Nan Province จังหวัดน่าน

Nan Province จังหวัดน่าน is one of the provinces in the Northern Region of Thailand. It is bordered by Laos to the north and east, and by Uttaradit Province to the south, Phrae Province to the southwest and Phayao Province to the northwest.

Nan Province covers the isolated Nan River valley. It is a remote part of Thailand that is sparsely populated. The area covers 11,472 sq km (4,429 sq mi) but has a population of just 477,000 people (2012 estimate). It is the 13th largest province and the 55th most populous, but it terms of population density, it ranks 73rd.

Cut off from other places, Nan existed for centuries as a remote, independent kingdom. The earliest kingdom to be established here was the city of Mueang Pua, also called Varanagara, in the late 13th century. It was initially related to the rulers of Vientiane, but later came under the Kingdom of Sukhothai.

When the Kingdom of Sukhotai began its decline in the 15th century, Nan became a vassal state of the Lanna Kingdom. Over time, the Lanna Kingdom was under Burmese control, and by extension, Nan, which eventually came under direct Burmese rule in 1714. In 1788, the Burmese were replaced by the Siamese. During the Paknam crisis of 1893, Siam had to give up a large chunk of Nan to French Indochina. The remainer part saw some shifts in boundary before becoming present-day Nan Province.

Nan Province is divided into 15 districts or amphoe, namely Mueang Nan (Nan Town), Mae Charim, Ban Luang, Na Noi, Pua, Tha Wang Pha, Wiang Sa, Thung Chang, Chiang Klang, Na Muen, Santi Suk, Bo Kluea, Song Khwae, Phu Phiang and Chaloem Phra Kiat.

Places of Interest in Nan Province

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