Literally translated,
‘Loei’ means ‘beyond’
or ‘to the furthest extreme’,
a name most suitable for this province
that lies in the northernmost part of
the Northeastern region, bordered at the
top by Laos and the Mekong River. Though
part of Northeastern Thailand, its geography
and climate is more similar to those of
Northern Thailand. Consisting mainly of
mountains, large and small, it is cold
and foggy in the winter and searing hot
in the summer. In the past, bureaucrats
based in Bangkok who had fallen out of
favor of the Siamese government were sent
to this remote town as punishment. Fortunately,
the province’s isolation helped
it retain its local traditions. Some national
parks here are major tourist destinations.
Loei is 520 kilometres from Bangkok. It has
an area of about 11,426 square kilometres and
is divided into the following districts: Muang,
Wang Saphung, Phu Kradueng, Chiang Khan, Pak
Chom, Tha Li, Phu Ruea, Dan Sai, Na Haeo, Na
Duang, Phu Luang, Pha Khao, Erawan and Nong
Hin.
