Intermediate poll: 'Chiang Mai is the most important tourist destination in Thailand'
The latest poll on Thailandblog.nl is once again a great success. In a relatively short period of time, more than 420 readers have already voted on our survey. Time to draw up the balance sheet.
The outcome of the research should provide insight into the question: 'What must a tourist absolutely see in Thailand?' After all, Thailand has so much to offer, such as tropical beaches, exotic nature parks, Buddhist temples, impressive cities, mystical hill tribes and so on.
The appeal to our readers to choose the top tourist destination in Thailand already shows a possible winner. It seems that Chiang Mai can take this prestigious honor. A close second is the Thai capital Bangkok and the surprising third is the Isan, the region in North and Northeast Thailand.
Chiang Mai
Northern Thailand's main city, Chiang Mai is a place of history, culture and adventure. The versatility of this city not only attracts tourists, the Thai people also like to visit Chiang Mai - which they affectionately call the rose of the north. And what a difference with Bangkok. Chiang Mai is located in the rugged mountainous north, against the foothills of the Himalayas. Here life is more relaxed, the culture distinctly different and the food completely different from the rest of the country.
Festivals and events are celebrated here in a more authentic way. Some say that the best way to experience Thai culture is in Chiang Mai. The old city center has about 100 temples and is surrounded by city moats. The night market is known far and wide as the opportunity to make a good hit. Here you will also find members of the many hill tribes from the surrounding mountains who sell their wares here.
Everywhere in Chiang Mai you will find traces of the ancient Lanna empire. Lanna, meaning one million rice fields, was once a kingdom in northern Thailand surrounding the city of Chiang Mai. The kingdom was founded in 1259 by King Mengrai the Great, who succeeded his father as leader of the Chiang Saen kingdom. In 1262 he built the city of Chiang Rai, a capital named after himself. The kingdom grew rapidly after that. In 1296 he founded Chiang Mai, which also became the new capital of his empire.
Interim score
The current poll shows the following standings on November 3:
- Chiang Mai (18%, 75 Votes)
- Bangkok (16%, 66 Votes)
- Isaan (14%, 58 Votes)
- Ayutthaya (8%, 35 Votes)
- Songkran (8%, 34 Votes)
- Loy krathong (8%, 32 Votes)
- Islands (6%, 25 Votes)
- Beaches (6%, 24 Votes)
- Temples (5%, 22 Votes)
- Kanchanaburi (4%, 15 Votes)
- Klongs (Channels) (3%, 13 Votes)
- Markets (3%, 12 Votes)
- Golden Triangle (2%, 7 Votes)
- Mehkong (1%, 3 Votes)
- Hill Tribes (0%, 3 Votes)
Total votes: 424
You can still vote for the most important attraction in Thailand. In the left column is the poll and the results. If you haven't voted yet, do so quickly because soon we will announce the final result.
I think it's fine that the Isan is in third place, even if it were in first place, forgive me because I would like to believe that it is worth seeing there.
I've never been there either, so I don't want to judge it, but I can't quite escape the impression that those who voted for it because their girlfriend / wife comes from there. 😉
I think so too, because if you place it under the category “you absolutely must see it as a tourist” you can ask why tourist organizations ignore this gem. I would quickly explore such a gold mine if I were them, but then again it is no longer the Isaan of course.
I once lived there for a year and there are indeed a lot of places of interest in Isaan. The reason why the tourist organizations ignore this, in my humble opinion, is because the sites are too far apart and the necessary accommodations are not always available in Isaan
This is happening now even though more and more travel agencies are now organizing trips to Isaan. You should think of Korat, Udon Thani, SiSaKet, Ubon Ratchatani etc. What is also very popular in these regions are the homestays. So if you still want a fairly unspoilt piece of Thailand I would say go, but don't expect luxury as most of you are used to in BKK and Chiang Mai, you really take a step back in time (outside the big cities).
I know Isaan very well, but also the rest of Thailand. Outside the big cities, you always go back in time. This is not typical for the Isaan. Many stay in Isaan, partly because of their wives, and then think - now I have seen the real Thailand, I don't have to look any further. I would say, leave Isaan and travel through Thailand and stay outside the big cities. You will then see that Isaan is less unique than you think.
I agree with you because those who firmly say that always have a girlfriend/wife who is from there. Of the couples I know in the Netherlands, the woman is without any exception an Isan and then the topic of conversation quickly turns to that northeastern area of Thailand.
Nothing against it, but I have sometimes been 'accused' of being a kind of cultural barbarian because if you have never been to Isan then you have never been to Thailand, that is the real Thailand is always added hastily .
First of all, I am pleased and wish it wholeheartedly that people in Isan are having such a good time, but the funny thing on the other hand is that the woman is not so lyrical about it, she thinks it's good that way because she thinks it much more important - which is understandable - that she sees her family again on holiday after having stayed in our frog country for a year.
Spoke the last time with a very nice man in the waiting room before departure back to Amsterdam who firmly claimed that the Isan is the most beautiful part of Thailand, but in the course of the conversation it soon became clear that he had actually been nowhere else in Thailand. a country that is about the same size as France…
Yes, the famous places such as Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai or one of the islands and if he had already seen other areas it was from a train or bus window…and when asked where else he had been in the Isan than just the village of his girlfriend and the nearest large town - in his case Khorat - he failed to answer.
