Isan Travel Guide

Isaan, 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. Mainly an agricultural region, it's the poorest part of Thailand. There's a good chance that your tuk-tuk driver or favorite bargirl in Bangkok originally hailed from Isaan, but went to the big city in search of work. Isaan is a wonderful part of Thailand to visit if you became tired of Khao San Road, one temple after another, or the tropical beaches. The relative isolation and underdevelopment of the area means 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 and discover Thailand's agricultural roots and natural scenery. While the national language Thai is used in schools and thus well-understood, the local Isaan dialect, which is a dialect of Lao, is predominant. 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.