Isan is the northeastern region of Thailand

Isan, also written as Isaan, Isarn, Issan, or Esarn; (Isan/Thai: อีสาน) is the northeast region of Thailand. It is located on the Khorat Plateau, bordered by the Mekong River to the north and east, and by Cambodia to the south. To the west it is separated from Northern and Central Thailand by the Phetchabun mountain range. Isan, or ISAN, may refer to: Isan, a region of Thailand International Standard Audiovisual Number, an ISO Standard for identification of audiovisual works. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Isan (also Isaan or Esarn) is the language of the Isan region of Thailand. ... The Khorat Plateau is a highland in the north-east of Thailand, also called Isan. ... Map of the Mekong River watershed. ... Northern Thailand usually describes the area covered by 17 provinces. ... Central Thailand is a region of Thailand, covering the broad alluvial plain of the Chao Phraya River. ... Western chain in morning fog with the Pa Sok valley in front The Phetchabun mountains are a mountain range in Thailand. ...

Agriculture is the main economic activity, but due to the socio-economic conditions and hot, dry climate output lags behind that of other parts of the country. This is Thailand's poorest region.

The main language of the region is Isan (which is similar to Lao), but Thai is also spoken by almost everyone. Khmer (the language of Cambodia) is widely spoken in regions near the Cambodian border. Most of the population is of Lao origin, but the region's incorporation into the modern Thai state has been largely successful. Isan (also Isaan or Esarn) is the language of the Isan region of Thailand. ... Khmer (ភាសាខ្មែរ) is one of the main Austroasiatic languages. ...

Prominent aspects of the Culture of Isan include mor lam (Thai: หมอลำ) folk music, Muay Thai boxing, cock fighting and Isan food, in which sticky rice (Thai: ข้าวเหนียว) and chillies are prominent. Sticky rice is a staple of Thai Northeastern cuisine, and accompanies almost every meal. A khene player in Isan Mor lam (Thai/Isan: หมอลำ) is an ancient Lao form of song in Laos and Isan (Northeastern Thailand). ... Sauki Muay Thai (IPA: [/muai32 32/]; Thai: ) (Thai Boxing) is the Thai name for a form of hard martial art practiced in several Southeast Asian countries including Thailand, Cambodia (where it is known as Pradal Serey), Malaysia (where it is known as Tomoi) and as a similar style in Myanmar... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Sticky rice or glutinous rice is the main type of rice grown and consumed by the Lao of Laos and Northeast Thailand, areas which are considered to be the primary center of origin and domestication of Asian rice (). It has been cultivated in this area for 4,000 years. ... The chile pepper, chili pepper, or chilli pepper, or simply chile, is the fruit of the plant Capsicum from the nightshade family, Solanaceae. ... Thai seafood curry Tom yam gung Thai cuisine is known for its balance of five fundamental flavors in each dish or the overall meal - hot (spicy), sour, sweet, salty and bitter (optional). ...

History

Main article: History of Isan

Isan has a number of important Bronze Age sites, with cliff paintings, artifacts and early evidence of rice cultivation. Iron and bronze tools, such as found at Ban Chiang, may predate similar tools from Mesopotamia. The region later came under the influence first of the Dvaravati culture and then of the Khmer empire, which left temples at Phimai and Phanom Rung. The history of Isan has been determined by its geography: situated between Cambodia, Laos and Thailand, it has been dominated by each in turn, although its relative infertility meant it was more often a battleground than a prize. ... The Bronze Age is a period in a civilizations development when the most advanced metalworking has developed the techniques of smelting copper from natural outcroppings and alloys it to cast bronze. ... In the history of art, prehistoric art is all art produced in preliterate cultures (prehistory), beginning somewhere in very late geological history. ... Species Oryza glaberrima Oryza sativa The planting of rice is often a labour-intensive process Terrace of rice paddies in Yunnan Province, southern China. ... General Name, Symbol, Number iron, Fe, 26 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 8, 4, d Appearance lustrous metallic with a grayish tinge Standard atomic weight 55. ... Assorted ancient Bronze castings found as part of a cache, probably intended for recycling. ... Ban Chiang (Thai บ้านเชียง) is an archeological site located in the Udon Thani province, Thailand, at 17°32′55″N, 103°21′30″E. It is listed in the UNESCO world heritage list since 1992. ... Mesopotamia refers to the region now occupied by modern Iraq, eastern Syria, southeastern Turkey, and Southwest Iran. ... The Dvaravati kingdom of the Mon people existed from the 6th to the 11th centuries, when it was conquered by the Khmer Empire. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Main shrine The Phimai historical park protects one of the most important Khmer temples of Thailand. ... Temple at Phanom Rung Phanom Rung (Thai: ปราสาทพนมรุ่ง), or, with its full name, Prasat Hin Phanom Rung (Phanom Rung Stone Castle), is a Khmer temple complex set on the rim of an extinct volcano at 1,320 feet above sea level, in Buriram province in the Isan region of Thailand. ...

After the Khmer empire began to decline from the 13th century, Isan was dominated by the Lao Lan Xang kingdom, that had been established by Fa Ngum. Thereafter the region was increasingly settled by Lao and Thai migrants. Siam held sway from the 17th century, and carried out forced population transfers from Laos to Isan in the 18th and 19th centuries. Franco-Siamese treaties of 1893 and 1904 made Isan the frontier between Siam and French Indochina. (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ... The Lao kingdom of Lan Xang or Lan Chang (Pali: Sisattanakhanahut, Lao: lâansâang, from Sinitic “vast number of elephants”) was established in 1354 by Somdetch Brhat-Anya Fa Ladhuraniya Sri Sadhana Kanayudha Maharaja Brhat Rajadharana Sri Chudhana Negara (otherwise known as Fa Ngum). ... Somdetch Brhat-Anya Fa Ladhuraniya Sri Sadhana Kanayudha Maharaja Brhat Rajadharana Sri Chudhana Negara better known as Fa Ngum (1316 - 1393, born in Muang Sua, died in Nan) established the Lao kingdom of Lan Xang in 1354. ... Anthem: Phleng Chat Royal anthem: Phleng Sansoen Phra Barami Capital Bangkok (Krung Thep) Largest city Bangkok Official languages Thai Government Military junta under Constitutional Monarchy  -  King HM The King Bhumibol Adulyadej  -  Prime Minister General Surayud Chulanont  -  President of the Council of National Security General Sonthi Boonyaratglin Formation  -  Sukhothai kingdom 1238... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... Population transfer is a term referring to a policy by which a state, or international authority, forces the movement of a large group of people out of a region, most frequently on the basis of their ethnicity or religion. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Motto: Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité Liberty, Equality, Fraternity Anthem: La Marseillaise Metropolitan France() – on the European continent() – in the European Union()  —  [] Capital (and largest city) Paris Official languages French Government Unitary republic  -  President Jacques Chirac  -  Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin Formation  -  Celtic Gaul 1200 BC   -  Franks 11 BC   -  Kingdom of France... Year 1893 (MDCCCXCIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... 1904 (MCMIV) was a leap year starting on a Friday (see link for calendar). ... Border stone at Passo San Giacomo between Val Formazza in Italy and Val Bedretto in Switzerland Borders define geographic boundaries of political entities or legal jurisdictions, such as governments, states or subnational administrative divisions. ... French Indochina (French: LIndochine française, Vietnamese: Đông DÆ°Æ¡ng thuá»™c Pháp) was the part of the French colonial empire in Indochina in southeast Asia, consisting of a federation of protectorates (Tonkin and Annam, which now form Vietnam, as well as Cambodia and Laos) and one directly...

