Provinces of Thailand - centers and administrative divisions. Travel along the Mekong River in eastern Thailand Khao Yai National Park

Hotel Phanthipha Residence 3* is located in Thailand in the city of Khon Kaen. The hotel is a 10-minute drive from Central Plaza Shopping Centre. Thanks to the hotel's convenient location, you can easily reach the most popular tourist spots in the city.

Yellow House Khon Kaen 2*

Yellow House Khon Kaen 2* hotel is located in Thailand, in the city of Khon Kaen. The hotel is centrally located, a 5-minute walk from Central Plaza and the local bus station, and a 15-minute drive from Bueng Kaen Nakhon Lake.

Katowa Homestay 1*

Thailand, Northeast Thailand (Isan)

Hotel Katowa Homestay 1* is located in Thailand in the city of Pakchong. The hotel is a 20-minute drive from Khao Yai, Palio Shopping Mall and 10 km from the Night Market. Thanks to the hotel's convenient location, you can easily reach the most popular tourist spots in the city.

Baan Ton Mai Rim Nam Resort 3*

Thailand, Northeast Thailand (Isan)

Hotel Baan Ton Mai Rim Nam Resort 3* is located in Thailand, in the city of Khon Kaen. The hotel is 405 km from Bangkok International Airport. Thanks to its convenient location, you can easily reach the most popular tourist spots in the city.

Na Loei Boutique Resort

Thailand, Northeast Thailand (Isan)

@ Sign Hotel 2*

Thailand, Northeast Thailand (Isan)

Hotel @ Sign Hotel 2* is located in Thailand, in the city of Nakhon Phanom. The hotel is located in the center of Nakhon Phanom, close to the Mekong River, Nakhon Phanom Downtown and Nakhon Phanom Ratchanakarin Hospital.

Gold Mountain Wangnamkhiao Resort 3*

Thailand, Northeast Thailand (Isan)

The Gold Mountain Wangnamkhiao Resort 3* hotel is located in Thailand, in the Wangnamkhiao district of Nakhon Ratchasima province. The hotel is 5 km from the city center and 204 km from Bangkok International Airport.

Fortune River View Nakhon Phanom

Thailand, Northeast Thailand (Isan)

Isan (spelling variations: Issan, Isaan, Isarn, Esarn) is a northeastern region of Thailand. It occupies the entire Khorat plateau, is bounded on the north and east by the Mekong River, which separates Thailand and Laos, on the southeast by Cambodia, on the south by the Prachin Buri Mountains, a province adjacent to Nakhon Ratchasima. Isan is separated from northern and central Thailand to the west by the Phetchabun mountain range. Isan is not just a territory in Thailand, it is a whole culture that includes the Isan dialect of the language, Isan cuisine and much more.

Geography

The name “Isan”, by which this region has been officially known since the beginning of the twentieth century, comes from the Sanskrit “ishan” (meaning “to the northeast”) or from “Isanapura” - this was the name of the capital of the Chenla kingdom, which was once located in the territory Isana. The predominant occupation of Isan residents is agriculture. Industry here is less developed than in other areas of Thailand - due to a number of socio-economic factors, as well as the extremely hot and dry climate. Despite the progress of the country as a whole, Isan remains the poorest district in Thailand.

Isan covers an area of ​​160,000 km2 (62,000 sq mi), which is slightly larger than England and Wales combined, about half the size of Germany, four times the size of Switzerland, twice the size of Austria, and only twice the size of the US state of Maine . The location is roughly bordered by the Khorat Plateau, which slopes from the Phetchabun mountain range, which lies in the western part of the region (home to several national parks), down towards the Mekong River. The plateau consists of two lowlands: the southern Khorat plain is drained by the Mun and Chi rivers, while the northern Sakon Nakhon plain is drained by the Loei and Songkhram rivers. The two lowlands are separated from each other by the Phu Phan Mountains. The soil is mainly sandy with significant salt deposits.

