Your Guide to Thailand’s Regions: Picking Your Top Three

My arrival in Thailand was my first experience coming to Asia. Even though I knew I wanted to go to Thailand, I honestly knew very little about its culture. All I knew was that it was beautiful, the people were kind, and it was a HOT country. The number of cities I learned in Thailand before applying was approximately two. So when I got hit with the question from CIEE, “Please choose your first, second, and third choice region,” I had no clue what to choose. For anyone struggling to determine which top three regions to choose, I’ve provided a quick guide to the different regions! 

Overview:

CIEE divides the country into five regions: North, Northeast, Central, South, and East. For each region, I include information about the general landscape and weather, major cities and travel destinations, food and culture, and things to do / events in the region. I’m also including information about how many people in my CIEE orientation group (Fall 2023) went to which region out of the 109 participants. The numbers I get represent only my group of incoming teachers, so take it with a grain of salt and recognize that this could change from year to year.

Here is a map that shows where some of the major cities are that I might mention throughout the article 

North

Landscape and Weather: 

The north of Thailand is best known for being a mountainous area full of tea plantations and river valleys, bordering both Myanmar and Laos (the area in which all three countries meet is called the Golden Triangle and is a famous tourist attraction). The north has three seasons: “winter” (November to February), summer (March to early May), and rainy season (mid-May to November). The winter can be quite pronounced with temperatures that can go as low as 45 degrees Fahrenheit in the early mornings. The summers can be described as warm to hot.

The burning season is also something to be aware of if placed in the north. This happens during the summer months in March and April. It is the time of year when farmers burn their crops and leave the north highly polluted. During this time it is advised to wear face masks to protect yourself from pollution. 

Major Cities and Travel Destinations: 

There are five main cities you might be interested in seeing/ traveling to in the north. Chiang Mai is the best-known city of the north and is a major hub of transportation. People come to explore the beautiful temples and cultural heritage, but it also connects many other popular destinations of the north. For example, Chiang Rai is easily accessible as a day trip to see the temples the city offers.

The third city you might consider seeing is Sukhothai, the former capital of Thailand. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the temple ruins of the ancient Sukhothai Kingdom. It’s not the most famous place to see ancient ruins in Thailand, but a less touristy place to go in the north. 

The fourth and fifth cities go hand in hand together. Mae Hong Son is a bit off the tourist path for the north. I went to this town when I embarked on a seven-day motorbike loop from Chiang Mai where I stopped in six cities, (including Chiang Mai). The loop was among my favorite travel memories of Thailand. The fifth city at the end of the loop — though most people who go here take a bus directly from Chiang Mai — is Pai. Pai is known as the party city of the north where many young travelers flock to for fun with friends. 

Food and Culture: 

Northern Thailand cuisine tends to be hot and salty, though moderately so, compared to other regions (and much less spicy). Foods are made more of water or broth rather than coconut milk and grilling is a common method of cooking. The most famous dish of the north is Khao Soi, a coconut curry noodle soup. They also eat sticky rice much more often than other regions that typically have Jasmine rice. 

The cultural hub of the north is Chiang Mai, the former capital of the Lanna Kingdom. The Lanna people are a distinct cultural group of ethnically Thai people. They speak their language, Kham Mueang, which is closely related to Thai but still different enough to be considered a separate language. There are many hill tribes in the north and a strong emphasis on preserving traditional customs and ways of life. 

Things to Do: 

Loy Krathong is a national Thai holiday celebrated in November. The holiday pays respect to the goddess of water. For this festival, people create small decorative baskets made from banana leaves, flowers, candles, and incense and float them at night like lanterns on the river. Chiang Mai Loy Krathong festival is the most famous one in Thailand, though there is also a nice one in Sukhothai. 

Additionally, the north is known for elephant sanctuaries. Though you can visit elephant sanctuaries in almost any major city in Thailand, Chiang Mai has many ethical sanctuaries and options to interact with elephants.

Past CIEE Placements 

About 20% of the CIEE teachers were placed in the north. The three most common provinces teachers were placed in were Chiang Rai, Lampang, and Chiang Mai (the first being the most popular and last being least popular). 

Northeast/ Isaan 

Landscape and Weather: 

The Northeast, or Isaan, has a very flat landscape with lots of open plains. Similarly to northern Thailand, Isaan also experiences chilly weather in the winter/ dry season (November - February). In the summer months, it gets extremely hot (around 95-104 degrees) and is considered by many as the hottest region of Thailand. The burning season can still affect this region, but it is typically extreme. Expect these months to have drier air rather than high humidity. The northeast region brings you right to the border with Laos in the northern part and to the border with Cambodia in the southern part.