In the 20th century a policy of "Thaification" promoted the incorporation of Isan as an integral part of Thailand and de-emphasised the Lao origins of the population. This policy extended to the use of the name "Isan" itself: the name is derived from that of Iśāna (Sanskrit: ईशान), a manifestation of Shiva as deity of the northeast, and the Sanskrit word for northeast. The name therefore reinforces the area's identity as the northeast of Thailand, rather than as a part of the Lao world. Before the central government forcibly introduced the Thai alphabet and language in schools, the people of Isan wrote in the Lao alphabet. Most Isan people still speak the Isan language which is closely related to the Lao language. (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999... Thaification is the process by which groups at the fringe of the Thai state become (or are made) more similar to the Central Thai heartland. ... A common name of a Hindu boy. ... The Sanskrit language (Skt. ... “Nilakantha” redirects here. ... Look up deity in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Sanskrit language ( , for short ) is an old Indo-Aryan language from the Indian Subcontinent, the classical literary language of the Hindus of India[1], a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... The Thai alphabet (Thai: ) (àk-sŏn tai) is used to write the Thai language and other minority languages in Thailand. ... The Lao alphabet is used to write the Lao language. ... Isan (also Isaan or Esarn) is the language of the Isan region of Thailand. ... Lao (ພາສາລາວ phaasaa laao) is the official language of Laos. ...

Geography

The rivers of Isan:
1. The Loei
2. The Songkhram
3. The Chi
4. The Mun

Isan covers 160,000 square km (62,000 square miles). It is roughly coterminous with the Khorat Plateau, which tilts from the Phetchabun mountain range in the west of the region (the location of several national parks) down towards the Mekong River. The plateau consists of two main plains: 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 plains are separated by the Phu Phan mountains. The soil is mostly sandy, with substantial salt deposits. Image created by User: Markalexander100 File links The following pages link to this file: Isan Categories: GFDL images ... Image created by User: Markalexander100 File links The following pages link to this file: Isan Categories: GFDL images ... The Khorat Plateau is a highland in the north-east of Thailand, also called Isan. ... Western chain in morning fog with the Pa Sok valley in front The Phetchabun mountains are a mountain range in Thailand. ... National parks in Thailand are defined as an area of least ten square kilometres that contains natural resources of ecological importance or unique beauty, or flora and fauna of special importance. ... Map of the Mekong River watershed. ... In geography, a plain is a large area of land with relatively low relief. ... The Mun River (Thai แม่น้ำมูล) is a tributary of the Mekong river. ... The Chi River (Template:Lang-thai-lao) is the longest river in Laos and Thailand at 765 km, although it carries less water than the second longest river, the Mun. ... The Songkhram River is the one of tributaries of the Mekong River. ... The Phu Phan mountains (Thai เทือกเขาภูพาน) are a range of hills dividing the Khorat Plateau of the Isan region of Thailand into two basins: the northern Sakhon Nakhon basin, and the southern Khorat basin. ... For the American hard rock band, see Soil (band). ... Patterns in the sand Sand is a granular material made up of fine rock particles. ... A magnified crystal of a salt (halite/sodium chloride) Salt covering the floor of Bad Water in Death Valley, CA, the lowest point in the US. A salt, in chemistry, is any ionic compound composed of cations (positively charged ions) and anions (negative ions) so that the product is neutral...

A satellite image of Isan: the borders with Laos and Cambodia can be seen due to the greater deforestation within Isan

The Mekong forms a large part of the border between Thailand and Laos to the north and east of Isan, while the south of the region borders on Cambodia. The Mekong's main Thai tributary is the Mun River, which rises in the Khao Yai National Park near Khorat and runs east, joining the Mekong in Ubon Ratchathani Province. The other main river in Isan is the Chi River, which flows through central Isan before turning south to meet the Mun in Sisaket Province. The smaller Loei and Songkhram rivers are also tributaries of the Mekong, the former flowing north through Loei province and the latter flowing east through Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom and Nong Khai Provinces. Download high resolution version (1029x1165, 176 KB)satellite image of Isan; cropped version of http://visibleearth. ... Download high resolution version (1029x1165, 176 KB)satellite image of Isan; cropped version of http://visibleearth. ... Look up tributary in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Khao Yai National Park (Thai เขาใหญ่) is a national park in Thailand. ... Statue of Thao Suranaree in Khorat city centre Nakhon Ratchasima (often called Khorat) is a town in the north-east of Thailand, the Isan. ... Ubon Ratchathani (often in short Ubon, Thai อุบลราชธานี) is one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ... Si Sa Ket (Thai ศรีสะเกษ) is one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ... Loei (Thai เลย) is one of the most sparsely populated provinces (changwat) of Thailand, located in the North-East of Thailand. ... Udon Thani (Thai อุดรธานี) is one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ... Sakon Nakhon (Thai: สกลนคร) is one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ... Nakhon Phanom (Thai นครพนม) is one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ... Nong Khai (Thai หนองคาย) is the one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ...

The average temperature range is from 30.2 °C to 19.6 °C. The highest temperature recorded was 43.8 °C in Udon Thani province, the lowest 0.1 °C in Loei province. Fig. ...

Rainfall is unpredictable, but is concentrated in the rainy season from May to October. Average annual precipitation varies from 2000 mm in some areas to 1270 mm in the southwestern provinces of Nakhon Ratchasima, Buriram, Maha Sarakham, Khon Kaen and Chaiyaphum. The rainy season begins with occasional but heavy showers, eventually raining very heavily for longer periods almost every day, usually in the late afternoon or at night until it ends abruptly at the onset of the cool season. The wet season is a term commonly used when describing the weather in the tropics. ... Nakhon Ratchasima (Thai: ), often shortened to Korat or Khorat, is one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ... Buri Ram (Thai บุรีรัมย์) is one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ... Maha Sarakham (Thai มหาสารคาม) is one of the provinces (changwat) of Thailand, located in the North-East of Thailand. ... Khon Kaen (Thai ขอนแก่น) is the second-largest of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ... Chaiyaphum (Thai ชัยภูมิ) is one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ...

The other seasons are the cool season from October to February, when the people sit outside around fires in the evenings, and the hot season from February to May with its sudden peak of high temperatures in April. A season is one of the major divisions of the year, generally based on yearly periodic changes in weather. ...

