Thai

Regions

From a Western perspective Thailand probably appears to be one of the most culturally distinct and homogenous countries of South-East Asia – more so than Indonesia and Malaysia for example.

For a century the Thai state has attempted to transform a multi-ethnic kingdom into a mono-cultural nation-state. Yet Thailand has remained an ethnically diverse place, and in recent years has experienced a resurgence in expressions of ethnic culture and identity.

If you take a closer look, it becomes clear that Thailand should really be seen as an amalgam of at least 4 distinct regions: Northern Thailand, North-Eastern Thailand, Central Thailand and Southern Thailand.

Northern Thailand:

Northern Thailand is famous for its mountainous landscape and native hill-tribes that provide a taste of its ancestry. Northern Thailand is maybe the most hierarchically minded region. It preserves strong remnants of a feudal past.

This has probably made it one of the most charming and polite parts of Thailand. If you ask Thais what the best place to visit is the answer will often be places like Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai because of its friendly people. Chiang Mai people are said to be an accommodating and gentle people. My wife often rates people on their ability to “speak nice” and here the Northerners come out on top. They embody the ultimate expression of the Thai ideals of non-confrontation and soothing talk.

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North-Eastern Thailand:

 

The people of North-Eastern Thailand are normally reckoned to be the Thai equivalent of Arkansas hicks, Dorset yokels or even the Danish Thyboere. The common prejudices against Isarn people is that they are country bumpkins whose manners and customs are equally crude and simple.

 

A Farang visiting Isarn country may also initially be struck by the monotony of the place which is closely bound up with work in the rice paddies. But he or she will soon find that the Northeast region is gifted with courteous people who never fail to welcome visitors.

 

Isarn has some of the most marginal farmland in Thailand. This means that the region is often hit hard by bad farming seasons and it is a root cause of the poverty of the area. The poverty has led to a huge migration of Isarn people to other areas of the country.

 

The people of Isarn have a culture that is more Lao than Thai. The Lao people do not distinguish themselves from other Thais due to their ethnicity as much as their culture.

 

The central government of Thailand have often tried to assimilate Isarn into the Thai state.

Thai replaced Isarn as the language used in education and this has meant that written Isarn has all but disappeared. However, a majority of the people still speak Isarn. The distinct dialect of Isarn make it an enchanting place to visit.

 

Farangs will gradually come to appreciate the hospitality and good nature of Isarn if they choose to visit the place.

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Central Thailand

 

Central Thailand is dominated by the huge metropolis of Bangkok.

Most people of Bangkok are of Thai descent but a significant minority (10%) are Thai-Chinese.

The Chinese migration to Bangkok began in the 19th Century and ebbed out after World War II.

Now many citizens from the countryside of Thailand still flock to Bangkok. This has led to the usual problems of overpopulation. Bangkok now faces issues such as a shortage of accommodation for its people, traffic jams, and unemployment, among others.

Bangkok's prosperous middle class is composed of a mixture of ethnic Thais, foreigners and minority groups. Most business enterprises in Bangkok, however, are run by ethnic Chinese.

Thais in Bangkok seem to put a high premium on their independence and their self esteem. They can be prone to fights if provoked. They will, however, repay kindnesses received. Despite hectic lifestyles of most people in Bangkok, Thais in the city will always smile and would gladly offer to help anyone.

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Southern Thailand

Southern Thailand is famous for its spectacular landscapes and beaches.

The people of Southern Thailand are quite different from other parts of the country. Rice paddies are replaced by rubber plantations. Southern Thai people in many ways have more in common with the people of Malaysia than the people of Thailand.

Southern Thais have strong character traits. They can be stubborn and persistent, but also gentle and forgiving.

Contrary to other Thais southern Thais can appear more aggressive and will speak their minds. 

A distinct group of Southern Thailand is the Muslim community who are concentrated in the most Southern part of Southern Thailand.

Some Southern Thai muslims have unleashed a violent campaign against the Thai government that has claimed more than 1,300 lives over the past two years.

 

Thai teachers have been dragged from their classrooms and bludgeoned to death due to the fact that they’re Buddhists and "Siamese". The insurgency has spread fear into the lives of both Muslims and Buddhists.

Their attacks have, however, remained focused on a circumscribed area where Malay Muslims are the dominant ethnic group.

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