Nan, an old town established in the same period of
Sukhothai, home to the sacred Phrathat Chae Haeng
Pagoda, ocupies an area of 11,472.1 square kilometers
and is administratively divided into 12 Amphoes and 1
King
Amphoe : Muang, Chiang Klang, Thung Chang, Tha Wang Pha,
Na Noi, Pua, Wiang Sa, Mae Charim, ban Luang, Na Mun,
Santisuk, Bo Klua and King Amphoe Song Khwae, Located
668
kilometers from Bangkok. 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.
More