Nan, for centuries, used to be an independent kingdom called Nanthaburi & was left isolated for most of its existence until it’s incorporated into the kingdoms of Lanna & Burmese. Moving forward, Nan gained sovereignty in the 18th Century & became a semi-autonomous kingdom to Siam & fully incorporated into Thailand in 1931. Today, Nan is getting popular among travelers who are looking to go beyond Chiang Mai & explore the deeper north of Thailand.