These initial eight villages have been selected for the variety of products manufactured and for their geographical location. Each of the villages also has a number of houses served as home stay accommodation for both Thai and foreign visitors, and qualified guides which can be arranged for the inspection of the OTOP manufacturing process and for tours around the locality. 1.Ban Thawai in Hang Dong, Chiang Mai - Located on the Chiang Mai-Hot Highway, the Ban Thawai OTOP Tourism Village is famous for its furniture and woodcarving workshops. The craftsmanship of the villagers has been admired for generations, and they have elevated the craft of woodcarving to an art form. The furniture made here is of immense variety, ranging from rustic styles to exquisite temple decorations, antique reproductions, and the modern styles seen in lifestyle stores throughout the world. 2.Doi Mas Salong, Chiang Rai - Doi Mae Salong grew from a resettlement area for Chinese troops and their families who had withdrawn across the Chinese border to escape the communist forces in 1961. They defended the Thai border against incursion with such fierceness and loyalty that the Thai government allowed them to settle and develop Mae Salong, and the museum here traces the history of those turbulent times. The most famous OTOP product from Doi Mae Salong is tea, with oolong and green tea amongst the aromatic and flavourful varieties grown in the many surrounding plantations. Chinese culture is reflected in the local dishes, many of them using tea as an ingredient. 3.Ban Dan Kwian in Dan Kwian, Nakhon Ratchasima - Nakhon Ratchasima used to be a rest area for caravans trading between Khorat and Cambodia. The Mun River flows through it, and villagers for generations have used clay from the riverbanks to make pottery that is unlike any other. The clay is black, and is found only in the area of Dan Kwian. When fired, it develops a tough, ductile texture and a rust colour, and the villagers have over the years developed designs that utilise these qualities to the full and make indoor and outdoor pottery that is completely unique. 4.Ban Ko Kret in Pak Kret, Nonthaburi - Ko Kret is an island in the Chao Phraya River first inhabited by Mon people towards the end of the Ayutthaya period. The Mon are famous for producing a distinctive style of pottery that dates back many centuries, and the unique characteristic of Ko Kret pottery is its beautiful colour, created when the raw Nonthaburi clay is fires, unglazed at 1,000 degrees. 5.Ban Khiriwong in Lan Saka, Nakhon Si Thammarat - Ban Khiriwong is a village at the foot of the Khao Luang mountain. Lush forests, cool streams with sandy banks, and hospitable villagers combine to make the area an ideal setting for enjoying the Thai countryside, and the village has been awarded for the high standard of its eco-tourism, including home stay accommodation and guided tours of the area. Ban Khiriwong's OTOP fame derives from its beautiful, natural tie-dyed fabrics, bamboo basketry, products made from coconut shell, and preserved fruit made from the produce of its many orchards. 6.Ban Bang Chao Cha in Pho Thong, Ang Thong - Ang Thong was a frontier outpost during the wars with Burma. As a defence against marauders, Ang Thong had the advantage of being on a low plain without any forests or mountains, so that an invading army could be seen and dealt with long before it reached Ayutthaya. Ang Thong refers to the fertile river basin of this area, with such plentiful fish and rice that it was likened to a golden bowl, or ang thong. The traditional craft of the people of Bang Chao Cha was basket-making, and today they make highly-fashionable accessories in addition to the original artifacts of the Ayutthaya era. provinces and is situated at the mouth of the Tha Chin River. The name Tha Chin means that it was a port where Chinese sailing junks moored. Ban Don Kaidee is a centre for producing exquisite Benjarong, the delicate, hand-painted pottery that originated in China but which the Thais over the centuries refined and made uniquely their own. 7.Ban Aranyik in Bakhon Luang, Ayutthaya - The ancient city of Ayutthaya, the capital for 417 years, is one of Thailand's major tourist attractions. Many ancient ruins and art works can be seen in a city that was founded in 1350 by King U-Thong when their northern neighbours forced the Thais southwards. Ayutthaya was ruled by 33 kings of different dynasties until it was sacked by the Burmese in 1767. Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and Ban Aranyik is where knives and swords are forged by hand in the same way as they were in the golden age of Ayutthaya. The followings chapters introduce the important elements which form the background and the structure of the OTOP Tourism Villages initiative: - Thailand and its regions - The role of the One Tambon One Product (OTOP) - Home Stay in Thailand - Home Stay Certification Standards