The Mekong forms much of the border between Thailand and Laos in the north and east of Isan, and the region borders Cambodia in the south. The main tributary of the Mekong flowing through Thailand is the Mun River, which overflows its banks at Khao Yai National Park near Korat and flows east to join the Mekong River in Ubon Ratchathani Province. Isan's other main river is the Chi, which flows through the central part of the region before turning south where it merges with the Mun in Sisaket Province. The small Loei and Songkhram rivers are also tributaries of the Mekong, the former flowing north through Loei province, and the latter flowing east through the provinces of Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom and Nong Khai.
The average temperature range is from 30.2 C to 19.6 C. The highest temperature recorded was 43.9 C at Udon Thani, the lowest -1.4 C at Sakhon Nakhon Agri-Station.

Language and Population

The people of this region are multinational: Lao, Vietnamese, Khmer, Mon, Cham and other peoples of the Thai group.

The main language of the local population, Isan, is a dialect of Lao, but it is written using the Thai alphabet, which is slightly different from Lao. Isan belongs to the Chiang Seng and Lao Phutai language subgroups, which together with Thai form part of the Thai group of the Tai-Kadai family of languages. Most residents of the region speak the Lao language (Laotian), but do not consider themselves Laotians, but they are not fully considered Thais either: they call themselves “Isan” - “Khon Isan” or “Thai Isan”. Some of the population in southern Isan speaks Khmer and Suay; their dialect and customs are much closer to Cambodian than to Thai or Laotian. The Khmer language is widely used in the provinces of Buriram, Surin and Sisaket, bordering Cambodia.

At the same time, almost everyone speaks Thai in Isan. Ethnically, many people in the region are Laotian and aware of this, however Isan has long been an integral part of Thailand - both administratively and culturally - and has even given the country several prime ministers who were originally from Isan.

Seasons and weather conditions

Rainfall is unpredictable but mainly concentrated during the rainy season from May to October. Average annual rainfall ranges from 2000 mm in some regions, and up to 1270 mm in the southwestern provinces of Nakhon Ratchasima, Buriram, Maha Sarakham, Khon Kaen and Chaiyaphum. The rainy season begins with rare, short, but heavy downpours; as a result, it rains very heavily for a long period of time and almost every day, usually in the afternoon or at night, until it ends abruptly at the very beginning of the cool season.

Other seasons are the cool season from October to February, when people leave their homes and gather around bonfires in the evenings, and the hot season from February to May, with a sudden peak of high temperatures in April.

Culture

The Isan culture is predominantly taken from the Lao peoples and has many similarities with neighboring Laos. The cultural affinity of the regions can be seen in the local cuisine, clothing, temple architecture, festivals and art.

The most characteristic and distinctive cultural characteristics and traditions of Isan

• "Mor Lam" (local folk music)
• Thai boxing "Muay Thai"
• Cockfights and colorful festive processions.

The traditional Isan clothing is the sarong. Women's sarongs most often have an embroidered border along the hem, while men's sarongs often have a checkered pattern. Men also wear a pakama, a multi-functional piece of fabric that can be used as a belt, money and document belt, as a hat for sun protection, as a hammock or swimwear. Isan is the main center for the production of Thai silk. The trade received a powerful boost in the post-war years when Jim Thompson popularized Thai silk in the West. One of the most famous types of Isan silk is mut mee, which is made from specially dyed threads to produce geometric patterns.

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The northeastern part of Thailand, informally called I-san, stretches along the border with Cambodia and Laos. This is perhaps the least touristy part of Thailand with its own unique culture and cuisine.

Isan can be roughly divided into two parts - the southern part, which borders the south of Laos and the north-west of Cambodia, and the northern part, which borders the central part of Laos. The most famous cities in the region are Ubon Ratchathani on the southern border with Laos towards Pakse and Udon Thani in the northern part, crossing the border with Laos towards Vientiane.

South Isan - Khau Yai and Historical Parks

The southern part of Isan stretches along the border with Cambodia, it is not surprising that this is where the most spectacular ancient Khmer temples from the Angkor period are located. Without leaving, you can visit the famous Khau Yai National Park, see Khmer monuments in the historical parks of Isan and plunge into the friendly atmosphere of local cities.

