Isaan Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
Isaan (อีสาน; also Isan, Isarn and even Esarn), Thailand's north-east region, is an often overlooked part of the country. There's no coastline, so there are no beaches to draw in the sun hungry crowds; however, Isaan is a multicultural area where Laos, Cambodia and Thailand meet, and has a rich history. A mainly agricultural region, it's the poorest part of Thailand. There's a good chance that your tuk-tuk driver in Bangkok originally hailed from Isaan, but went to the big city in search of work.
Contents |
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 Khorat)
- 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
- Buriram
- Khon Kaen
- Nakhon Ratchasima (also known as Khorat)
- Nong Khai - gateway to Vientiane, Laos
- Sakon Nakhon
- Surin
- Ubon Ratchathani
- Udon Thani
- Yasothon
Other destinations
- Kantharalak - gateway to Preah Vihear
- 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.
Climate
Talk
Overall, the national language, Thai, is dominant; however variations of Lao and Khmer are the first language for many. Although the person you meet in the market might speak little or no English, it's more likely than not that they are already bilingual or multilingual.
Get in
By plane
Provinces with airports, and flights to/from Bangkok (links are to provincial capitals):
By bus
Frequent bus services go everywhere.
By train
Regular train services connect Bangkok with Ubon Ratchathani (via Nakhon Ratchasima, Buriram, Surin, Si Saket and other stations along the way) and Nong Khai (via Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, etc).
Get around
Depending on where you're coming from and where you want to get to, buses, minibuses, songthaews, motorbikes and bicycles are all good ways to get around.
The train system is also a good way to get around, however the number of locations served is limited.
See
Do
- Golf - see Golf in Thailand - Isaan
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
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