Isaan Region

This page is only meant as a very brief introduction to the Northeast. Nearly all foreigners who have some contact with Thailand will have heard of the Isaan region and it's people. The Northeast of the country is home to a substantial portion of the Thai population that is effectively the rice production engine room and chief source of cheap labour for Thailand. It is the poorest part of Thailand.

Isaan is largely agrarian, with vast swathes of land given over to rice production. Much of the land, which was of poor quality already, has been further depleted by the planting of Eucalyptus trees, which yield a relatively good profit but render the soil almost useless.

Isaan people have a very distinct culture of their own with their own Lao dialect (Isaan Thai) and they have resisted pressure from central Thailand to move closer to a central Thai way of life. There is a very noticeable social class, diet and overall thinking. There is also a substantial number of Khmer speakers along the Cambodian border in the South of the region, particularly in Surin province. Even so, nearly everyone can speak Central Thai and the region's incorporation into Thailand as a whole is largely a success (See Isan Rebellion).

Nearly all tourists or expats will have come into contact with Isaan Thais, even if they didn't realise it, as large numbers travel to Bangkok to find work in service industries, as labourers, or as taxi drivers and send money home to the family. This phenomenon is very noticeable in some Isaan villages, where you might only find very young children and elderly people, as nearly everyone of working age has left for the big city, or to the tourist resorts.

It is common to find young Isaan women working in the bars, brothels and gogo bars of Bangkok and major tourists resorts. This has partly been responsible for the curious phenomenon of the Isaan farang, many of whom married a bar girl and relocated with her to the family village up country. Many of these relationships are successful. Just as many were doomed to failure right from the start, due to cultural misunderstandings, language difficulties etc. That said, it is certainly not fair to assume all farangs you meet in the region are there due to the 'bar fine romance'.

In summary, Isaan people are of Laotian descent, good natured, very friendly, peace loving and humble. If you find yourself there and walk around for 5 minutes on your own, you will likely be the centre of attention, be asked if you support Manchester United Football Club (English football is huge in Thailand) and have various young women offered to you in marriage. If you are not polite and respectful, you will not be at all welcome. If you are friendly, polite and make a little effort with the culture, they will love you.

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