Economy

Main article: Economy of Isan The economy of Isan is dominated by agriculture, although output is poor and this sector is decreasing in importance at the expense of trade and the service sector. ...

Growing rice in Isan (September 2004)

Agriculture is the largest sector of the economy, generating around 22% of the Gross Regional Product (compared to 8.5% for Thailand as a whole). Rice is the main crop (accounting for about 60% of the cultivated land), but farmers are increasingly diversifying into cassava (manioc), sugar cane and other cash crops. The long narrow province of Nong Khai Province which stretches along the Mekong River is also noted for the production of pineapples, tobacco (which is dried, cured and shredded by the families before collection by the cigarette manufacturers)and tomatoes which are grown on an industrial scale, particularly around the town of Sri Chiang Mai. Download high resolution version (768x1024, 448 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (768x1024, 448 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... A metropolitan areas gross domestic product, i. ... Species Oryza glaberrima Oryza sativa The planting of rice is often a labour-intensive process Terrace of rice paddies in Yunnan Province, southern China. ... Farmlands in Hebei province, China. ... Binomial name Manihot esculenta Crantz The cassava or manioc (Manihot esculenta) is a woody shrub of the Euphorbiaceae (spurge family) that is extensively cultivated as an annual crop in tropical and subtropical regions for its edible starchy tuberous root, a major source of carbohydrate. ... Binomial name Manihot esculenta Crantz Cassava or manioc (Manihot esculenta; also yuca in Spanish, and mandioca, aipim, or macaxera in Portuguese) is a woody perennial shrub of the spurge family, that is extensively cultivated as an annual crop for its edible starchy tuberous root. ... Species Ref: ITIS 42058 as of 2004-05-05 Sugarcane is one of six species of a tall tropical southeast Asian grass (Family Poaceae) having stout fibrous jointed stalks whose sap at one time was the primary source of sugar. ... Nong Khai (Thai หนองคาย) is the one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ... Binomial name Ananas comosus The Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is a tropical plant and its fruit, native to Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay. ... Species Nicotiana acuminata Nicotiana alata Nicotiana attenuata Nicotiana benthamiana Nicotiana clevelandii Nicotiana excelsior Nicotiana forgetiana Nicotiana glauca Nicotiana glutinosa Nicotiana langsdorffii Nicotiana longiflora Nicotiana obtusifolia Nicotiana paniculata Nicotiana plumbagifolia Nicotiana quadrivalvis Nicotiana repanda Nicotiana rustica Nicotianasuaveolens Nicotiana sylvestris Nicotiana tabacum Nicotiana tomentosa Ref: ITIS 30562 as of August 26, 2005... Binomial name Solanumlycopersicum Linnaeus ref. ...

Despite its dominance of the economy, agriculture in the region is extremely problematic. The climate is prone to drought, while the flat terrain of the plateau is often flooded in the rainy season. The tendency to flood renders a large proportion of the land unsuitable for cultivation. In addition, the soil is highly acidic, saline and infertile from overuse. Since the 1970s, agriculture has been declining in importance at the expense of the trade and service sectors. Very few farmers still use water buffalo rather than tractors. Nowadays, the water buffalo are mainly kept by almost all rural families as status symbols. The main piece of agricultural equipment in use today is the 'rot tai na' (Thai: รถไถนา, lit. "vehicle plow field") colloquially referred to as 'kwai lek' (Thai: ควายเหล็ก, or "iron/steel buffalo"), a mini tractor comprising a small diesel engine mounted on two wheels with two long wooden handlebars for control and steering. It is usually attached to a trailer or a plow. Buffalo are now mainly used for grazing on the stubble in the rice paddy which they in turn fertilize with their manure. The main animals raised for food are cattle, pigs, chickens, ducks and fish. Isan is the poorest region of Thailand: in 2002 average wages were the lowest in the country at 3,928 baht per month (the national average was 6,445). A drought is a period of time when there is not enough water to support agricultural, urban, human, or environmental water needs. ... Monte Roraima In geology and earth science, a plateau, also called a high plateau or tableland or chodechugger, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat open country. ... Picture of flooding in Amphoe Sena, Ayutthaya Province, Thailand For other uses, see Flood (disambiguation). ... Tillage (American English), or cultivation (UK) is the agricultural preparation of the soil to receive seeds. ... Acidity redirects here. ... A magnified crystal of a salt (halite/sodium chloride) Salt covering the floor of Bad Water in Death Valley, CA, the lowest point in the US. A salt, in chemistry, is any ionic compound composed of cations (positively charged ions) and anions (negative ions) so that the product is neutral... Template:A year The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The tertiary sector of industry, also called the service sector or the service industry, is one of the three main industrial categories of a developed economy, the others being the secondary industry (manufacturing and primary goods production such as agriculture), and primary industry (extraction such as mining and fishing). ... For the controversy at the University of Pennsylvania, see Water buffalo incident. ... Binomial name Bos taurus Linnaeus, 1758 Cattle (often called cows in vernacular and contemporary usage, or kye as the Scots plural of cou) are domesticated ungulates, a member of the subfamily Bovinae of the family Bovidae. ... This article is about the pig genus. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Subfamilies Dendrocygninae Oxyurinae Anatinae Aythyinae Merginae Duck is the common name for a number of species in the Anatidae family of birds. ... A giant grouper at the Georgia Aquarium Fish are aquatic vertebrates that are typically cold-blooded; covered with scales, and equipped with two sets of paired fins and several unpaired fins. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... Thai banknotes and coins. ...

The region's poverty is also shown in its infrastructure: eight of the ten provinces in Thailand with the fewest physicians per capita are in Isan (Sisaket has fewest, with one per 14,661 in 2001; the national average was 3,289); it also has eight of the ten provinces with the fewest hospital beds per head (Chaiyapum has fewest, with one per 1,131 in 2001; the national average was 453). Nevertheless, as in the rest of Thailand, all districts (Amphoe) have a hospital, and all communes (tambon) have a clinic providing primary health care. Many people travel to the modern private hospitals and clinics in the large cities for non urgent specialist consultations and care. Si Sa Ket (Thai ศรีสะเกษ) is one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ... 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Chaiyaphum (Thai ชัยภูมิ) is one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ... A amphoe (sometimes also amphur, Thai: อำเภอ) is the second level administrative subdivision of Thailand. ... Tambon (Thai: ตำบล) is a local government unit in Thailand. ...

The region also lags in new technology: there was only one Internet connection per 75 households in 2002 (national average one per 22 households), [update needed] but by 2006 every district town (Amphoe) had at least one publicly accessible internet connection either in the local computer shop or in the district office. Extension of landline telephones to remoter areas not previously served has been largely superseded by the use of cell phones, primarily of the GSM format, which now cover the entire region with the exception of a few sparsely populated mountainous areas and large national parks. Many people, even the poorest and sometimes children, have cellular telephones, although they have no fixed-line telephone. The region also has the lowest literacy rate [source?] when compared with other region in Thailand. For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with fixed phone. ... Cellular redirects here. ... Not to be confused with Get Some Mates The Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) is the most popular standard for mobile phones in the world. ...

