw) and a wide variety of cold meat, mint and lemon juice "salads" known as larb.
A word of warning: Isaan food is known even among Thais for being fiery hot!
Drink
Stay safe
Get out
External links