A quiet and tranquil province, Nan
nestles in a verdant valley in northern
Thailand. About 668 kilometres from Bangkok,
it covers an area of 11,472 square kilometres
and is made up of the following districts:
Muang, Wiang Sa, Na Noi, Pua, Chiang Klang,
Tha Wang Pha, Thung Chang, Mae Charim, Ban
Luang, Na Mun, Santi Suk, Bo Klua, Chaloem
Phra Kiat, Song Khwae, and Phu Phiang.
The people of Nan descend
from the Lan Changs (Laotians). Their
forebears moved to settle around present-day
Pua district which is rich in rock salt
deposits, about 700 years ago at the time
when Sukhothai was becoming the kingdom
of the Thais.
They subsequently
moved south to the fertile Nan River basin
which is much more extensive. Nan's history
is deeply involved with its neighbours,
in particular Sukhothai which played an
important role in both political and religious
terms before Nan became a part of Lanna,
Burma and Thailand in that order. Today
Nan is still the home of numerous Thai
Lue and other hilltribes who retain highly
interesting customs and traditions.
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