Just a couple of days, with an emphasis on arts and crafts and those sort of things, a culture holiday hehe. All tips are greatly appreciated. Flying from Phuket, what is the best destination , Udon Thani? Khon Kaen? Thx!

The difference between Phuket and Isaan is that while you can tour the first in a day or two, you can't expect to do the same with the second.

 

Isaan covers roughly 40% of Thailand...it is a very big place!

 

Just touring one of its big provinces, such as Ubon for example, requires more time than what you have.

 

Like everywhere else, traditional arts and crafts are following the way of the dodo...

There are a few remaining places, here and there, generally not directly accessible from an airport.

To witness local traditions, dances, costumes and so on, you'd better come for a special occasion, a local festival...

For arts and crafts probably Chiang Mai. Sorry, lanna not Isaan

Found a handicrafts tour in Khon Kaen with good reviews. Will give it a try, thats one day.  After that one day exploring the city and then we are pretty  much done. Not the end of the world if this doesnt end up being the most exciting thing ever. Alrdy been to Chiang mai a bunch of times.

14 minutes ago, Brunolem said:

The difference between Phuket and Isaan is that while you can tour the first in a day or two, you can't expect to do the same with the second.

 

Isaan covers roughly 40% of Thailand...it is a very big place!

 

Just touring one of its big provinces, such as Ubon for example, requires more time than what you have.

 

Like everywhere else, traditional arts and crafts are following the way of the dodo...

There are a few remaining places, here and there, generally not directly accessible from an airport.

To witness local traditions, dances, costumes and so on, you'd better come for a special occasion, a local festival...

You are right.. it isn't easy to find traditional crafts and the area is huge.. there are a couple of villages in Kalasin province that are traditional silk weaving villages ... but a very long drive from KK.. many people still weave traditional 'seua'.. the reed sleeping mats but that requires local knowledge.. I have heard of a silk village near Khon Kaen but I would have to do some research to find it.. Visiting during a festival is certainly the best time.. Thais love parades and there are often markets at the same time with hand crafts.. but.. it isn't easy.. Also... Nakhon Phanom has an indigo dye tradition that is being revived.. I've seen some very nice work from there.. good luck..

Having thought about it a bit.. one of the places that I enjoyed visiting is Ban Chiang... about 50 ks east of Udon Thani... It is an ancient village site that was discovered in 1966..  it has a good museum with very good exhibits nicely presented (with English descriptions).. an archaeological site  that you can visit with interesting artifacts that you can view in situe..  The town has many shops selling reproductions of the ancient pottery and a few other crafts.. It is a few years since I visited and there wasn't much accommodation in the town but that may have changed.. a Google search for accommodation  refers you to Udon.. so a day trip may be the go.. or take pot luck on finding something there...  Here is a link to Wikipedia information on Ban Chiang...   

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ban_Chiang

Thanks!