Muban

As a rule, the designation “ Muban ” is translated as “village” or “rural commune”. Administratively, "Muban" are included in tambons , units of the third order (community). In 2009, there were 74,956 mubans in Thailand, combined into 7,255 tambons. On average, there are 144 villages in the Muban, in which 746 family members lived (data for 1990).

"Muban" does not always correspond to one settlement or village. Large villages are usually divided into several “mubans”, while at the same time, many small villages can constitute one “muban”. When referring to Thai rural settlements, the word “muban” is usually abbreviated to “ban” ( บ้าน ), which means “village” or “house”.

Muban is headed by Phu Yai Ban ( ผู้ใหญ่บ้าน - the chief of the village, "village headman"). He is elected by a rural gathering ^[1] and then approved by the Ministry of the Interior . The previously elected Phu Yai Ban remained at his post for life, but now his term of office is limited to five years, after which he has the right to re-run for new elections. Each Phu Yai Ban has two assistants, one of which deals with management and the other with security. Also in the Mubans, Village Committees are being established under Phu Yai Ban, consisting of selected members of the rural community and performing deliberative functions.

As a rare exception, there are also “mubanas” located in urban areas in Thailand. They do not provide for the post of “village headman” ( Phu Yai Ban ).