With 19 provinces, the huge northeastern plateau occupies almost one third of Thailand. It is bordered to the north by the Mekong River, separating Thailand from Laos, and to the south by the Dong Rek Mountains along the boundary with Cambodia.
Known as Isan, the name of the Mon-Khmer kingdom that once flourished here, the Northeast is one of most traditional areas of the country, a land based on agriculture and cottage industries. Old Thai customs remain relatively unchanged, and the population is renowned as being friendly and polite, even though it i one of the poorest.
It is a region with great history, and a strong Laotian influence in its architecture, customs, and language. Evidence of prehistoric settlements can be found along the Mekong River, in cliff paintings and at archaeological sites like Ban Chiang. The lower Northeast was part of old kingdom of Angkor, with ruins of impressive Khmer sanctuaries scattered across the countryside.
These Khmer prasat hin (stone castles) throughout Buri Ram, Nakhon Ratchasima, Surin and Si Sa Ket are popular tourist attractions, particularly the superbly restored sites at Phimai and Phanom Rung, both historical parks. The great temple complex at Khao Phra Viharn on the Cambodian border is also now accessible to visitors after a long period of isolation.
Other major attractions include the prehistoric sites at Ban Chiang and Ban Prasat, the ancient revered temples at Phra That Phanom and Phra That Renu Nakhon and the wonderful silk-weaving villages in Khorat and Khon Kaen. The region is also home to some of Thailand's best loved national parks ?Khao Yai, Phu Kradung and Phu Rua in Loei. To counter the region's great sized, an excellent road, rail and domestic flight network links all the major centres.