Many Isan people seek higher-paying work outside the region, particularly in Bangkok, where they fill many of the worst paid and lowest-ranking jobs. Some of these people have settled permanently in the city, while some migrate to and fro. Others have emigrated in search of better wages. Rather than relocate as a family they usually leave their babies and school-age children in the care of relatives, friends or neighbours. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Demographics

Isan's total population as of 2000 was 20,825,000. 40% of the population is concentrated in the provinces of Khorat, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani and Khon Kaen. These provinces surround the four major cities of the same names; as of 2000, their populations were: Udon Thani 220,493; Khorat 204,391; Khon Kaen 141,034; and Ubon Ratchathani 106,552. However, as of 1996 only 6.3% of the region's population lived in municipal areas. Khon Kaen was the most urbanised province (with 12.4% in municipal areas), and Roi Et the least (2.8%). Thus, the population is still largely rural, but concentrated around the urban centres. 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Udon Thani (thai อุดรธานี) is a city in the north-east of Thailand (Isan). ... Statue of Thao Suranaree in Khorat city centre Nakhon Ratchasima (often called Khorat) is a town in the north-east of Thailand, the Isan. ... Khon Kaen (thai ขอนแก่น) is a town in the North-East of Thailand, the Isan. ... Ubon Ratchathani is both a city and a province in Thailand. ...

Most people are of Lao origin, although the distinction between the Lao and Thai ethnicities is often blurred. Although there are certain physical features which are more prominent in the Lao, the distinction is primarily one of culture and language. The main language of the region is Isan (which is basically a dialect of Lao). Standard Thai is spoken by almost everyone and Khmer, the language of Cambodia is spoken in the southeast. The number of speakers of Isan has been estimated at between 15 million and 23 million, the majority of these being in Isan. The Khorat dialect, spoken by around 400,000 people, occupies a linguistic position somewhere between Isan and standard Thai. Isan (also Isaan or Esarn) is the language of the Isan region of Thailand. ... Khmer (ភាសាខ្មែរ) is one of the main Austroasiatic languages. ... Isan (also Isaan or Esarn) is the language of the Isan region of Thailand. ...

There is a substantial Khmer minority, concentrated in the southern provinces, and some Vietnamese refugees in Mukdahan and Nakhon Phanom. The Khmer people are the predominant ethnic group in Cambodia, accounting for approximately 90% of the 13. ... Mukdahan (Thai: มุกดาหาร) is the capital of Mukdahan province, Thailand, located in the north-east of the country on the banks of the river Mekong. ... Nakhon Phanom is a town in Thailand, capital of the Nakhon Phanom province. ...

Other languages spoken in Isan, mainly by tribal minorities, are as follows:

The Mon-Khmer languages are the autochthonous languages of Indo-China. ... Kuy language (also known as Soui or Kuay) is a Katuic language , part of the larger Austroasiatic family. ... The Nyah Kur language is an Austroasiatic language spoken by the Nyah Kur people, a remnant of the Mon people of Dvaravati who live present-day Thailand. ... The Nyaw language is a dialect of the Issan or Lao language with a few vocabulary, tonal and pronunciation differences. ... The Tai-Kadai languages are a language family found in Southeast Asia and southern China. ... The Phu Thai language is a dialect of the Issan or Lao language with a few vocabulary, tonal and pronunciation differences. ... Saek is a language spoken in several villages in Laos, and in at least three villages in Nakhon Phanom province in northeast Thailand, just across the Mekong river. ... Tai Dam is a language spoken in China (mostly in Jinping 金平), Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. ... Saraburi (Thai สระบุรี) is one of the central provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ...

Education

Education is well provided by the government in numbers of establishments and is supplemented in the larger cities by the private sector (mostly either Catholic schools and international schools) and follows the national pattern of Education in Thailand with Primary (Elementary) schools in all larger villages and communes (tambon) capitals, with Secondary (High) schools to Grade 12 (Eng. 6th Form) in the district (amphoe) towns. Many other Secondary schools provide education only to Grade 9, while some combined school provide education from Grade 1 through Grade 9. Many children attend pre-school classes (kindergarten). Rural schools are generally less well equipped than the schools in the large towns and cities and the standard of instruction, particularly for the English language, is much lower. In Isan, many children of poorer families leave school after Grade 9 (sometimes earlier in spite of the legal requirement) to work on the farms. Many, particularly the girls, move to areas of dense or tourist populations or to get married. Educational oversight Minister Thai Ministry of Education Chaturon Chaisang National education budget ([[]]) Primary language(s) of education Thai system Literacy (2005)  â€¢ Men  â€¢ Women 92. ... Tambon (Thai: ตำบล) is a local government unit in Thailand. ... A amphoe (sometimes also amphur, Thai: อำเภอ) is the second level administrative subdivision of Thailand. ...

There are 43 (2001) government vocational and polytechnic colleges throughout the region, several specialised training colleges in the private sector, and large colleges of Agriculture and Nursing in Udon Thani province.

Universities are in the major cities of Khon Kaen (one of the country's largest), Ubon Ratchathani, and the smaller province capital of Mahasarakham. Some Bangkok based universities have a small campus in Isan and Khon Kaen university also maintains a large installation on the outskirts of Nong Khai. For a full list of universities in Isan see: List of universities in Thailand. Most provinces have a government Rajabhat University, formerly Rajabhat Institute, traditionally a Teacher Training College. The following is a list of academic institutes of higher education in Thailand. ... Rajabhat University system is one of the university systems in Thailand. ...

Culture

Isan's culture is predominantly Lao, and has much in common with that of the neighbouring country of Laos. This affinity is shown in the region's cuisine, dress, temple architecture, festivals and arts. Cuisine (from French cuisine, cooking; culinary art; kitchen; ultimately from Latin coquere, to cook) is a specific set of cooking traditions and practices, often associated with a specific culture. ... Girls wearing formal attire for dancing, an example of one of the many modern forms of clothing. ... Temple of Hephaestus, an Doric Greek temple in Athens with the original entrance facing east, 449 BC (western face depicted) For other uses, see Temple (disambiguation). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A festival is an event, usually staged by a local community, which centers on some unique aspect of that community. ... The Bath, a painting by Mary Cassatt (1844-1926). ...

