Thailand, formerly known as Siam, is divided into 76 provinces or Changwat in Thai language. The Changwat is divided into districts or Amphoe and subdistricts or King Amphoe. Bangkok is divided into 50 districts or Khet. Each province has a capital city or Mueang. The name of the Mueang is the same as the name of the province. In the provinces there is a number of Tambon and Mooban (villages).
All provinces from North to South Please, click on each province to read more about it.
North Thailand (17 provinces)
Chiang Mai Chiang Rai Kamphaeng Phet Lampang Lamphun Mae Hong Son Nakhon Sawan Nan Phayao Phetchabun Phichit Phitsanulok Phrae Sukhothai Tak Uthai Thani Uttaradit
North-East Thailand (19 provinces)
Amnat Charoen Buriram Chaiyaphum Kalasin Khon Kaen Loei Maha Sarakham Mukdahan Nakhon Phanom Nakhon Ratchasima Nong Bua Lamphu Sakon Nakhon Nong Khai Roi Et Sisaket Surin Ubon Ratchathani Udon Thani Yasothon
East Thailand (7 provinces)
Chachoengsao Chanthaburi Chon Buri Prachin Buri Rayong Sa Kaeo Trat
Central Thailand (19 provinces)
Ang Thong Chai Nat Kanchanaburi Krung Thep Mahanakhon (Bangkok) Lop Buri Nakhon Nayok Nakhon Pathom Nonthaburi Pathum Thani Phetchaburi Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Prachuap Khiri Khan Ratchaburi Samut Prakan Samut Sakhon Samut Songkhram Sara Buri Sing Buri Suphan Buri
South Thailand (14 provinces)
Chumphon Krabi Nakhon Si Thammarat Narathiwat Pattani Phang Nga Phatthalung Phuket Ranong Satun Songkhla Surat Thani Trang Yala
All provinces from North to South Please, click on each province to read more about it.
North Thailand (17 provinces)
Chiang Mai Chiang Rai Kamphaeng Phet Lampang Lamphun Mae Hong Son Nakhon Sawan Nan Phayao Phetchabun Phichit Phitsanulok Phrae Sukhothai Tak Uthai Thani Uttaradit
North-East Thailand (19 provinces)
Amnat Charoen Buriram Chaiyaphum Kalasin Khon Kaen Loei Maha Sarakham Mukdahan Nakhon Phanom Nakhon Ratchasima Nong Bua Lamphu Sakon Nakhon Nong Khai Roi Et Sisaket Surin Ubon Ratchathani Udon Thani Yasothon
East Thailand (7 provinces)
Chachoengsao Chanthaburi Chon Buri Prachin Buri Rayong Sa Kaeo Trat
Central Thailand (19 provinces)
Ang Thong Chai Nat Kanchanaburi Krung Thep Mahanakhon (Bangkok) Lop Buri Nakhon Nayok Nakhon Pathom Nonthaburi Pathum Thani Phetchaburi Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Prachuap Khiri Khan Ratchaburi Samut Prakan Samut Sakhon Samut Songkhram Sara Buri Sing Buri Suphan Buri
South Thailand (14 provinces)
Chumphon Krabi Nakhon Si Thammarat Narathiwat Pattani Phang Nga Phatthalung Phuket Ranong Satun Songkhla Surat Thani Trang Yala
Thai culture, tradition and practice
We are regularly updating the website with new subjects about traditions and characteristics in Thailand. Please click on the links below for further reading:
We are regularly updating the website with new subjects about traditions and characteristics in Thailand. Please click on the links below for further reading:
Muay Thai - Thai Boxing
Muay Thai or Thai boxing is the National Sport of the Kingdom of Thailand. This Thai martial art has also been subject to an increasing popularity almost all over the world and several international associations has been founded. In traditional Thai Boxing the fighters are allowed to use punches, kicks, knees and elbows. Also "arm throws" are accepted (but no "Judo throws"). In Thailand a Thai Boxing match contains of five three-minute rounds and is held in a boxing ring. There are one judge in the ring, and two judges sitting outside the ring ropes. Normally each boxer has two cornermen in their ring corner who are coaching the boxer. In Thai boxing, there are weight divisions, just as in Boxing or Kickboxing. You can win a match on points, TKO (technical knockout) or knockout.
