Isaan

Isaan (อีสาน; also Isan, Isarn and even Esarn), Thailand's northeast region, is an often overlooked part of the nation. There's no coastline, so there are no beaches to lure sunseekers. Isaan, however, is a multicultural area where Laos, Cambodia and Thailand meet, and has a rich history. Isaan is mainly an agricultural region.

Regions of Isaan

Northern Isaan
The great Mekong Valley and the national parks of Loei, Ban Chiang, Nong Khai, Wat Phra That Phanom.
Central Isaan
Also known as the Chi River Basin and the highway from Bangkok ends here in Khon Kaen.
Southern Isaan
Centred around bustling Nakhon Ratchasima and the Mun River Basin is home to Khao Yai National Park and the beautiful Khmer architecture of Phanom Rung and Phimai.

Cities

• Khon Kaen — centre of the Isaan region, Mittraphap Road (Rte 2) passes the edge of the town centre
• Loei — known for its numerous high hills, mountains and is one of Thailand's vineyards
• Nakhon Phanom — bordering Laos along the Mekong
• Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) — the chaotic hub of Isaan, gateway from central Thailand
• Nong Khai— gateway to Vientiane and the lovely Mekong Valley
• Roi Et — home to the tallest standing Buddha image of the world, Phra Phuttha Rattana Mongkhon
• Surin — known for its annual elephant parade and Khmer temples
• Ubon Ratchathani — almost always shortened to simply "Ubon", gateway to the Cambodia-Laos border
• Udon Thani — commonly called "Udon", best known for the archaeological site Ban Chiang

More Destinations

• Khao Yai National Park — Thailand's first national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Phimai Historical Park — some of the most important Khmer architecture in Thailand

Isaan Halal Travel Guide

Isaan is a wonderful part of Thailand to visit if you tired of Khao San Road, one temple after another, or the beaches. The relative isolation and underdevelopment of the area means that Isaan is a good place to get off the beaten track and encounter Thailand's agricultural underpinnings and natural scenery.

Thailand Halal Travel Video

How is the Climate in Isaan

North east Thailand is monsoonal, cool in the dry months of December and January, getting hot and humid in February, March and April and the very wet and tropical during May, June, July and August. Temperatures during the dry can be mid to high 20s C. during the day and as low as 10 c. or 12 c. over night. For much of the rest of the year expect low to mid 30s C. and high humidity. The air during February, March and April can be very hazy when the main cash crop of sugar is burnt prior to cutting.

Local Language in Isaan

While the national language (Thai) is used in schools and thus well-understood and the local Isaan language, which is a dialect of Lao, is predominant. Khmer phrasebook|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.

Travel to Isaan

Buy a Flight ticket to and from Isaan

The airports of Khon Kaen, Nakhon Phanom, Roi Et, Sakon Nakhon, Ubon Ratchathani, and Udon Thani can be visited by plane from Bangkok.

Travel on a Bus in Isaan

Frequent bus services go everywhere.

By Rail

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).

How to get around in Isaan

Depending on where you're coming from and where you want to get to, buses, shuttle vanes, songthaews, motorbikes, and bicycles are all good options.

The train system is also a good way to get around, however the number of locations served is limited.

What to see in Isaan

There are many attractions in Isaan:

• The surreal statues of Sala Kaew Ku, Nong Khai
• The temple inside the mountain at Chiang Khan
• The temple of organic juice bottles in Si Saket
• The beautiful Khmer temples in the Phanom Rung Historical Park
• Phimai Historical Park has even more Khmer architecture
• Flora, fauna, and waterfalls in the Khao Yai National Park

Halal Food & Restaurants

Isaan cuisine borrows heavily from Laos 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. It's also not Halal so eat with care if you are invited.

Travel Next

• Phitsanulok - a gateway to Northern Thailand
• Preah Vihear - magnificent Khmer temple in Cambodia, easy to reach from Isaan with no visa required
• Vientiane - the once sleepy capital of Laos, becoming more and more discovered