Korat (Nakhon Rakchasima)

Travelers often call this city Chiang Mai without tourists) The old walled city, atmospheric temples, a huge night market, delicious local food, a pretty good selection of accommodation - this, by the way, is one of the largest cities in the region, very conveniently located on the way from Bangkok to the outlying towns of Isan, close to Phimai Historical Park, one of Thailand's most significant historical parks.

Wihan Wat Luang Pho Toe, Nakhon Rakchasima. Photo credit: Taweesak Boonwirut, Flickr

Nakhon Rakchasima, Isan. Photo credit: adrian.brand, Flickr

Wat Ban Rai, (Dan Khun Thot), Nakhon Rakchasima. Photo credit: Kantashoothailand, Flickr

Khao Yai National Park

Khao Yai National Park is the largest and one of the most visited parks in Thailand. Khao Yai lies on the way from Bangkok to Korat, so exploring the park can be conveniently combined with visiting the historical parks of the region.

You can get acquainted with the park either on your own, by renting a motorbike or car, or in the company of a guide on a tour of the park (almost all guest houses and lodges in the park help their guests with renting vehicles and organizing tours).

How to get there: by bus or train to Pak Chong (from Bangkok or Korat), from the station by taxi or motorbike to the park.

Khao Yai National Park, Isan. Photo credit: Chris Wilson, Flickr

Khao Yai National Park, Isan. Photo credit: Rick Baker, Flickr

Khao Yai National Park, Isan. Photo credit: Worawit Soranaraksophon, Flickr

Phimai

The tiny town of Phimai is located next to the historical park of the same name, on the territory of which you can find superbly preserved temples from the period of ancient Angkor. The largest star anise tree in Thailand is also located here. The park can be visited as a day trip from Korat, but a more atmospheric option is to stay overnight in Phimai, rent a bike, explore the temples in the early morning/late afternoon, ride around the area and spend the evening having dinner at one of the nice tiny local restaurants .

How to get there: by bus from Korat or Khon Kaen

Phimai, Isan. Photo credit: issrasai, Flickr

Phimai Historical Park, Isan. Photo credit: Francis Halin, Flickr

Star anise trees, Phimai. Photo credit: Tony Withers, Flickr

Nong Kong and Phanom Rung

The provincial town of Nong Kong itself is not of particular interest from a tourist point of view; the main interest for the traveler lies in the proximity of Nong Kong to the historical park of Phanom Rung - a complex of well-preserved Khmer temples located on the top of an extinct volcano The best way to explore the temples is by renting a motorbike from one of the guest houses in Nong Kong.

How to get there: by bus from Bangkok and major cities in Southern Isan.

Phanom Rung Historical Park. Photo credit: Manuel ROMARÍS, Flickr

Southern Isan - Mekong

Part of southern Isan stretches along the Mekong along picturesque national parks along the border with Laos, so it is logical to combine a trip to this part of Isan with a visit.

Ubon Ratchathani

This cute lazy town can easily be called one of the friendliest in Thailand. Most travelers pass through Ubon on their way to Pakse, on. However, stopping here can be quite an interesting experience. Judge for yourself - good inexpensive hotels and guest houses, super-delicious local food, a pleasant atmosphere and proximity to three picturesque national parks, including Pha Taem Park, which stretches along the Mekong. From the city, you can organize a day trip to the park, returning by boat along the river, or rent a motorbike and explore the natural beauty on your own.

Ubon Ratchathani. Photo credit: eatingthaifood

Pha Taem National Park. Photo credit: JCH Travel, Flickr

Khong Chiam

Khong Chiam is a tiny town located right on the Mekong on the border with Laos between two magnificent national parks, Pha Taem and Kaeng Tana. An excellent option for those who prefer nature to city stops.

How to get there: by bus or taxi from Ubon Ratchatani; by bus or taxi to the border with Laos and further to Pakse.

Mukdahan

Mukdahan is the largest town on the Mekong, with charming colorful houses, excellent guest houses, delicious local food and proximity to Phu Pha Thoep National Park. Mukdahan is located opposite the charming southern Laotian town of Sawanakhent, the two towns have much in common and are connected by a large road border bridge (Friendship Bridge 2).