Isan food is distinct from Thai and Lao cuisines, but has elements in common with each. The most obvious characteristics are the use of sticky rice that accompanies almost every meal rather than plain rice, as well as fiery chillies. Popular dishes include tammakhung, or in central Thai, som tam (papaya salad), larb (meat salad) and gai yang (grilled chicken). These have all spread to other parts of Thailand, but normally in versions which temper the extreme heat and sourness favoured in Isan for the more moderate Central Thai palate. Sticky rice or glutinous rice is the main type of rice grown and consumed by the Lao of Laos and Northeast Thailand, areas which are considered to be the primary center of origin and domestication of Asian rice (). It has been cultivated in this area for 4,000 years. ... The chile pepper, chili pepper, or chilli pepper, or simply chile, is the fruit of the plant Capsicum from the nightshade family, Solanaceae. ... A dish of som tam, made with papaya, beans, chili and lime Som tam (Thai/Isan ส้มตำ) is a spicy papaya salad originating in Laos and the Isan region of Thailand. ... Binomial name Carica papaya L. The papaya, also known as mamão, tree melon, fruta bomba, lechosa (Venezuela, Puerto Rico, the Philippines and the Dominican Republic), or pawpaw is the fruit of the tree Carica papaya, in the genus Carica. ... Salad Platter Salad is a term applied broadly to many food preparations that are a mixture of chopped or sliced ingredients. ... Larb (Thai ลาบ) or Laap is a type of Thai/Lao meat salad. ... Mortal Kombat character, see Meat (Mortal Kombat). ... Gai yang or kai yang (Thai: ไก่ย่าง) is a type of grilled or barbecued chicken originating in the Isan region of Thailand. ... Grilling means cooking directly under a source of direct, dry heat. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Naga Jolokia (naga morich, bhut jolokia), the Indian chili tested hottest in the world at 1. ... Human taste sensory organs, called taste buds or gustatory calyculi, and concentrated on the upper surface of the tongue, appear to be receptive to relatively few chemical species as tastes. ... Taste is one of the traditional five senses and refers to the ability to detect of flavor of foodstuffs and other substances (e. ...

A khene player wearing an Isan men's sarong and pakama

A musician wearing an Isan women's sarong

Conversely Central Thai food has become popular in Isan, but the French and Vietnamese influences which have affected Lao cuisine are absent. The people of the region famously eat a wide variety of creatures, such as lizards, frogs and fried insects such as grasshoppers, crickets, silkworms and dung beetles. Originally forced by poverty to be creative in finding foods, Isan people now savour these animals as delicacies or snacks. Food is commonly eaten by hand using the sticky rice pressed into a ball with the fingers as a tool. Soups are a frequent element of any meal and contain either vegetables and herbs, noodles, chunks of fish, balls of ground pork or a mixture of these. They are eaten using a spoon and chopsticks at the same time. khene player wearing sarong and pakama at the Ubon Candle Festival; picture taken by User: Markalexander100 summer 2004; File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... khene player wearing sarong and pakama at the Ubon Candle Festival; picture taken by User: Markalexander100 summer 2004; File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... A khene player in Isan The khene (also spelled kaen) is a mouth-organ whose pipes are connected with a small, hollowed-out wooden reservoir into which air is blown. ... girl wearing isan sarong-style-skirt at Ubon Candle Festival; picture taken by User: Markalexander100 summer 2004; File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... girl wearing isan sarong-style-skirt at Ubon Candle Festival; picture taken by User: Markalexander100 summer 2004; File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... For other uses, see Lizard (disambiguation). ... Distribution of frogs (in black) Suborders Archaeobatrachia Mesobatrachia Neobatrachia - List of Anuran families The frog is an amphibian in the order Anura (meaning tail-less from Greek an-, without + oura, tail), formerly referred to as Salientia (Latin saltare, to jump). ... Orders See taxonomy Insects (Class Insecta) are a major group of arthropods and the most diverse group of animals on the Earth, with over a million described species — more than all other animal groups combined [1]. Insects may be found in nearly all environments on the planet, although only a... Families Superfamily: Tridactyloidea Cylindrachaetidae Ripipterygidae Tridactylidae Superfamily: Tetrigoidea Tetrigidae Superfamily: Eumastacoidea Chorotypidae Episactidae Eumastacidae Euschmidtiidae Mastacideidae Morabidae Proscopiidae Thericleidae Superfamily: Pneumoroidea Pneumoridae Superfamily: Pyrgomorphoidea Pyrgomorphidae Superfamily: Acridoidea Acrididae Charilaidae Dericorythidae Lathiceridae Lentulidae Lithidiidae Ommexechidae Pamphagidae Pyrgacrididae Romaleidae Tristiridae Superfamily: Tanaoceroidea Tanaoceridae Superfamily: Trigonopterygoidea Trigonopterygidae Xyronotidae Grasshoppers are herbivorous insects of... For the insect, see Cricket (insect). ... Binomial name Bombyx mori Linnaeus, 1758 For other senses of this word, see silkworm (disambiguation). ... A dung beetle, with a shovel-like head, rolling a dung ball with its hindlegs. ...

The traditional dress of Isan is the sarong. Women's sarongs most often have an embroidered border at the hem, while men's are in a chequered pattern. They are worn "straight", not hitched between the legs in Central Thai style. Men also wear a pakama — a versatile length of cloth which can be used as a belt, a money and document belt, as headwearfor protection from the sun, as a hammock or as a bathing garment. Isan is the main centre for the production of Thai silk. The trade received a major boost in the post-war years, when Jim Thompson popularised Thai silk among westerners. One of the best-known types of Isan silk is mut-mee, which is tie-dyed to produce geometric patterns on the thread. A sarong is a large sheet of fabric, often wrapped around the waist and worn as a skirt by men and women throughout much of south and southeast Asia excluding Vietnam, and on many Pacific islands. ... Gold Embroidery Cross-stitch embroidery, Hungary, mid-20th century Phulkari from Punjab region, India 15th century embroidered cope, Ghent, Belgium Elizabethan embroidery styles include blackwork on linen and dense patterns worked in colored silk and metallic threads on velvet or other rich fabrics Embroidery is the art or handicraft of... A belt is a flexible band, typically made of leather or heavy cloth, and worn around the waist. ... Headgear, headwear or headdress is the name given to any element of clothing which is worn on ones head. ... The hammock is a device used to sleep or rest in. ... Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. ... Jim Thompson House in Bangkok. ... Look up dye in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Table of Geometry, from the 1728 Cyclopaedia. ... This article is about yarn fiber. ...

The Buddhist temple (or wat) is the major feature of most villages. These temples are used not only for religious ceremonies, but also for festivals, particularly mor lam, and as assembly halls. Buddhism is a dharmic, non-theistic religion, which is also a philosophy and a system of psychology. ... WaT (Wentz and Teppei) is a Japanese pop duo, composed of singer/songwriters Eiji Wentz and Teppei Koike. ... A khene player in Isan Mor lam (Thai/Isan: หมอลำ) is an ancient Lao form of song in Laos and Isan (Northeastern Thailand). ...

They are mostly built in the Lao style, with less ornamentation than in Central Thailand. Lao style Buddha images are also prevalent. Statue of the Buddha calling the earth to witness, the most common representation of the Buddha. ...

The library of Tung Sri Muang temple, Ubon Ratchathani, illustrates the typical style of Isan.

