The Isaan is a large area of Thailand which lies behind a range of hills to the northeast of the central plains of Thailand. It is considered the poorest part of Thailand and has hardly been touched by tourist development. The people of the Isaan have roots in the old Khmer culture of Cambodia (along the southern rim) and in Lao culture (in the larger northern part)
There are many ancient cultural sites of the old Khmer
culture, similar to the famous Angkor Wat in Cambodia, throughout the southern
Isaan
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The main entrance to the temple at the hilltop site Phanom Rung (55 km south of Buri Ram). Each week before the Songkran (Water) Festival in April there is a fair here with a Sound and Light show | Prasat Hin Pimai (100 km northwest of Buri Ram) |
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Inside of Phanom Rung temple | Muang Tam temple (about 60 km south of Buri Ram) |
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In November each year there are boat races in Satuk (35 km north of Buri Ram)
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Each year in January Buri Ram hosts the kite festival | with a colourful parade |
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and two days of kite flying competitions