Isaan is a wonderful part of Thailand to visit if you have tired of Khao San Road, one temple after another, or the beach. The relative isolation and underdevelopment of the area mean that Isaan is one of the poorest regions of Thailand; this also means that it is a good place to get a little off the beaten track.
While the national language Thai is used in schools and thus well-understood, the local '''Isaan dialect''' is closely related to Lao. Khmer is also widely spoken in areas near the Cambodian border. Although the person you meet in the market might speak little or no English, it's more likely than not that they are already bilingual or multilingual.
Frequent bus services go everywhere.
Regular train services connect Bangkok with Ubon Ratchathani (via Nakhon Ratchasima, Buriram, Surin, Si Saket and other stations along the way) and Nong Khai (via Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, etc).
Depending on where you're coming from and where you want to get to, buses, minibuses, songthaews, motorbikes and bicycles are all good ways to get around.
The train system is also a good way to get around, however the number of locations served is limited.
Isaan cuisine borrows heavily from Lao cuisine and is distinctly different from central Thai cooking, although there has been a considerable amount of cross-pollination. Perhaps the best-known Isaan dish is ''som tam'' (or ''tam mak hung'' in Lao/Isaan), a spicy salad prepared from unripe papayas. While Thais prepare this with dried shrimp, in Isaan the preferred style is with preserved crab (''puu'') or mudfish, an acquired taste. Other characteristic dishes include roast chicken (''kai yaang''), sticky rice (''khao niaw'') and a wide variety of cold meat, mint and lemon juice "salads" known as ''larb''.
A word of warning: Isaan food is known even among Thais for being fiery hot!
The main drink in Isaan is a wonderful spirit which combines orange juice with chilly peppers and rum. It is a must for all visitors.