Equipment In Thailand the boxers wear; Thai boxing shorts, boxing gloves, suspensor and sometimes also ankle wraps and mouthguard. In many other countries, the boxer also has to wear headgear during a fight. Before the fight starts the boxers wears a Mong Kon which can be described as a head-band given to a skilled fighter from his teacher. It is removed by the cornerman before the first round.
Short history Thai Boxing has been developed from the ancient Siamese martial arts of Krabi Krabong and Muay Boran both used by Siamese soldiers. In early days, Muay Thai was mostly used as entertainment for the Royal Family and a Thai war prisoner named Nai Khanomtom succeeded (according to the legend) to defeat ten skilled Burmese boxers in about 1774. He is still a respected and well known Muay Thai legend in Thailand.
Tradition and rituals Before each boxing match, the boxers performance a ritual called Wai Kru to show respect for the teacher or Ajarn and the sport. Also a ritual and dance called Ram Muay is performed for warming up and to demostrate the fighters prowess and orign, to music played by Thai men with traditional Thai instruments.
Training at the camp In Thailand the Thai boxing training is performed on a camp or gym. This is a Boxing School with one or (more often) several teachers, which often are successful ex fighters. Many boxers in Thailand starts their training already as children. The training session often begins with a few kilometers of jogging and is followed with mitts or pad work. The students then kicks, hits, knees and elbows the thick leather clothed mitts that held by the teacher. After this so called neck wrestling (clinching) and some muscular strengthening exercises like push ups and sit ups is being done. A serious Thai boxer often do two training sessions per day; one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Strength, condition, swiftness, flexibility and courage is important characters of a Thai boxer which makes the sport very "all-round" and it fits most people who want to get in great shape. Many camps in Thailand offer training for tourists and non-Thais. Many of these camps, but not all, allow female students.
Stadiums In Bangkok you will find the most famous Thai Boxing stadiums:
Lumpini Stadium on Rama IV Road. The fights are held on Tuesdays and Fridays and starts at 6.30 PM. On Saturdays the fights starts at 5 PM.
Ratchadamnoen Stadium on Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue (Not far from Khao San Road and Banglamphu). The fights are held on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. They start at 6.30 PM.
Muay Thai or Thai boxing is the National Sport of the Kingdom of Thailand. This Thai martial art has also been subject to an increasing popularity almost all over the world and several international associations has been founded. In traditional Thai Boxing the fighters are allowed to use punches, kicks, knees and elbows. Also "arm throws" are accepted (but no "Judo throws"). In Thailand a Thai Boxing match contains of five three-minute rounds and is held in a boxing ring. There are one judge in the ring, and two judges sitting outside the ring ropes. Normally each boxer has two cornermen in their ring corner who are coaching the boxer. In Thai boxing, there are weight divisions, just as in Boxing or Kickboxing. You can win a match on points, TKO (technical knockout) or knockout.
Equipment In Thailand the boxers wear; Thai boxing shorts, boxing gloves, suspensor and sometimes also ankle wraps and mouthguard. In many other countries, the boxer also has to wear headgear during a fight. Before the fight starts the boxers wears a Mong Kon which can be described as a head-band given to a skilled fighter from his teacher. It is removed by the cornerman before the first round.
Short history Thai Boxing has been developed from the ancient Siamese martial arts of Krabi Krabong and Muay Boran both used by Siamese soldiers. In early days, Muay Thai was mostly used as entertainment for the Royal Family and a Thai war prisoner named Nai Khanomtom succeeded (according to the legend) to defeat ten skilled Burmese boxers in about 1774. He is still a respected and well known Muay Thai legend in Thailand.
Tradition and rituals Before each boxing match, the boxers performance a ritual called Wai Kru to show respect for the teacher or Ajarn and the sport. Also a ritual and dance called Ram Muay is performed for warming up and to demostrate the fighters prowess and orign, to music played by Thai men with traditional Thai instruments.
