Thailand Isan

Udon Thani is one of the four major cities of the Isan region. Udon is a major official and commercial center in northern Isan, and the gateway to Laos, northern Vietnam, and southern China. The city's economy was boosted by the proximity to Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base during the Vietnam War and retains reminders of that time in the form of bars, coffee shops, and hotels. Some of the revenue from tourism is related to tourists going to and/or coming from the archaeological site Ban Chiang.

Khon Kaen is one of the four major cities of Isan, Thailand, also known as the "big four of Isan". Khon Kaen is a regional center for education, financial institutions, government offices, industry, agriculture, and transportation in the northeastern region. Many Buddhist temples are in Khon Kaen, notably Phra Mahathat Kaen Nakhon, also known as Wat Nong Wang. On the south side of the city and east of the Friendship highway, a diverse range of recreational areas and facilities exist at Lake Bueng Kaen Nakhon. The Khon Kaen National Museum displays a diverse selection of antiques, precious art pieces, and archaeological finds from the region.

Ubon Ratchathani (known as Ubon for short) is one of the four major cities of Isan. The city is on the Mun River in the south-east of the Isan region of Thailand. The name means "royal lotus city". The province is renowned for its strong Buddhist tradition, particularly the practice of monks dwelling in the forest. Wat Nong Pah Pong, for example, is a Buddhist forest monastery in the Thai Forest Tradition. Other temples complexes can be found in the area. The Ratchathani Asok community on the south bank of the river has a Buddhist agricultural commune, with restored fishing boats mounted on boulders as houses. They sell various products produced on their farms.

Nong Khai is a city in north-east Thailand. It is the capital of Nong Khai Province. Nong Khai lies on the Mekong River, near the site of the first Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, spanning the river to Laos. Nong Khai's main sight is Sala Kaew Ku, a park of colossal sculptures, some over 20m tall.

Nakhonratchasima is one of the four major cities of Isan, known as the "Big 4 of Isan". The city is commonly known as Korat, a shortened form of its name. Historically, it once marked the boundary between Lao and Siamese territory. Today it is considered a gateway to the Lao-speaking north-east (Isan). Khorat has become increasingly attractive to foreigners during the last period with growing numbers mainly from North America and Europe making their homes in the province. Still rustic, with cheap housing and land prices, the province is only three hours' drive from Bangkok (by bus or train), and as its "gateway to the north-east" moniker suggests, Khorat is a central transportation hub.

Loei is a town in northeast Thailand. Loei covers the whole tambon of Mueang Loei District and is the capital of Loei Province. According to tradition, Loei was founded by people from Chiang Saen, the capital of Lan Na. Loei lies in the fertile valley of the Loei River, which runs from south to north through the eastern part of the town. A range of hills lies to the east, including the Phu Bo Bit Park, about 3km from the town center. The city is surrounded by mountain ranges whose summits are covered by fog and abundant with varied flora.

Surin is a town in Thailand, capital of Surin province, 431 km east-north-east of Bangkok. It is the site of the annual Surin Elephant Round-up. The earliest settlers in this region were hunter-gatherers. It is in the Iron Age (500 BCE to 500 CE) that the first evidence of human settlement emerges in the province, with approximately sixty known Iron Age sites. Following the Dvaravati period, the powerful Khmer Empire expanded its influence throughout what is now the southern Isan region of Thailand. This period covers the 7th to 13th centuries CE. Surin was an important part of the ancient Khmer empire. Temple ruins and a substantial ethnic Khmer minority remain part of Surin.

Buriram is a town in Thailand, former capital of Buriram Province. The town is on the north-eastern railway line, and also has a regional airport, Buriram Airport. Much of the local economy is still agricultural and the tourist industry that is a prominent feature in much of the rest of the country has yet to make a significant impact. Key agricultural crops include rice and cassava.

Sakon Nakhon is a city in Thailand within the Isan region, and capital city of Sakon Nakhon Province as well as Mueang Sakon Nakhon District. Sakon Nakhon lies on a flat plain at about 175m elevation on the south-west bank of Lake Nong Han, the largest lake of north-east Thailand. The town is surrounded by extensive farmland. Fish and rice are two of the major products of the region.

That Phanom is a district in the southern part of Nakhon Phanom Province, northeastern Thailand. The district is named after Wat Phra That Phanom, the most important Buddhist temple in the region.