Isan houses are often built on stilts: the area underneath the house can be used as a living area, for storage or for keeping animals. The large jar or ohng (โอ่ง) to the left of this house is used for storing water.

The people of Isan celebrate many traditional festivals, such as the Bun Bungfai Rocket Festival. This fertility rite, originating in pre-Buddhist times, is celebrated in a number of locations both in Isan and in Laos, but most vigorously and most famously in Yasothon province. Other Isan festivals are the Candle Festival, which marks the start of vassa in July in Ubon and other locations; the Silk Festival in Khon Kaen, which promotes local handicrafts; the Elephant Round-up in Surin; and the bangfai phayanak or Naga fireballs of Nong Khai. photo of library of Tung Sri Muang temple, Ubon, Thailand taken by User: Markalexander100 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... photo of library of Tung Sri Muang temple, Ubon, Thailand taken by User: Markalexander100 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (901x563, 163 KB)House in Ampoe Phibun, Ubon. ... Download high resolution version (901x563, 163 KB)House in Ampoe Phibun, Ubon. ... This article is about the traditional Rocket Festival of Lao ; for another meaning, see Rocket Festival Spain Rocket Festival Lao A rocket on a float in Yasothon, prior to the parade. ... Fertility rites are religious rituals that reenact, either actually or symbolically, sexual acts and/or reproductive processes. ... Yasothon (Thai ยโสธร) is one of the provinces (changwat) of Thailand, located in the North-East of Thailand. ... A float in the parade The Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival is held in Ubon Ratchathani, Isan, Thailand, around the days of Asanha Puja (which commemorates the Buddha’s first sermon) and Wan Kao Pansa (which marks the beginning of Buddhist Lent). ... Vassa (Thai พรรษา, pansa or phansaa), also called Rains Retreat, is the traditional retreat during the rainy season lasting for three lunar months from July to October. ... The Khon Kaen Silk Festival is an event held in Khon Kaen, Isan, Thailand over ten days at the end of November and the beginning of December each year. ... The Surin Elephant Round-up takes place on the third weekend of November in Surin province, Isan, Thailand. ... The Naga fireballs (Thai บั้งไฟพญานาค, bangfai payanak) are a phenomenon seen in Nong Khai province, Isan, Thailand and Laos, in which glowing balls rise from the Mekong river. ...

The main indigenous music of Isan is mor lam; it exists in a number of regional variants, plus modern forms. Since the late 1970s it has acquired greater exposure outside the region thanks to the presence of migrant workers in Bangkok. Many mor lam singers also sing Central Thai luk thung music, and have produced the hybrid luk thung Isan form. Another form of folk music, kantrum, is popular with the Khmer minority in the south. Although there is no tradition of written secular literature in the Isan language, in the latter half of the 20th century the region produced several notable writers, such as Khamsing Srinawk (who writes in Thai) and Pira Sudham (who writes in English).
Mor lam needs a special mention as its festival-type production which is very commonplace in Isan, has not been exported to other regions. Although it is a very exciting affair, not being on the tourist trail it is largely ignored by foreign visitors. When the locals speak of mor lam (pronounced mor'ram with stress on the second syllable), one will often hear them say pai doo morram (lit. 'go see mor'ram'). They are referring to the most common form of evening entertainment in the region. Somewhere, in a village within easy reach, there will be a mor lam festival on a Friday or Saturday evening. Usually, the rock-festival sized stage is constructed either in a temple compound or on a sports field. Thousands of people will sit on mats on the ground and watch the fun-filled program of variety entertainment. The traditional music and song is accompanied by extremely colorful choreography, executed by a group of up to fifty female (and some male katoey) dancers. The fantastic costumes are changed several times throughout the program, and the transitions are bridged by often raunchy gags, slap-stick comedy, and speeches by local dignitaries. A mor lam festival is a family affair and the area is surrounded by food and drink stalls. At home, people will often forgo on the evening's TV selection to watch CD, VCD and DVD recordings of mor lam festivals. Every family owns a CD/DVD player and a large screen TV, and the media, with Thai content, can be purchased very cheaply. Folk music, in the original sense of the term, is music by and for the common people. ... A khene player in Isan Mor lam (Thai/Isan: หมอลำ) is an ancient Lao form of song in Laos and Isan (Northeastern Thailand). ... Luk thung (Thai ลูกทุ่ง), literally child of the fields, is the most popular form of Thai country music. ... Kantrum (Thai กันตรึม)is a type of folk music played by Khmer in Isan, Thailand, living near the border with Cambodia. ... The Khmer people are the predominant ethnic group in Cambodia, accounting for approximately 90% of the 13. ... Khamsing Srinawk is a writer from the Isan region of Thailand. ... Pira Sudham is a writer from the Isan region of Thailand. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Kathoey working as go-go dancers in Bangkoks Nana Plaza A kathoey or katoey (in Thai กะเทย) is a male-to-female transgendered person in Thailand. ...

Isan is known for producing a large number of muay Thai boxers: as with Western boxing, kickboxing provides a rare opportunity to escape from poverty. Isan's most famous sportsman, however, is tennis player Paradorn Srichaphan, whose family are from Khon Kaen. Sauki Muay Thai (IPA: [/muai32 32/]; Thai: ) (Thai Boxing) is the Thai name for a form of hard martial art practiced in several Southeast Asian countries including Thailand, Cambodia (where it is known as Pradal Serey), Malaysia (where it is known as Tomoi) and as a similar style in Myanmar... Professional boxing bout featuring Ricardo Domínguez (left) versus Rafael Ortíz Boxing, also called pugilism (from Latin), prizefighting (when referring to professional boxing) or the sweet science[1] is a sport and martial art in which two participants of similar weight fight each other with their fists in a... A tennis net Tennis is a game played between either two players (singles) or two teams of two players (doubles). Players use a stringed racquet to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponents court. ... Paradorn Srichaphan (Thai: ภราดร ศรีชาพันธุ์; born June 14, 1979) is a tennis player from Thailand. ... Khon Kaen (thai ขอนแก่น) is a town in the North-East of Thailand, the Isan. ...

Marriage and courtship in Isan still mainly follows strict tradition, especially in rural areas, and most young women are married by the time they are 20 years old. Many girls, in spite of the legal requirement, marry as young as fourteen to escape poverty as usually marriage is associated with a dowry paid by the husband to the bride's family. A dowry will not normally be less than 20,000 Thai baht, and according to the staus of the bride and/or her family, can often greatly exceed 300,000 baht. Isan women rarely have boyfriends until they meet the man whom they will eventually marry, and tradition requires that the betrothal is then announced. Younger fiancées will be chaperoned, usually by a female friend, brother or sister while in the company of their future husband. The wedding ceremony usually takes place in the bride's home and is normally officiated by one or several monks or a respected village elder who has been a monk. Young couples are increasingly registering their marriages at the city hall which they can do if they are over 17. The extended family system is still very much the traditional social structure in Isan, with newly wed couples often living with in-laws or building a home on the family compound or farmland. It is not unusual however, for many women to remain single until much later. Tradition demands that the youngest or only daughter continues to live at home to take care of her parents. They are then only free to marry when both parents are deceased. There is also the tradition that a woman should 'marry up' in status. If the woman is tied to an occupation in a rural area as a farm or business owner, teacher, or similar profession, finding a suitable husband and one who is prepared to relocate is often not easy.