Training at the camp In Thailand the Thai boxing training is performed on a camp or gym. This is a Boxing School with one or (more often) several teachers, which often are successful ex fighters. Many boxers in Thailand starts their training already as children. The training session often begins with a few kilometers of jogging and is followed with mitts or pad work. The students then kicks, hits, knees and elbows the thick leather clothed mitts that held by the teacher. After this so called neck wrestling (clinching) and some muscular strengthening exercises like push ups and sit ups is being done. A serious Thai boxer often do two training sessions per day; one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Strength, condition, swiftness, flexibility and courage is important characters of a Thai boxer which makes the sport very "all-round" and it fits most people who want to get in great shape. Many camps in Thailand offer training for tourists and non-Thais. Many of these camps, but not all, allow female students.
Stadiums In Bangkok you will find the most famous Thai Boxing stadiums:
Lumpini Stadium on Rama IV Road. The fights are held on Tuesdays and Fridays and starts at 6.30 PM. On Saturdays the fights starts at 5 PM.
Ratchadamnoen Stadium on Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue (Not far from Khao San Road and Banglamphu). The fights are held on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. They start at 6.30 PM.
Thailand - Hotels and accommodation
Types of accommodations Thailand has a very wide range of hotels, motels, guesthouses and resorts and prices vary widely. Still you can get a room in a rather spartan guesthouse for less than 200 Baht, but if comfort is as important as the price, you will easily find great, comfortable accommodation in most cities and tourist destinations. There are not so many countries that offer such good hotels with such low prices as you will find in Thailand.
Costs of accommodations A room in a guesthouse or in a very simple bungalow costs from about 150 Baht per night. A simple hotel room costs from about 500 Baht and up per night. A room in a middle class hotel costs from about 1000 Baht and up, while a first class room or a suite are from about 5000 Baht and up per night.
Book a room in Thailand safely
Book a hotel in Thailand here. Low prices and safe!
Standard of accommodations The cheapest bungalows and the rooms in cheap guesthouses offer just a small bed, table fan and sometimes a mosquito net if the mosquitos are able to get in. A simple hotel room usually has a simple bathroom, shower (sometimes with warm water) and a fan in the ceiling. A middle class hotel often has air condition, warm water, a small TV, bathtub and a mini bar. (You'll have to pay for what you've been drinking when leaving the hotel) A first class hotel or suite often has a balcony, panorama window, jacuzzi or a large bathtub, DVD player, satellite TV, king size bed and a sofa or a furniture suite.
Safety It is wise to leave your values in the hotel's safety box before you leave your room. It is often found in the reception or in the room. If your belongings are stolen from your room, it is not common that the hotel will compensate you in arrears. Lock your room with the safety chain (if there is one) before you go to sleep.
Types of accommodations Thailand has a very wide range of hotels, motels, guesthouses and resorts and prices vary widely. Still you can get a room in a rather spartan guesthouse for less than 200 Baht, but if comfort is as important as the price, you will easily find great, comfortable accommodation in most cities and tourist destinations. There are not so many countries that offer such good hotels with such low prices as you will find in Thailand.
Costs of accommodations A room in a guesthouse or in a very simple bungalow costs from about 150 Baht per night. A simple hotel room costs from about 500 Baht and up per night. A room in a middle class hotel costs from about 1000 Baht and up, while a first class room or a suite are from about 5000 Baht and up per night.
Book a room in Thailand safely
Book a hotel in Thailand here. Low prices and safe!
Standard of accommodations The cheapest bungalows and the rooms in cheap guesthouses offer just a small bed, table fan and sometimes a mosquito net if the mosquitos are able to get in. A simple hotel room usually has a simple bathroom, shower (sometimes with warm water) and a fan in the ceiling. A middle class hotel often has air condition, warm water, a small TV, bathtub and a mini bar. (You'll have to pay for what you've been drinking when leaving the hotel) A first class hotel or suite often has a balcony, panorama window, jacuzzi or a large bathtub, DVD player, satellite TV, king size bed and a sofa or a furniture suite.
Safety It is wise to leave your values in the hotel's safety box before you leave your room. It is often found in the reception or in the room. If your belongings are stolen from your room, it is not common that the hotel will compensate you in arrears. Lock your room with the safety chain (if there is one) before you go to sleep.