How to get there: by plane from Bangkok, and via Ubon Ratchatani (see connect tickets to Mukdahan on); by bus from Savanakhent via Friendship Bridge 2; by bus from Khon Kaen and Ubon Ratchatani.

Mukdahan, Isan. Photo credit: captainsvoyage-forum

Mukdahan. Photo credit: Keng Susumpow Flickr

Northern Isan - Mekong

This part of Isan also boasts interesting historical sites, and along the Mekong you can find charming tiny towns/villages, rent a bungalow overlooking the river and spend a couple of days enjoying doing nothing.

Udon Thani

Udon Thani is perhaps the most developed city in Isan from a tourist point of view. Great choice of accommodation, a huge market, modern shopping centers, a large number of attractions in the region, including the incredible historical park of Phu Phra Bat, an interesting mixture of Isan, Laotian, Vietnamese and Chinese cultures, which are reflected in the local cuisine, and proximity to the capital of Laos Vientiane gives a good reputation to the city. If you want to visit one city in Isan, then Udon Thani is probably the best option.

How to get there: by plane from Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket; by bus from Bangkok and Vientiane across the Friendship Bridge; by train from Bangkok and Korat.

Udon Thani. Photo credit: udonthaniattractions

Phu Phra Bat Historical Park. Photo credit: loupiote, Flickr

Nong Khai

Nong Khai - This small town located on the Mekong near the border with Laos is the most popular tourist destination in Isan. Travelers adore Nong Khai for its enchanting views of the Mekong, affordable accommodation and delicious food. Not far from Nong Khai there is a mystical with huge statues of Buddha and various mystical creatures.

How to get there: by shuttle bus from Udon Thani Airport; by bus from Bangkok International Airport; by train from Bangkok, Khon Kaen and Udon Thani; by bus from Udon Thani, Khon Kaen and Vientiane via the Friendship Bridge (see schedule and tickets).

Nong Khai. Photo credit: Ro(e)l-and(o) de Smet, Flickr

Isan- the northeastern region of Thailand, located on the dry lands of the Khorat sandy plateau, and bordering the Mekong River with Laos, is considered the poorest region of the country. Traditional communities of Thai peasants live here, making up approximately 1/3 of the country's population.

They cultivate rice, cassava and cotton, and also grow mulberry trees, the leaves of which serve as food for silkworms.

In Isan they speak not Thai, but Laotian (there are 16 million Laotians living in Isan, although Laos itself has a population of only 6 million) and, in some provinces, Khmer. Isan is the main producer of Thai rice. This is an agricultural region and the poorest region in the country. This is where more than 90% of prostitutes in Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket come from. At the same time, Isan is also famous for its attractions. Thais believe that this is the place where the cuisine is the hottest and the nature is the most beautiful.

The city of Korat (Nakhon Ratchasima) is the unofficial capital of the northeastern part of Thailand - Isan. There are several notable places in and around Korat:

• The Phi Mai temple complex is, by the way, one of the centers of the ancient Khmer state and one of the largest partially preserved and reconstructed architectural ensembles of this kind in Thailand. This is the second largest Khmer temple after Angkor Wat. But Phi Mai was built earlier and it was here that inscriptions were discovered that made it possible to decipher the ancient Khmer alphabet.

• Khao Yai National Park. A great place to explore the jungle and ecotourism.

• One of the best zoos in Asia is the Korat Zoo with a Jurassic Park and a water park for children.

• Historical center of Korat: monument to Yamo, the savior of the city, to whom all local residents come to pray. Young people gather near Yamo in the evenings, demonstrating various tricks on bicycles. There are also children's playgrounds and evening cafes with all kinds of Thai and special Korat cuisine. This is the real heart of the city, uniting its residents.

• Wat Pho is an important place for Buddhists, one of the most revered temples. There are many temples in Korat, beautiful and well-kept.
• A special treat can be a visit to the Chinese temple in the city center, where costumed musical performances are regularly held. You can enjoy the music from this temple without even leaving your hotel. A couple of such hotels overlooking the temple are located on Suranari Street.

