Though Thailand’s largest region with 20 different provinces, the northeastern area of Isan is also the country’s least visited region. While foreigners flock to Thailand’s capital of Bangkok, the tropical southern islands or mountainous north, Isan tends to get overlooked yet offers a wealth of distinct cultural customs and traditional cuisine that still live on to this day. Other parts of the Land of Smiles have ridden a wave of modernisation or globalisation, but Isan remains primarily rural, offering a relaxing holiday destination where travellers can catch a glimpse of the past while still enjoying staying in an Isan boutique hotel or Isan resort.
Pronounced ee-san and also written as Isaan, Isarn, Esan or Esarn, the word “Isan” comes from the ancient Pali language for the word “northeast.” While the term is used to described Thailand’s entire northeastern region, discerning travellers will soon find that many different destinations, indigenous peoples, highly localised dishes and even various dialects make up the area with no two parts of Isan exactly the same.
Pronounced ee-san and also written as Isaan, Isarn, Esan or Esarn, the word “Isan” comes from the ancient Pali language for the word “northeast.” While the term is used to described Thailand’s entire northeastern region, discerning travellers will soon find that many different destinations, indigenous peoples, highly localised dishes and even various dialects make up the area with no two parts of Isan exactly the same.
Hotels in Isan:
Le Domaine du Mekong
By the River
BOOK
Le Domaine du Mekong
Mekong Villas
By the River
BOOK
Mekong Villas
Pimali
Pimali
In the Countryside
BOOK
MAP OF ASIA
Getting to Know Isan
Surrounded by mountains on the Khorat Plateau and bordered by the mighty Mekong River – the lifeblood of mainland Southeast Asia – visitors to Isan can discover a completely different side to Thailand than the typical tourist usually experiences. Still mostly undeveloped, Isan’s sprawling countryside, lush paddy fields, unspoilt terrains, roaming water buffaloes, ancient traditional handicrafts and historical sites all add to its unique, unhurried charm.As with most places in Thailand, provinces and their provincial capitals share the same name, so the primary city of Khon Kaen province, for example, is also called Khon Kaen. Along with Khon Kaen, there are four other main cities: Udon Thani, Nakhon Ratchasima and Ubon Ratchathani. These built-up towns serve as convenient starting points to explore the rest of the northeast thanks to their accessible transportation hubs including regional airports, train stations and bus termi