Nan Thailand

Nan is one of Thailand's most isolated provinces, covered in thick forested mountains and endowed with rich river valleys. The province is sandwiched between Chiang Rai and Phrae provinces to the west and Laos to the east. Most of the inhabitants are involved in agriculture, growing beans, corn, sticky rice and tobacco in the fertile river plains. Ethnic tribes dwell on the hillside around the Nan River valley; predominately Mien, with smaller groups of Hmong. There is also a presence of lesser known hill tribes that only reside in this region, like the Thai Lü, Khamu and Htin and a small nomadic group known as 'The People of the Yellow Leaves' who move on when their huts made of green leaves turn yellow.

The provincial capital of Nan is situated on the banks of the River Nan - the third longest river in Thailand at 627 km. It was once the centre of an independent kingdom that had little association with its neighbours. In the mid 13th century, gathered together with several other small states, the more powerful Nanthaburi was formed. An association with the Sukhothai kingdom was formed, but its remoteness allowed the state a considerable amount of independence. In the latter part of the 14th century it became a principality of the northern Lanna Thai kingdom and continued to flourish through to the 15th century. However, in 1587 the Burmese wrestled control of the kingdom, transporting many of the inhabitants to Burma to become slaves. Nan became barren and all but abandoned up until the end of the 18th century.

The historic figure of King Taksin, who re-trouped the Thai army and reclaimed the northern lands after the destruction of Ayutthaya, also wrestled the kingdom from the Burmese. Although it then came under the control of the Thai kingdom, it once again had more or less full independence. It was not until 1931 that it came under complete compliance with Bangkok rule. This was stretched in the 1970's when the region became a bastion for the communist insurgents.

Ang Thong | Ayutthaya | Bangkok | Chachoengsao | Chai Nat | Kanchanaburi | Lopburi | Nakhon Nayok | Nakhon Pathom | Nonthaburi | Pathum Thani | Prachinburi | Ratchaburi | Sa Kaeo | Samut Prakan | Samut Sakhon | Samut Songkhram | Saraburi | Singburi | Suphanburi |

Chantaburi | Pattaya | Rayong | Trat |

Amnat Charoen | Buriram | Chaiyaphum | Kalasin | Khon Kaen | Loei | Mahasarakham | Nakhon Phanom | Nakhon Ratchasima | Nong Bua Lamphun | Nong Khai | Roi Et | Sakon Nakhon | Si Sa Ket | Surin | Ubon Ratchathani | Udon Thani | Yasothon |

Chiang Mai | Chiang Rai | Kamphaeng Phet | Lampang | Lamphun | Mae Hong Sorn | Nakhon Sawan | Nan | Phayao | Phetchabun | Phichit | Phitsanulok | Phrae | Sukhothai | Tak | Uthai Thani | Uttaradit |

Chumphon | Koh Samui | Krabi | Nakhon Si Thammarat | Narathiwat | Phang Nga | Phattalung | Phetchaburi | Phi Phi | Phuket | Prachuab Khiri Khan | Ranong | Satun | Songkhla | Surat Thani | Trang | Yala |