Thai cuisine in Northeastern Thailand is heavily influenced by Laotian and Cambodian gastronomic traditions. One of the most popular dishes in the region is "somtam"“, a green papaya salad that combines the four main tastes of Thai cuisine - sour lime, hot chili, salty fish sauce, sweet palm sugar. These days, som tam is a favorite dish for many not only in Isan but throughout Thailand, and is becoming increasingly famous around the world due to its unique taste and ease of preparation.

Northeastern Thai cuisine in general terms represents relatively simple peasant dishes (in Thai terms). The classic dish of Isan is considered "lab"– chopped spicy meat, served with salad and raw vegetables. Some other dishes from the region that are more likely to surprise you than make you want to try them include fried red ant larvae, fried or stewed rice rat, and gecko curry. Any dish is accompanied by sticky rice, the northeastern version is slightly different from the sticky rice in Bangkok or the South, it is served in small bamboo baskets.

Very popular in the region "pla raa“, literally rotten fish - in addition to several traditional technologies for preserving fish - smoking, drying. The product is often added to salads, including somtam. Pla raa is used as an ingredient in fish sauce. A rather suspicious seasoning with an unforgettable aroma that is impossible to “hide” from is a key component in Isan cuisine. Although the methods may vary slightly from area to area. Freshly caught river fish (small and medium-sized) are cleaned of scales (sometimes the heads and entrails are removed). A few days later, the fish is filleted a second time and packed in airtight containers, covered with rock salt and sprinkled with rice bran. The ripening time lasts several months.

The kingdom, as Wikipedia says, was called before 1939 Siam- a state in Southeast Asia, located in the southwestern part of the Indochina Peninsula and in the northern part of the Malacca Peninsula. It borders on the east with Cambodia And Laos, in the west - with Myanmar, and in the south - with Malaysia. The name (the word “thai” (ไทย) means “freedom”) justifies itself: it is the only country in Southeast Asia that retained independence from European states, while all neighboring states were colonies of France or Great Britain. "" (Thailand) - a Germanized version of the name of the country, introduced into use in the 1930s, means "country of the Thais", the Thai version sounds like "Phrathet Thai". The currency is the Thai baht, however butt exchange rate has changed a lot against the ruble lately. Our fellow citizens, especially those who have heard by hearsay, strongly believe that this is a country of debauchery and transvestites. This is not true, but there are a number of Go-Go bars in Bangkok on Nana Plaza And Alley cowboy, Phuket and of course in Pattaya, famous throughout the world for its carrots. But this is not all, far from all! There are 75 provinces in the country and they are all completely different, different climates, different tribes and nationalities, different cuisine, but I can say with confidence that they do not equally accept those things that you may have seen in PTT on Walken Street.

Central Thailand

Central Thailand (Thai: ประเทศไทยภาคกลาง) covers the territory from the western mountains on the border with Myanmar to the northeastern plateau in the east and includes 26 provinces. Central Thailand is rightfully considered the cultural heart of the country. Currently, it is the most prosperous and vibrant region of Thailand. There are a number of interesting cultural monuments here: Ayutthaya (Ayuthaya) - the pearl of Thailand, the old capital of the kingdom; Lopburi is the city where the famous Khmer complex “Temple with Three Towers” ​​(Prang Sam Yod) is located; Nakhon Pathom is the place where the ancient stupa Phra Pathom Chedi stands, the largest in the country, and others, others. Between Kanchanaburi and the Myanmar border there are seven nature reserves and national parks covering an area of ​​almost 10,000 km2. There are many resorts on the shores of the Gulf of Thailand; the most famous and oldest is Hua Hin, where the residence of the king is located.

