Thai Isaan

Northeastern Thailand has been officially known as Isaan (อีสาน) since the beginning of the 20th century. The term "Isaan" means "North East direction". The Isaan region covers approximately 62,000 square miles; about half the size of Germany; and slightly larger than the size of England and Wales combined. The region is divided into 19 provinces (Jungwat, จังหวัด). Each province has its districts (Amphoe, อำเผอ); each district has its sub-districts (Thumbon, ตำบล); and each sub-district has its smaller villages (Ban, บ้าน), which all are under province control. 

The main economic activity is agriculture.  Due to socio-economic conditions and extremely hot and dry climate, the production falls behind the rest of the country. Although Isaan remains Thailand's poorest region, public roads, education, electricity, and communication lines have been improved over the years. 

               Farmers planting rice

The most spoken language is Isaan, which is a dialect of the Lao (ลาว) language, but it's written in the Thai alphabet. Isaan food is much more distinctive than of Central Thai cuisine. Some of the most well-known Isaan food are sticky rice (kow neow, ข้าวเหนียว); papaya salad (Somtum, ส้มตำ), which can be made from mild to very very hot; chicken or beef salad (larb, ลาบ); and grilled chicken (kai yang, ไก่ย่าง). Sticky rice is a main staple of Isaan cuisine, and can be accompanied just about any type of meals. 

 
                        Papaya Salad

Variety of Isaan food 

Some other distinctive features of Isaan are folks music (morlum, หมอลำ); Thai boxing (Muay Thai, มวยไทย); cock fighting; and rocket festival (boon bung fai, บุญบั้งไฟ).  

                                                                   Rocket Festival

The Northeastern Provinces

The Northeastern Region "Isaan" is consists of 19 provinces. The map and list below identify the location of each province. 

1.   Loei

2.   Nong Bua Lamphu

3.   Udon Thani

4.   Nongkhai

5.   Sakon Nakhon

6.   Nakhon Phanom

7.   Chaiyaphum

8.   Khon Kaen

9.   Kalasin

10. Mukdahan

11. Maha Sarakham

12. Roiet

13. Yasothon

14. Amnat Charoen

15. Nakhon Ratchasima

16. Buriram

17. Surin

18. Sisaket

19. Ubon Ratchathani

References

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isan

thaiwebsites.com

eatingthaifood.com
hale-worldphotography.blogspot.com
thaiblogs.com