Water buffalo are a regular feature, even in the suburbs, being walked to and from the fields at dawn and dusk. Although rarely used nowadays for working the land, they are condidered an important status symbol and in spite of the fact that Isan is considered a poor region, buffalo are owned by most agricultural families and it is rare for rural Isan families not to own at least a few hectares of land. The current value (2006) of one head of buffalo is about 20,000 Thai baht (2006: USD 530).

The cultural separation from Central Thailand, combined with the region's poverty and the typically dark skin of its people, has encouraged a considerable amount of racism against the people of Isan from ethnic Thais; the novelist Pira Sudham wrote that, "Some Bangkok Thais... said that I was not Thai, but... a water buffalo or a peasant". Even though many Isan people now work in the cities rather than in the fields, they are largely restricted to low-status jobs such as construction workers and prostitutes, stall vendors and tuk-tuk taxi drivers, and discriminatory attitudes persist. Nevertheless, the Central Thai perception of Isan is not wholly negative: Isan food and music have both been enthusiastically adopted and adapted to the tastes of the rest of the country. A boy from an East Cipinang trash dump slum in Jakarta, Indonesia shows his find. ... Human skin color can range from very dark to nearly colorless (appearing pinkish white due to the blood in the skin) in different people. ... Manifestations Slavery · Racial profiling · Lynching Hate speech · Hate crime · Hate groups Genocide · Holocaust · Pogrom Ethnocide · Ethnic cleansing · Race war Religious persecution · Gay bashing Movements Discriminatory Aryanism · Neo-Nazism · Supremacism Kahanism Anti-discriminatory Abolitionism · Civil rights · Gay rights Womens/Universal suffrage · Mens rights Childrens rights · Youth rights Disability... A novel (from French nouvelle Italian novella, new) is an extended, generally fictional narrative, typically in prose. ... Pira Sudham is a writer from the Isan region of Thailand. ... In large construction projects, such as skyscrapers, cranes are essential. ... Prostitution is the sale of sexual services (typically manual stimulation, oral sex, sexual intercourse, or anal sex) for cash or other kind of return, generally indiscriminately with many persons. ...

The process of Thaification has diluted somewhat the distinctive character of Isan culture, particularly in the cities and in provinces, such as Khorat, which are closest to the Central Thai heartlands and which have been under Thai rule the longest.

Religion

As in the rest of Thailand, the population is almost exclusively Theravada Buddhist, although this is combined with elements of animism. The large cities have Christian churches, sometimes of several denominations. Many major district towns do however have a small Christian church or chapel, usually Roman Catholic, and there are others in rural areas serving pockets of this religion. Theravada (Pāli: थेरवाद theravāda; Sanskrit: स्थविरवाद sthaviravāda; literally, the Way of the Elders) is the oldest surviving Buddhist school, and for many centuries has been the predominant religion of Sri Lanka (about 70% of the population[1]) and continental Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and parts of southwest... Buddhism is a dharmic, non-theistic religion, which is also a philosophy and a system of psychology. ... Animism is a belief system that does not accept the separation of body and soul, of spirit from matter. ...

Transportation

The State Railway of Thailand has two lines in Isan, both connecting the region to Bangkok. One runs east from Khorat, through Surin to Ubon; the other runs north through Khon Kaen and Udon to Nong Khai. The State Railway of Thailand (การรถไฟแห่งประเทศไทย) is the state-owned rail operator of Thailand. ...

There are 15,000 km of highway, centred on the Thanon Mitraphap ("Friendship Highway") built by the United States to supply its military bases in the 1960s and 1970s. A road bridge (the Saphan Mitraphap or Friendship Bridge) jointly built by the Australian, Laos and Thai governments forms the border crossing over the Mekong River on the outskirts of Nong Khai to Vientiane, the capital of Laos, about 25 km away. Highway in Pennsylvania, USA The Pan-American Highway, in the Peruvian town of Máncora, where it serves as the main street. ... A log bridge in the French Alps near Vallorcine. ... The Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge (Thai Saphan Mittaphap Thai-Lao) is a bridge over the river Mekong, connecting the provinces of Nong Khai (city of Nong Khai) in Thailand and Vientiane in Laos. ... Vientiane (IPA: //, Lao Viangchan) is the capital city of Laos, situated in the Mekong Valley. ...

Most roads in Isan are paved. All major roads interconnecting the province capitals are in excellent condition for driving and most are centrally divided four or six-lane highways. The paving on some minor roads in the poorer districts may be navigable with difficulty due to large, deep potholes. Unpaved, graded roads link some of the smaller, remoter villages but they are comfortably navigable at normal driving speeds for wheeled vehicles. Most of the stretches of paved roads through villages are lit at night, many with powerful sodium lighting some of which are on indipendently solar-powered masts. Reflecting 'cats-eyes' marking the central line of two-lane roads are a common feature. Crash barriers are installed along the sides of dangerous bends and precipitous verges. Signposting is excellent and follows international style. Since 2002 (with the exception of some poorer sub-districts) all signs are bilingual in Thai and Roman script, although the spellings in Roman script may defy the logic of English pronunciation, and vary significantly.

The main highways have frequent, Western-style rest and refuelling stations which accept payment by major credit/debit cards. In 2006, all fuel stations sell 91 and 95 octane gasoline/petrol and diesel fuel, but LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas) and NGV (Natural Gas for Vehicles) is very rare outside the cities of Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen and Udon Thani. R-phrases , , , , S-phrases , , , , , , , Flash point 13 °C Autoignition temperature 220 °C Explosive limits 1. ...

Buses provide the mass transport throughout the region. Bangkok and all provincial capitals are connected by air-conditioned bus routes. All amphoe towns operate at least one similar nightly route to and from Bangkok. All towns and villages are interconnected with frequent services of songthaew (Thai: สองแถว, lit. 'two rows') a covered truck-style bus or covered pick-up trucks with bench seats in the cargo bed. A amphoe (sometimes also amphur, Thai: อำเภอ) is the second level administrative subdivision of Thailand. ... A city songthaew in Ubon Ratchathani A songthaew { Thai สองแถว, literally two rows, if pronounced wrong can sound like two feet), also known in English as a baht bus, is a passenger vehicle in Thailand adapted from a pick-up or a larger truck. ...

A songthaew for public transport in Udon Thani, one of the major cities in Isan.

