I have friends in the USA asking me all the time, what is rural Isaan really like?
I guess the closest description would be to a farm belt in the USA.
Very small villages all centered around sugarcane and rice farming.
The per capita income is very poor at < US $2,000 per year.
There are no brand names stores, although an occasional 7 Eleven is popping up here.
No grocery stores, so all food is sourced in local village markets.
There are no air conditioned restaurants, so you have to get use to eating outside.
It’s boring ok, there, I said it.
There are no movie theaters or any entertainment of any kind.
There are no bars and NO socializing with other foreigners, because there aren’t any.
Once in a while a Thai music show will set up and that is the highlight of the entertainment for the year.
There really isn’t anything to do in any of the villages except eat together with friends and family.
Although 1 to 2 hours away by car, you start to find plenty of interesting local things to see and do, which are all free!
It is a very slow paced life, understanding as a foreigner locals have limited education and do things how they are use to doing them, which can be annoying to foreigners.
Isaan drivers are the worst in the world. No driver’s education and many drive with no license.
Law enforcement in the village is very lax. I think the police understand this is farming country and people having been doing things this way for 100 years.
Elders may have only gone to 4rth grade or not all all, cannot expect to reason with them or have them changed bad behaviors.
Most foreigners end up here by marrying a Thai.
Some foreigners enjoy being the only one in the village, not having to associate with other foreigners.
They are genuinely very nice foreigners, if you happen to run into one.
Most foreigners are much older, in their late 60’s or 70’s.
It is a very simple, quiet life.
It is the genuine Thailand, how people with limited income have to live.
Rural Isaan is not for everyone. You have to be able to adapt and live like a Thai. You have to accept things are the way they are.
It is very cheap, open country farming, with locals that love foreigners and have the best hearts; always willing to help for nothing.
Rural Isaan is a great place to live.
We can always go on a holiday to the tourist parts of Thailand if feel the need, but no need to live in that madness every single day.
Rural Isaan in Thailand, living like a Thai is the way to embrace the culture.