Isaan

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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 or girlfriend from Bangkok originally hailed from Isaan, but went to the big city in search of work.

The Isaan region of Thailand
The Isaan region of Thailand

[edit] Provinces

The 19 provinces of Isaan
The 19 provinces of Isaan

[edit] Cities

[edit] Other destinations

[edit] 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.

[edit] Climate

[edit] Talk

While the national language Thai is dominant and well-understood, the local Isaan dialect is closely related to Lao. Khmer is also widely spoken in areas near the Cambodian border. 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.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Provinces with airports, and flights to/from Bangkok (links are to provincial capitals):

[edit] By bus

Frequent bus services go everywhere.

[edit] 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).

[edit] 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.

[edit][add listing] See

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit][add listing] Eat

Clockwise from top right: Sticky rice, minced pork larb, som tam and raw vegetables on the side
Clockwise from top right: Sticky rice, minced pork larb, som tam and raw vegetables on the side

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 (or tam mak hung in Lao/Isaan), a spicy salad prepared from unripe papayas. While Thais prepare this with dried shrimp, in Isaan the preferred style is with preserved crab (puu) or mudfish, an acquired taste. 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!

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit] Stay safe

[edit] Get out

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