Tai Dom Village in Loei (Thai-Dom)

We went to a cultural village, coming back from Chiang Khan. “It is maybe around 20 km from Chiang Khan toward Loei city. I read about it in a book and wanted to see what it was like. At first, we saw almost nothing and thought it was a joke. There was just one house in bamboo, obviously built for tourist. My wife said it remembered her where she grew up in Maha Sarakham (she is from Korat but lived there when very young) about 35 years ago. Cool but I was disappointed. There are some explanations in Thai and if you are lucky, go in Friday. They have more activities to what we were told. On google maps, put these numbers in the search for the location of thus place. (17.798697,101.73630). However, if you wanna see the real thing, you should go back in the village and look for the weaving factory. From memory, the location about at (17.797099,101.741767) on google maps. There is a shop, a weaving factory and a traditional house transformed in museum. It’s free to visit. The handicraft are very nice and cheap. We met the people making them and they explained to us a little more. Dom is for ‘black’ the color of the skin. The Tai-Dom were living in Vietnam/Laos. France gave some territory to China and the Tai-Dom moved into Thailand more than a century ago (I read 1905). They built that village, where you can see a lot of their influences in clothes and houses. These people had their own alphabet’ We bought some handicraft and sincerely, there was much more there if you can avoid the ‘tourist area’ and go into the village. The houses remind me the south of China. If you are near Chiang Khai and love architecture, history and handicraft, this place is a hidden gem in Isaan. More pictures here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/50651722@N03/sets/72157628680083207/ More info here: http://www.tatnews.org/emagazine/5144.asp

Visitor Tips

Tai Dom Village In Loei Thai Dom

Located in Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat), this is one of the many dining options available to visitors and expats in the Isaan region of Thailand. When visiting restaurants in Korat, it is customary to order several dishes to share. Most restaurants in this area serve both Thai and international cuisine, and staff often speak some English.

Getting There

Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) is located approximately 250 km northeast of Bangkok. You can reach Korat by bus from Bangkok’s Mo Chit terminal (about 3.5 hours), by train from Hua Lamphong station, or by minivan from Chatuchak. Tuk-tuks and songthaews (shared trucks) are the most common local transport within the city.

About Isaan Cuisine

The Isaan region of northeastern Thailand has its own distinct culinary tradition, influenced by Lao and Khmer cultures. Signature dishes include som tam (spicy papaya salad), larb (spiced minced meat salad), sticky rice (khao niao), and grilled chicken (gai yang). Food in Isaan tends to be spicier and more sour than central Thai food, using ingredients like padaek (fermented fish sauce) and fresh herbs.

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About the Tai Dam People

The Tai Dam (ไทดำ) — also written Thai Dam or Tai Dom — are an ethnic group originally from the Black River valley region of what is now northern Vietnam and southern China. Their name means ‘Black Tai’, a reference to their traditional dark-coloured clothing. In Thailand, most Tai Dam communities settled in Loei, Phetchaburi, and Ratchaburi provinces after waves of migration in the 19th and 20th centuries. Unlike the dominant Thai-Lao culture of Isaan, the Tai Dam have preserved distinct customs, language, traditional dress, and spiritual practices centred on ancestor worship.

Traditional Culture Preserved

What makes the Tai Dam cultural village near Chiang Khan worth visiting is the visible preservation of a way of life that has largely disappeared elsewhere. Traditional wooden houses on stilts, hand-woven indigo-dyed textiles, spirit houses (hong phi) reflecting animist belief, and ceremonies connecting the living to their ancestors are all still in active use — not staged for tourists, but lived. Village women often weave at their looms in the mornings, and there may be opportunities to see traditional music or dance depending on your timing.

Getting There

The Tai Dam village is located approximately 20 km from Chiang Khan toward Loei city, off the main Highway 201. It is most conveniently visited while making the scenic drive between Chiang Khan and Loei. The area around Chiang Khan and Loei is known for its cool-season mist, hill scenery, and relaxed atmosphere — the Tai Dam village adds cultural depth to what is otherwise a natural-beauty-focused destination. Admission is free or minimal; buying woven goods directly from the weavers is the best way to support the community.