<strong>Welcome to Isaan: </strong>With more than 22 million residents,<strong> </strong>Isaan is Thailand's most populous region. Made up of 20 provinces, it's famed for its intensely flavorful cuisine, serene Mekong valley scenery and a strong list of natural and historical attractions.
Welcome to Isaan: With more than 22 million residents, Isaan is Thailand's most populous region. Made up of 20 provinces, it's famed for its intensely flavorful cuisine, serene Mekong valley scenery and a strong list of natural and historical attractions.
David Luekens/CNN
<strong>Fishing on the Mekong: </strong>In Ban Phaeng district in Nakhon Phanom province -- an area with considerable Vietnamese influence -- net fishers say upstream dams have reduced their catches in recent years.
Fishing on the Mekong: In Ban Phaeng district in Nakhon Phanom province -- an area with considerable Vietnamese influence -- net fishers say upstream dams have reduced their catches in recent years.
David Luekens/CNN
<strong>Bueng Kan Three Whale Rock: </strong>Domestic tourists stand on one of the largest of the sandstone boulders that make up the Three Whale Rock in Phu Pha Singh Forest Park in Bueng Kan province. The Mekong River is faintly visible on the horizon.
Bueng Kan Three Whale Rock: Domestic tourists stand on one of the largest of the sandstone boulders that make up the Three Whale Rock in Phu Pha Singh Forest Park in Bueng Kan province. The Mekong River is faintly visible on the horizon.
David Luekens/CNN
<strong>Wat Phu Tok cliff walk: </strong>While care is necessary when strolling the walkways at Wat Phu Tok in Bueng Kan province, decades of monks and tourists visiting without incident have proven their sturdiness.
Wat Phu Tok cliff walk: While care is necessary when strolling the walkways at Wat Phu Tok in Bueng Kan province, decades of monks and tourists visiting without incident have proven their sturdiness.
David Luekens/CNN
<strong>Sao Homestay: </strong>A passenger catches a ride in an Isaan-style tuk tuk in front of Sao Homestay Tai Yor, which charges 199 baht per night ($6.62), per person, including meals. Focusing entirely on domestic tourists, its motto is "Eat Mekong fish and cruising."
Sao Homestay: A passenger catches a ride in an Isaan-style tuk tuk in front of Sao Homestay Tai Yor, which charges 199 baht per night ($6.62), per person, including meals. Focusing entirely on domestic tourists, its motto is "Eat Mekong fish and cruising."
David Luekens/CNN
<strong>Khong Chiam:</strong> A young boy shows off his catch one morning on the riverfront in Khong Chiam, the easternmost district of Ubon Ratchathani province.
Khong Chiam: A young boy shows off his catch one morning on the riverfront in Khong Chiam, the easternmost district of Ubon Ratchathani province.
David Luekens/CNN
<strong>Friendship Bridge 2: </strong>A lone truck carries live pigs across the Friendship Bridge 2 from Thailand's Mukdahan province to Savannakhet in Laos. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, only approved commercial vehicles are able to use Thai-Lao border crossings.
Friendship Bridge 2: A lone truck carries live pigs across the Friendship Bridge 2 from Thailand's Mukdahan province to Savannakhet in Laos. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, only approved commercial vehicles are able to use Thai-Lao border crossings.
David Luekens/CNN
<strong>Heavy load:</strong> A man with some serious stacking skills transports lounge chairs in Nakhon Phanom province.
Heavy load: A man with some serious stacking skills transports lounge chairs in Nakhon Phanom province.
David Luekens/CNN
<strong>Local livestock: </strong>Water buffaloes temporarily block the road in a rural area somewhere between Bang Phaeng and Nakhon Phanom city.
Local livestock: Water buffaloes temporarily block the road in a rural area somewhere between Bang Phaeng and Nakhon Phanom city.
David Luekens/CNN
<strong>Mee krathi at Raan Yor Taen: </strong>At Raan Yor Taen in Nakhon Phanom, rice noodles join a relatively mild coconut curry sauce in a delicious regional dish called mee krathi.
