Rural Melting Pot
Outside Bangkok, the pace slows down as the skyscrapers fade away and the fertile central plains unfold. These days the plains region is generally thought of as ‘rural Thailand’, having lost the prominence it enjoyed during the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya periods. Plains folk earn their livelihoods from backbreaking labor in the plantations and rice paddies that feed the nation. Still, they speak ‘official’ Thai, the dialect of Bangkok and its environs, and so have more in common (linguistically at least) with the capital’s elite than those in the farther reaches of the kingdom. Over the centuries, Central Thailand has absorbed Chinese immigrants from the north, Mons and Burmese from the west, and Khmers from the east.

Cultural Legacy
Covering one third of the country, Isan is Thailand’s poorest, harshest and least-developed region. Its resilient people constitute the bulk of migrant workers in Bangkok. Linguistically and culturally, Isan people are more akin to the Lao and Khmers than to their Thai brethren. Aside from remnants of their culture, the ancient Khmers left a legacy of architectural and archaeological treasures across Isan, many of which are still standing today. Although few tourists visit this region, travelers are quick to affirm the friendliness and zest for life that characterize the local people. Their folk music is distinctive, typically represented by melodies played on bamboo khaen pipes and the ponglang, which resembles a xylophone. Northeastern food is very spicy and includes a huge variety of local specialties.