Millions of Isaan migrants brought their food, music, and customs to Bangkok — understanding Isaan explains a lot about the city.
The northeast (Isaan) region is Thailand's largest and poorest — massive migration to Bangkok from the 1980s onwards; Isaan people now make up a huge proportion of Bangkok's working class.
Isaan food (larb, som tum, gai yang, mookata), luk thung and mor lam music, and Isaan dialects are all over Bangkok — much of what feels 'authentically Thai' is actually Isaan.
A distinctively Northeast Thai/Lao music style with frenetic rhythm and nasal vocal style — the luk thung (Thai country music) genre emerged partly from Isaan.
Overnight buses and trains connect Bangkok to Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, and Nakhon Ratchasima — the region deserves its own trip if you have time.