Mee krathi at Raan Yor Taen: At Raan Yor Taen in Nakhon Phanom, rice noodles join a relatively mild coconut curry sauce in a delicious regional dish called mee krathi.
David Luekens/CNN
<strong>Riverfront in Tha Uthen:</strong> Late light on the riverfront at Tha Uthen, a town located north of Nakhon Phanom city, capital of the province of the same name. Across the river you can see the limestone massifs of Tha Khaek in Laos, an area that was popular with adventure travelers before the pandemic hit.
Riverfront in Tha Uthen: Late light on the riverfront at Tha Uthen, a town located north of Nakhon Phanom city, capital of the province of the same name. Across the river you can see the limestone massifs of Tha Khaek in Laos, an area that was popular with adventure travelers before the pandemic hit.
David Luekens/CNN
<strong>Nakhon Phanom Street: </strong>Nakhon Phanom has several attractive heritage buildings set near one of Thailand's longest riverfront walkways.
Nakhon Phanom Street: Nakhon Phanom has several attractive heritage buildings set near one of Thailand's longest riverfront walkways.
David Luekens/CNN
<strong>Mukdahan dancers in Don Tan: </strong>A group of dancers gets a kick out of the foreigner who showed up to photograph them in Don Tan, a town in the countryside of Mukdahan province.
Mukdahan dancers in Don Tan: A group of dancers gets a kick out of the foreigner who showed up to photograph them in Don Tan, a town in the countryside of Mukdahan province.
David Luekens/CNN
<strong>Nam Tok Saeng Chan Waterfall: </strong>Nam Tok Saeng Chan in Pha Taem National Park is a waterfall that cascades through a hole in the roof of a rock ledge.
Nam Tok Saeng Chan Waterfall: Nam Tok Saeng Chan in Pha Taem National Park is a waterfall that cascades through a hole in the roof of a rock ledge.
David Luekens/CNN
<strong>Fresh off the grill:</strong> Grilled fish and frogs at the bursting market in Phibun Mangsahan, a district in the central part of Ubon Ratchathani province.
Fresh off the grill: Grilled fish and frogs at the bursting market in Phibun Mangsahan, a district in the central part of Ubon Ratchathani province.
David Luekens/CNN
<strong>Market vendor:</strong> Perusing the produce at the market in Phibun Mangsahan. This small city in Ubon Ratchathani province is also known for its giant gongs and steamed buns.
Market vendor: Perusing the produce at the market in Phibun Mangsahan. This small city in Ubon Ratchathani province is also known for its giant gongs and steamed buns.
David Luekens/CNN
<strong>Picnic food: </strong>A picnic of grilled frogs stuffed with herbs, grilled fish, Isaan-style som tam, pork meatballs, chilli paste made with fermented fish and chilli paste made with wild mushrooms to go with steamed sticky rice, grilled sticky rice flour cakes and sticky rice grilled with egg.
Picnic food: A picnic of grilled frogs stuffed with herbs, grilled fish, Isaan-style som tam, pork meatballs, chilli paste made with fermented fish and chilli paste made with wild mushrooms to go with steamed sticky rice, grilled sticky rice flour cakes and sticky rice grilled with egg.
David Luekens/CNN
<strong>Sirindhorn Reservoir:</strong> Water buffaloes graze on a narrow isthmus at Sirindhorn Reservoir near Khong Chiam.
Sirindhorn Reservoir: Water buffaloes graze on a narrow isthmus at Sirindhorn Reservoir near Khong Chiam.
David Luekens/CNN
<strong>Ban Nong Doen Tha schoolhouse: </strong>With their umbrellas hung on the balcony, students could be heard shouting out answers in this schoolhouse during a recent visit to the village of Ban Nong Doen Tha.
Ban Nong Doen Tha schoolhouse: With their umbrellas hung on the balcony, students could be heard shouting out answers in this schoolhouse during a recent visit to the village of Ban Nong Doen Tha.
David Luekens/CNN