Major Cities and Travel Destinations: 

There are two main cities in the Northeast: Khon Kaen and Udon Thani (the former being the most famous). Khon Kaen is one of the major educational and economic centers in Isaan. Meanwhile, Udon Thani is best known as a gateway to the Lao border and its financial and commercial center. Additionally, Khao Yai National Park extends from the central region into the northeast region and is one of the most beautiful parks to see in Thailand. 

Food and Culture: 

Isaan cuisine has many parallels to northern food using minimal coconut milk in their cooking and eating primarily sticky rice rather than jasmine rice. One major difference is that Isaan cuisine is known for its strong, bold flavors (spicy, sour, salty, and savory tastes); beware, the food is typically more spicy than in other regions of Thailand. It also relies on more fermented flavors which gives the dishes more of a distinctive tangy taste, such as with fermented fish or sausage. There are many iconic dishes to try in the northeast including Papaya Salad/ Som Tum (the origins of this come from Isaan), Larb, and Nam Tok. 

Isaan is a community-focused region that is highly influenced by Lao culture. Even the main dialect of Isaan bears a strong resemblance to Laotian, and many people speak it alongside Thai. Isaan is also predominantly rural and most of the population relies heavily on agriculture, particularly rice. 

Things to Do: 

Every year Khon Kaen has a yearly silk festival that lasts for two weeks from late November to early December. The area is known for producing silk and the festival aims to promote the quality of the silk and indigenous designs. Additionally, when you head further to the south, toward Cambodia, there are opportunities to see some ruins from the Khmer Empire such as Phanom Rung Historical Park and Phimai Historical Park. 

Past CIEE Placements 

About 16% of the CIEE teachers in my orientation were placed in the north and in two provinces: Kalasin and Khon Kaen, though 75% of these teachers in the northeast went to Khon Kaen. 

South

Landscape and Weather: 

The south is known for its beaches and can be highly popular with tourists in the central part of the region. The weather in the south has two distinct seasons (rather than three): the rainy season and the dry season. Throughout both seasons you can expect it to be humid year-round due to its proximity to the sea. The rainy season also might be longer than in other parts of Thailand and in some cases more extreme (intense flooding). And, of course, expect it to be warm or hot all year without much temperature variation, likely around 85-95 in the summer and 75 to 85 in the winter. One relief is that there isn’t a burning season in the South!

Major Cities and Travel Destinations:

There are three main cities and many islands that function as wonderful tourist destinations and transportation hubs. However, it is important to note that these cities are in the central part of the southern region, and the areas in the north and south of this region are not as explored. Phuket is the largest island in Thailand and a major tourist destination, renowned for its beaches, nightlife, luxury resorts, and water activities. Next is Krabi, known for its limestone cliffs, clear waters, and stunning beaches. Lastly, Surat Thani is the city for anyone heading to islands like Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao. 

Food and Culture: 

Southern Thai food is characterized by rich, creamy curries and heavy use of coconut milk and seafood. It also tends to be very spicy, like what you can expect in Isaan, but with different flavor profiles due to the use of turmeric and other southern spices. Some dishes you might try are Gaeng Tai Pla (a fermented fish curry) and Massaman Curry (a rich, mildly spiced curry with Persian influences). They also typically use jasmine rice.

The culture of southern Thailand is influenced by the neighboring countries of Malaysia and Indonesia. One way you will see this most clearly is the strong Muslim influence, especially the closer you get to Malaysia. Muslim holidays like Hari Raya (Eid al-Fitr) are widely celebrated, with feasts, prayers, and community gatherings, and you may come across Islamic architecture in community buildings and mosques. The region’s culture is also more conservative than other parts of Thailand. 

Things to Do: 

Since the South is known for its beaches and islands, one exciting thing to put on the list is to see fire shows at the beach. Young Thai men will come after nightfall on the weekends to beaches (though mainly resort beaches) to perform a fire and water show.

Past CIEE Placements 

Placement in the South is rare. In my orientation group, exactly two people (2%) were placed in the South. 

East

Landscape and Weather: 

The Eastern region starts east of Bangkok and shares a border on its easternmost side with Cambodia. This region has a significant stretch along the coastline of the Gulf of Thailand, making it into rural Thailand with beach vibes. The areas outside the three biggest cities remain rural with agriculture playing a significant role in the region. This differs from the agriculture of the northeast region by focusing primarily on fruit orchards where durian, mangosteen, and rambutans grow. 