Of course self-evident and admittedly my girlfriend had been an Isan then I would have visited there a long time ago, but in my love for her I immediately wanted to label it as the paradise of Thailand or even greater, the earth is grossly exaggerated.
It has not happened yet and I have already read a lot of tips on this blog, so I will gladly visit the Isan, that is. 🙂
Many will think by my reaction that I am an anti-Isaan person but I can assure you that the opposite is true.
I can only confirm all the beautiful things that are told and written about this region. It has been a long time since I have been there, but the memories of the landscape and people are undoubtedly positive.
The region will undoubtedly have developed further and bloggers who live in Isaan will certainly be able to tell more about Isaan than I can.
What I just want to make clear is that Thailand is more than the Isan.
You can often tell by looking at the writer of an article or response. They usually mention that they live in, are married to someone or are on leave in Isaan.
You never see that with bloggers from, say, Trat, Lampang, Tak, Surat or anywhere else.
It seems as if they want to make something clear to the readers with the extra mention (Isaan). I don't know what. Should we perhaps rate their response higher because it comes from someone who lives in the “real” Thailand?
Well, as I said, I don't want to come across as an anti-Isaan person.
Within 12 days I will leave for Surin for a few days and enjoy the Surin Elephant Festival for a few days. But where is Surin now…..
Live in the golden triangle. Thoeng is called the "Isaan" village. 75 km from Laos and 140 km from
Burma. Chiangrai is 75 km away from me and Chiangmai, I think about 300 km.
I therefore say visit a ”' Isaan ”' village. Many Isaan villages are not as far away from civilization as people think.
That's possible, but why on earth should a tourist have to see an Isaan village? And do you think that after x number of visits by tourists it would still be an “Isaan village”?
Ronny Ladphrao,
For anyone who is interested in the real Thailand and wants to get a real picture of Thailand, a visit to the Isaan is recommended.
Why tourist organizations have not (yet) included Isaan in their programs. is a matter of time. After all, many villages are not so far from civilization anymore.
It is hoped that the people of the Isan villages will always keep their culture, just like that
like the hill tribes, where many tourists come
Songkran and Loy krathong are celebrations that take place all over the country.
According to me, it depends on what date you are here, although this will be celebrated for longer in various places.
For me personally, it's enough after 1 day, I have no shortage of bumping into a lot of drunk people early in the evening.
Chiang Mai can also be placed under the golden triangle according to my travel agent.
So this can coincide with something you have to experience.
Even the Hillybillies can be found everywhere such as markets, but there are some exceptions that must be mentioned by name.
I have a question we are going to Changmai again for a month in Jan. Who of you knows a nice place to visit by train. I don't know if lampang is a long ride with the tein and if it is a nice place to to visit. Maybe one of you has a nice suggestion for us. Thanks in advance. Mary.
Lampun and Lampang are very nice places to visit. From Chiangmai it is about an hour's drive by car to Lampang. You can get there by train and very easily by bus. All interprovincial buses to and from CM stop in Lampang and a smaller bus departs from the center every hour. Lampun, a smaller but picturesque town located between CM and Lampang is not accessible by train.
Personally, very personally, I hope that less and less travel organizers include the Isan in their travel package.
As few tourists as possible, the main reason for me to live there.
hello hans, do you have tips for us, what a tourist would like to see / do in isaan, thanks in advance jacqueline
hello, we are going to travel around Thailand for 3 months, (for the 4th time) the first month with 4 and we are going to the south. The next month there are two of us and we want to see something of eastern Thailand, then 2 friends will come and join us. for 16 days, we will go to Kanchanaburi, and finally, with the two of us to Pattaya, now my question is about eastern Thailand (Isaan), I have no idea where we could go, and with what transport, to to see something beautiful in that area and to do fun things
all tips are gratefully accepted jacqueline
I am extremely satisfied with my hometown Chiang Mai, where I have lived for 11 years. However, I would like to add a caveat. For God's sake, don't go there from the end of February to the start of the rainy season. The air is then so polluted that I leave for the Netherlands because of lung complaints.
Gert..completely true. We, my sister and I went there with a domestic flight at the end of February last year. From misery such as sore throat and red eyes due to the polluted air, we unfortunately very quickly went back to Hua Hin where I always hibernate for a few months.
Maybe next January or early February try again
Soon I will spend a few weeks in Thailand (traveling alone), following a visit to the Philippines. Would like to spend a week in the north/northeast. I have been to Chiang Mai for 2 days on business, hardly seen anything, but I was also looking at Khon Kaen for accommodation, for example. Can someone tell me if the last place offers enough to spend a week or is Chiang Mai a better destination? Then I will go to Bangkok and possibly also a few days to the coast.
That is completely true what you say about the air pollution is correct. We were also in Changmai last Feb and my husband coughed badly. I went to a pharmacy to get something for him. He was almost suffocating even at home he still had problems we knew not true. Later we read on Thai blog about the air pollution so that must have been it. We also got into a conversation with a Belgian couple, that woman was even taken to the hospital because she was so short of breath. you see but if you don't know that you can get serious problems with your airways.