Taxi transport is not well developed, even in the very large cities where samlor (Thai: สามล้อ, lit. "three wheels"), three-wheeled motorcycle taxis similar to the Bangkok tuk-tuk, provide the mainstay of urban transport. The large cities do have some pick-up trucks operating on regular inner-city and suburban routes. Airports are served by collective vans which tend to be expensive for the local population and samlors for private hire. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 645 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I took this in Udon Thani, Isaan Province, Thailand, in May 2005. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 645 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I took this in Udon Thani, Isaan Province, Thailand, in May 2005. ... A city songthaew in Ubon Ratchathani A songthaew { Thai สองแถว, literally two rows, if pronounced wrong can sound like two feet), also known in English as a baht bus, is a passenger vehicle in Thailand adapted from a pick-up or a larger truck. ... Udon Thani (thai อุดรธานี) is a city in the north-east of Thailand (Isan). ... A rickshaw and its driver wait for a fare in Bandung, Indonesia Rickshaw in Hamburg. ... Passengers and drivers meet at this auto rickshaw stand in Chennai. ...

There are airports at Khorat (no scheduled services due to its proximity to Bangkok), Khon Kaen (international), Ubon Ratchathani (domestic), Udon Thani (international), Nakhon Phanom (domestic, scheduled services), Sakon Nakhon (domestic, scheduled services), Roi Et (domestic, scheduled services) and Buriram (domestic, scheduled services). Domestic air travel between the capital and the region is well developed, particularly since 2002, and has become a viable alternative to rail, long-distance bus and self-driving. Fares are cheap and Udon and Khon Kaen which both opened brand new airport terminals in 2005 and 2006 respectively, are served by many daily flights and also have routes connecting other major destinations in Thailand with some companies operating wide-bodied aircraft. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Udon Thani International Airport (IATA: UTP, ICAO: VTUD) is an airport located near the city of Udon Thani (อุดรธานี, also Udorn Thanee) in Eastern Thailand in Udon Thani province. ... Nakhon Phanom Airport (IATA: KOP, ICAO: VTUW) is a small regional airport in Nakhon Phanom Province in the Northeastern Region of Thailand. ...

There is little traffic using the Mekong, as rapids and variable flow make navigation difficult. Bridges are rare because of the high cost of spanning this very wide river, but there are a great many passenger and vehicle ferries. The Second Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge spanning the Mekong between the cities of Mukdahan (Thailand) and Savannakhet (Laos) was completed and officially opened for traffic on December 20, 2006. Some new bridges which still do not feature on '2005 Edition' maps have been built over smaller rivers and dams. There are also passenger and vehicle ferries operating across some large reservoirs. Map of the Mekong River watershed. ... ... Seamanship is the art of operating a ship or boat. ... The Second Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge over the Mekong connects Mukhadan province in Thailand with Savannakhet in Laos. ... Mukdahan (Thai: มุกดาหาร) is the capital of Mukdahan province, Thailand, located in the north-east of the country on the banks of the river Mekong. ... Savannakhét (Lao ສະຫວັນນະເຂດ) is a province of Laos, located in the south of the country. ...

Administration

Isan is divided into 19 provinces, although the southwestern province of Nakhon Ratchasima is considered by some to be more closely connected with Central Thailand. Thailand is divided into 76 provinces (Thai: จังหวัด, changwat, singular and plural), which are grouped into 5 groups of provinces - sometimes the East and Central are grouped together. ... Nakhon Ratchasima (Thai: ), often shortened to Korat or Khorat, is one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ...

1. Amnat Charoen
2. Buriram
3. Chaiyaphum
4. Kalasin
5. Khon Kaen
6. Loei
7. Maha Sarakham
8. Mukdahan
9. Nakhon Phanom
10. Nakhon Ratchasima
11. Nongbua Lamphu
12. Nong Khai
13. Roi Et
14. Sakon Nakhon
15. Sisaket
16. Surin
17. Ubon Ratchathani
18. Udon Thani
19. Yasothon

Isan returns 136 of the national parliament's 400 constituency MPs. In the 2005 election the Thai Rak Thai party took 126 of these seats, with six for Chart Thai and two each for the Democrat party and Mahachon Party [1]. cropped and edited version of Image:Thailand_provinces. ... Amnat Charoen (Thai อำนาจเจริญ) is one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ... Buri Ram (Thai บุรีรัมย์) is one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ... Chaiyaphum (Thai ชัยภูมิ) is one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ... Kalasin (Thai กาฬสินธุ์) is one of the provinces (changwat) of Thailand, located in the North-East of Thailand. ... Khon Kaen (Thai ขอนแก่น) is the second-largest of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ... Loei (Thai เลย) is one of the most sparsely populated provinces (changwat) of Thailand, located in the North-East of Thailand. ... Maha Sarakham (Thai มหาสารคาม) is one of the provinces (changwat) of Thailand, located in the North-East of Thailand. ... Mukdahan (Thai: ) is one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ... Nakhon Phanom (Thai นครพนม) is one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ... Nakhon Ratchasima (Thai: ), often shortened to Korat or Khorat, is one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ... Nong Bua Lamphu (Thai หนองบัวลำภู) is one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ... Nong Khai (Thai หนองคาย) is the one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ... Roi Et (Thai ร้อยเอ็ด) is one of the provinces (changwat) of Thailand, located in the North-East of Thailand. ... Sakon Nakhon (Thai: สกลนคร) is one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ... Si Sa Ket (Thai ศรีสะเกษ) is one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ... Surin (Thai สุรินทร์) is one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ... Ubon Ratchathani (often in short Ubon, Thai อุบลราชธานี) is one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ... Udon Thani (Thai อุดรธานี) is one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ... Yasothon (Thai ยโสธร) is one of the provinces (changwat) of Thailand, located in the North-East of Thailand. ... A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modelled after that of the United Kingdom. ... A minister can mean several things: A government minister is a politician who heads a government ministry A minister of religion is a member of the clergy A minister is the rank of diplomat directly below ambassador This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages... Legislative elections were held in Thailand on 6 February 2005. ... Thai Rak Thai (ไทยรักไทย, lit. ... Chart Thai Party (พรรคชาติไทย phak chaat thai), also translated as the Thai Nation Party, is a conservative political party in Thailand. ... This article is part of or related to the Liberalism series Categories: Politics stubs | Liberal related stubs | Liberal parties | Thai political parties ... The Great Peoples Party (Phak Mahachon) is a political party in Thailand. ...

References

• Alpha Research Co. Pocket Thailand in Figures. Alpha Research Co. 2005. ISBN 974-90374-7-2
• Isan: The People and Region of Northeast Thailand
• Ethnologue report on Thailand
• Annual population data for Thailand to 1997 (Chulalongkorn University)
• Population statistics from citypopulation.de
• Estimates to 2004, from world-gazeteer.com
• Toward a Knowledge-Based Economy: Northeastern Thailand
• Pira Sudham's official site

External links

• Basic Isaan phrases (Some basic Isaan phrases with sound files).
• Isan Information, Northeast Thailand Cultur, People, Buddhist temples

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Isaan