Muban (Thai : หมู่บ้าน ; RTGS: mu ban, pronounced [mùːbâːn] ) 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. The average land area of villages in Thailand is very small, its average area is about 6.84 km2 (2.64 sq mi), and its average population is also very small, at only 932 people.
Muban may function as one word, in the sense of a hamlet or village, and as such, it 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 a 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 for 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'.
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 74,944 villages (muban) as of 2008. Tambon within cities or towns are not subdivided into villages, but may have less formal communities called chumchon that may be formed into community associations. The average area of a subdistrict in Thailand is about 70.72 km2 (27.31 sq mi), while its average population of a subdistrict in Thailand is about 9,637 people.
Thesaban are the municipalities of Thailand. There are three levels of municipalities: city, town, and sub-district. Bangkok and Pattaya are special municipal entities not included in the thesaban system.
Mueang Kanchanaburi is the capital district of Kanchanaburi province, central Thailand.
Ban Haet is a district (amphoe) of Khon Kaen province, northeastern Thailand.
Ban Dan is a district (amphoe) of Buriram province, northeastern Thailand.
Ban Khok is the northeasternmost district (amphoe) of Uttaradit province, northern Thailand.
Ban Mai Chaiyaphot is a district (amphoe) of Buriram province, northeastern Thailand.
Nong Han is a district (amphoe) of Udon Thani province, northeastern Thailand.
Non Suwan is a district (amphoe) in the western part of Buriram province, northeastern Thailand.
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.
The Thai addressing system is used to identify a specific location in Thailand. It generally corresponds closely with the administrative divisions of Thailand.
Na Pho is a tambon (subdistrict) located in the northwestern region of Buntharik district, in Ubon Ratchathani Province, Thailand. In 2021, it had a population of 8,817 people. Neighbouring subdistricts are Nong Sano, Bua Ngam, Kham Khrang, Kut Prathai, Ang Sila, Non Kalong, and Ban Maet.
Huai Kha is a tambon (subdistrict) located in the northwestern region of Buntharik district, in Ubon Ratchathani Province, Thailand. In 2021, it had a population of 17,799 people. Neighbouring subdistricts are Na Chaluai, Sok Saeng, Non Kho, and Phon Ngam, as well as Soukhoumma and Mounlapamok districts of Laos in the east and south.
Non Kho is a tambon (subdistrict) located in the western region of Buntharik district, in Ubon Ratchathani Province, Thailand. In 2021, it had a population of 7,022 people. Neighbouring subdistricts are Huai Kha, Sok Saeng, Nong Sano, and Bua Ngam.
Dom Pradit is a tambon (subdistrict) located in the southernmost region of Nam Yuen district, in Ubon Ratchathani Province, Thailand. It was the same-named district in Thailand's former province, Khukhan, until being relegated to tambon and transferred to Ubon Ratchathani province in 1912.
Bu Pueai is a tambon (subdistrict) located in the central region of Nam Yuen district, in Ubon Ratchathani Province, Thailand. In 2022, Tambon Bu Pueai contains 15 villages, the same number with administrative community units.
Ta Kao is a capital tambon (subdistrict) of Nam Khun district, in Ubon Ratchathani Province, Thailand. It previously was a tambon in Nam Yuen district but gained district status in 1996.