Muban (Thai : หมู่บ้าน ; RTGS: mu ban) is the lowest administrative sub-division of Thailand. Usually translated as 'village' and sometimes as 'hamlet', they are a subdivision of a tambon (subdistrict). As of 2008 [update] , there were 74,944 administrative mubans in Thailand. [1] As of the 1990 census, the average village consisted of 144 households or 746 persons.
Muban may function as one word, in the sense of a hamlet or village, and as such may be shortened to ban. Mu ban may also function as two words, i.e., หมู่ 'group' (of) บ้าน 'homes'.
Such village names are not part of a household address, unless Ban is retained as part of the toponym when such a settlement is upgraded—e.g., a household in Ban Dan would be addressed as Ban No.__ Mu No.__, Ban Dan Sub-district, Ban Dan District, Buriram; or #/# T[ambon] Ban Dan, A[mphoe] Ban Dan, Buriram 31000.
Each such mu or group is led by a headman, usually called village headman or village chief (Thai : ผู้ใหญ่บ้าน; RTGS: phu yai ban), [2] who is elected by the population of the village and then appointed by the Ministry of the Interior. The headman has two assistants, one for governmental affairs and one for security affairs. There also may be a village committee with elected members from the village, serving as an advisory body of a village. Originally the village headman, once elected, was in office until reaching retirement age. They now only serve for a five-year term but can then apply for reelection. The same is true for the office of kamnan (กำนัน) or 'sub-district headman' at the next higher tambon (sub-district) level.
Communities (ชุมชน) or neighborhoods that are part of a town or city ( thesaban mueang and thesaban nakhon ) have no equivalent to village headmen, but may be organized into community associations having advisory committees.
Muban (or more fully muban chat san, หมู่บ้านจัดสรร), is also the Thai term for 'housing estate' or 'gated community'.
Buriram Province, is one of Thailand's seventy-six provinces (changwat) lies in lower northeastern Thailand also called Isan. Neighboring provinces are Sa Kaeo, Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Maha Sarakham, and Surin. To the southeast it borders Oddar Meancheay of Cambodia. The name "Buriram" means 'city of happiness'.
Tambon is a local governmental unit in Thailand. Below district (amphoe) and province (changwat), they form the third administrative subdivision level. As of 2016 there were 7,255 tambons, not including the 180 khwaeng of Bangkok, which are set at the same administrative level, thus every district contains eight to ten tambon. Tambon is usually translated as "township" or "subdistrict" in English — the latter is the recommended translation, though also often used for king amphoe, the designation for a subdistrict acting as a branch of the parent district. Tambon are further subdivided into 69,307 villages (muban), about ten per tambon. Tambon within cities or towns are not subdivided into villages, but may have less formal communities called chumchon (ชุมชน) that may be formed into community associations.
Bamnet Narong is a district (amphoe) in the southwestern part of Chaiyaphum Province, northeastern Thailand.
Ban Lat is a district (amphoe) in the central part of Phetchaburi Province, western Thailand.
Mueang Rayong is the capital district of Rayong Province, Thailand. The provincial administration is in Tambon Map Ta Phut.
Ban Dan is a district (amphoe) of Buriram Province, northeastern Thailand.
Ban Kruat is a district (amphoe) of Buriram Province, northeastern Thailand.
Mueang Uttaradit is the capital district of Uttaradit Province, northern Thailand.
Ban Mai Chaiyaphot is a district (amphoe) of Buriram Province, northeastern Thailand.
Mueang Prachinburi District is the capital district of Prachinburi Province, eastern Thailand.
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Mueang Buriram is the capital district of Buriram Province, northeastern Thailand.
Khaen Dong is a district (amphoe) in the northern part of Buriram Province, northeastern Thailand.
Khu Mueang is a district (amphoe) in the northern part of Buriram Province, northeastern Thailand.
Huai Rat is a district (amphoe) of Buriram Province, northeastern Thailand.
Satuek is a district (amphoe) in the northeastern part of Buriram Province, northeastern Thailand.
Na Pho is the northernmost district (amphoe) of Buriram Province, northeastern Thailand.
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The Thai addressing system is used to identify a specific location in Thailand. It generally corresponds closely with the administrative divisions of Thailand.