The east has three seasons, similar to the rest of the regions in Thailand. However, there can be a sizable difference in weather, especially during the summer, depending on whether you are inland or along the coast. In general, summers are hot with temperatures between 85 and 95 regularly and high humidity. In the winter, it cools down slightly, though not significantly to be between 75 and 90 with mornings being cooler than in summer. Lastly, during the rainy season, there can be heavy rainfall, especially by the coast, but overall it is generally mild weather compared to other regions. 

Major Cities and Travel Destinations:

There are two major cities in the east: Pattaya and Rayong. Pattaya is the most urbanized and tourist-heavy area in this region and is known for its nightlife scene and beach. Rayong is also a more industrialized city though much less so than Pattaya. Two main islands draw tourists to the east: Koh Chang (one of the biggest islands in Thailand) and Koh Samet (a much smaller and chiller vibe island). 

Food and Culture: 

Eastern cuisine is characterized by seafood and fruit-based dishes. Since this region goes along the coast, the availability of these foods is likely influenced by whether you are inland or by the coast. This area still has spicy food as a main flavor, but adds a twist while also incorporating tropical fruits into cuisine to make it sweet. 

The culture in Eastern Thailand is similar to what one might expect in Central Thailand, though overall more rural than the latter. Buddhism is the primary religion, and it plays an important role in the community and daily life. There is also some Chinese-Thai influence, particularly in Pattaya, and Cambodian influence the closer you get to Cambodia. 

Things to Do: 

One event you might not want to miss in the Eastern province is the Pattaya International Music Festival. It is typically held in March and is one of the biggest music festivals in Thailand, with performances by artists across various genres like pop, rock, and jazz. 

Additionally, in November there is the Pattaya International Fireworks Festival. It’s the biggest and most anticipated event in Pattaya. It has been in the top 3 sea tourism festivals in Asia for two consecutive years by IFEA-Asia, the international tourism association. 

Past CIEE Placements 

37% of the teachers in my orientation group went to this region, and about 50% of these teachers went to the Maryvit school system (my school).

Central

Landscape and Weather: 

Some maps divide Thailand into six regions, one being the west. However, the CIEE application considers the west and central Thailand as one region: central. Generally, it is an urban region with many big and famous cities. Outside the cities, the land is dedicated to agriculture, but as you move further west to Kanchanaburi, the landscape becomes more varied with forests and hills. 

The weather in the central region has three main seasons: summer, winter, and rainy. During the winter months, these areas are milder and dry; you can expect temperatures similar to the east. The rainy season will also have heavy rainfall, but not as extreme as in Southern Thailand. The summer months can get extremely hot, similar to the heat you might experience in the Northeast. Bangkok experiences some of the hottest temperatures in the country during the summer. 

Major Cities and Travel Destinations:

There are three main cities in central Thailand: Bangkok, Ayutthaya, and Kanchanaburi. Bangkok is a massive metropolitan city with almost 11 million people. You can see temples, do incredible shopping, and experience the nightlife. Ayutthaya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of ancient ruins and temples from the Ayutthaya Kingdom. This was the former capital of Thailand and is historically significant. Lastly, Kanchanaburi is another famous place to visit in central Thailand. It is best known for its proximity to Erawan National Park, where visitors can hike up the seven-tiered waterfalls and swim in the waterfall.

Food and Culture: 

The food in central Thailand is likely the one you are most familiar with. I would describe it as standard Thai food with famous meals from all the regions. You'll find papaya salad, Pad Thai, Pad See Eiw, spicy basil, and more.

Things to Do: 

One festival to attend in central Thailand is the Lopburi Monkey Festival in November where there is a feast for the long-tailed macaques in the city. The city is full of monkeys all year round. Keep prized possessions close when near monkeys in touristy areas, as they have learned that phones and cameras are valuable and will steal them from tourists and only give them back in exchange for food!

Thai New Year, Songkran, is a huge water fight festival. Virtually all major cities will have Songkran activities, but Bangkok comes highly recommended by me and many other CIEE participants I’ve spoken with. Lastly, the Chinese New Year in Bangkok is incredible. Chinatown in Bangkok, Yaowarat, is considered the biggest in the world. It’s worth it to at least swing by the area and if possible, spend Chinese New Year there. 

Past CIEE Placements 

My orientation group had about 25% CIEE participants in the central region, with 6 of the 27 teachers in Bangkok. This region was the second most popular region for placement (after the East).