Northern Thailand

Northern Thailand (Thai:ภาคเหนือ) is an integral part of the legendary Golden Triangle - the cradle of Thai civilization. The nature of Northern Thailand is represented mainly by forested mountains, which are the beginning of the Himalayas, and fertile river valleys. The average altitude above sea level is 1500 m, the highest point is Mount Doi Inthanon (2565 m). In former times, the mountain slopes were covered with dense forests. Northern Thailand is a teak region where elephants still work in the forest. The first civilization to influence northern Thailand was Haripunjaya, a Mon state that was founded in Lamphun in the late 8th and early 9th centuries. Maintaining strong ties with the Mon kingdoms in the south, it remained the cultural and religious center of the North for centuries. The Thais came here after the Mons, migrating from China in the 7th-11th centuries, and founded small principalities in the northern regions. In 1238, the first truly independent Thai kingdom of Sukhothai was formed. It was during his time that the Thai alphabet was created and where traditional Thai art comes from. Most of the territory of Northern Thailand was once an independent state. Chief among the Thai settlers was King Mengrai, who, soon after the founding of the state of Sukhothai, began to organize the same unified state in the North. In 1292, Mengrai founded the city of Chiang Rai in the southwest and moved the capital there. Expanding the territory of the principality, Mengrai in 1296 founded the city of Chiang Mai (“new city”), which became the capital of the state of Lannathai (“The Country of a Million Rice Fields of the Thais”). Mengrai, related by kinship ties to all the rulers of the neighboring Thai principalities and the only Thai prince descended in a direct line from the rulers of old Chiang Saen, achieved recognition of himself as the supreme ruler of all the Thais in the region, united, reconciled or conquered the surrounding Thai principalities and was crowned as the first king of the state of Lannathai. This state is sometimes called the Kingdom of Chiang Mai. Dying, Mengrai established a new dynasty, which was destined to see a two-century period of incomparable flourishing of both culture and art. After the expansionist reign of Tilok (1441–1487), a succession of weak, petty kings followed, while Ayutthaya continued its hostile advance to the North. But the Mengrai dynasty was finally ended by the Burmese, who captured Chiang Mai in 1558 and, with the help of puppet rulers, controlled Lanna territory for the next two centuries. In 1767, the Burmese destroyed the Thai capital of Ayutthaya, but the Thais quickly gathered forces under the leadership of King Taksin, who, with the help of King Lamnang Kavila, gradually pushed the Burmese to the North. In 1774, King Kavila recaptured Chiang Mai, which had been reduced to ruins, and set about restoring it. The city was supposed to serve as the new capital. After Cavila, the North was ruled by inept princes until the second half of the 19th century, when the colonists arrived. Britain took control of Upper Burma, and Rama V of Bangkok began to show interest in the northern territories, where the British had had a lucrative logging and transportation business since the signing of the unequal treaty in 1855. The king wanted to avoid annexation. He forcibly resettled a number of ethnic Thais in the North in order to resist British claims to sovereignty over the territory occupied by Thayai (Shan), where there were many Upper Burmese inhabitants. In 1877, Rama V appointed special commissioners for Chiang Mai, Lamphun and Lam Nang to better unify the region and the center. These ties were strengthened in 1921 when the railway was built to Bangkok. Since then, the North, based on its agricultural abundance, has become a truly prosperous region.

Isan

Isan (Thai: ภาคอีสาน) is a region in the arid lands of the Korat sandy plateau, northeastern Thailand. Isan includes 20 provinces. The name Isan is derived from the Sanskrit “Ishan” and means “Towards the North-East”. This is an agricultural region, a country within a country. Local residents are mainly engaged in growing agricultural products. The population mainly speaks Isan (a dialect of Lao), as well as Laotian and Khmer. There are very few tourists visiting the region.

Southern Thailand

Southern Thailand (Thai: ประเทศไทยภาคใต้) is located on the Malay Peninsula and covers an area of ​​70,713 km². Southern Thailand extends from Chumphon to Malaysia. The narrowest part of the peninsula is the Kra Isthmus, which marks the northern border of Southern Thailand. The western coast is dominated by steep banks, while the eastern part has plains and river valleys. The largest river is the Tapi in Surat Thani province, which has a basin of about 8,000 square kilometers, so that the river basin occupies approximately 10% of the area of ​​Southern Thailand. The largest lake is Songkhla with an area of ​​1040 km². In addition, there is the Jiao Lan Reservoir, whose area is 165 km². It is also home to Khao Sok National Park, located in the province of Surat Thani. Southern Thailand is home to many of Thailand's most famous resorts. The south of the country is inhabited by Thais and people of Malay origin. Islam is very developed.

My Travels to Thailand:

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