Who Lives in Buriram?

[Maha Sarakham]

Hello Folks,

 

Just curious if any of you reside in Buriram either with a Thai missus or otherwise.  My wife and I have heard great things about the province and were keen to check it out next time we arrived in Thailand.

 

Any areas in particular that are good residential zones?  We are primarily interested in buying some land (~2 Rai) for a future home build, considering a few different provinces at the moment and thought I'd ask what you all thought about Buriram.

 

Thanks for the feedback guys, Happy Holidays.

[Asquith Production]

This guy posts a lot on Youtube take a look at his Buriram vid. 

 

 

[Guderian]

1 hour ago, ChipButty said:

You dont need to ask, you can tell

 

Yes, bar girls, dear me, it's a good job that here in Pattaya we all marry Thai investment bankers and astrophysicists, lol.

[Pedrogaz]

Don't buy land from the family. Buriram itself is a tad boring. The rural parts are deadly boring and very very hot.

[1FinickyOne]

There is not a lot to do there... if your wife is from Buriram and has family there, ok - otherwise, I would suggest many other places... depending upon what is important to you and what you like to do.. 

[bermondburi]

My relationship with Buriram goes back about 15 years as my wife is from there. Go there regularly although not so much the last few years. 

 

Important to differentiate between the town and rural. The town is a fairly boring medium sized town with not that much going on compared to other places. 

 

The rural areas are extremely boring, and like someone said it gets very hot, although also very cold for Thailand too. I've had Xmas sitting round a fire at night at 10°, and seen Thais sitting in the sun in the mornings to warm up. 

 

Also, as someone said, most foreign people are either teachers or retirees. The teachers tend to move on after a year or two and the retirees are stuck. I wonder how many of them would really choose to live there, and how many were suckered into the buying land from the family thing and trying to token farm somehow. 

 

Some people like the quiet life and seem quite happy there, and as one guy told me, if you live anywhere long enough you're going to make friends and make a connection with the place and end up liking it to a degree. 

 

On the plus side it is cheap to live. Land is cheap, and not much to spend your money on. People are friendly. 

 

On the negative, and this is just my personal take on it, I find it really boring, I'm not a country person. I like to visit for a few days, get my taste of bahn nohk, and then go back to civilisation. I also enjoy being close to the ocean which Buriram isn't. 

 

Have a look around, stay for a while, if you like it you like it, if you don't you don't. 

[Bigz]

I spent my last 3 years in Buriram. It wasn't my original plan but I'm stuck here due to some private matters. I can tell you that it is dead boring, hardly anyone speak English, the province is not beautiful. Mainly flat landscape with rice paddies, dry season is unbearably hot and bone dry with constant water shortages. I enjoy the rainy season though. There are a couple of lovely landmarks but that's it. On the other hand the people are extremely welcoming, warm hearted and polite. Occasionally I still get requests from strangers for a photo with the 'farang'. Even the cops and immigration staff are extremely nice. Not once over my three years I was charged farang price or ripped off in any way. Very safe too. Hardly any theft especially in the villages. Here you can leave your entire shopping on the back of the truck in the supermarket car park for hours and no one will touch it. All in all it is quiet, boring but also safe. If you don't want to do anything just staring at chicken and buffaloes and have a quiet life go for it.

[khunPer]

There are a couple of great ancient Khmer-temples in Buriram really worth a visit or several (talk from positive experience and several visits), and an airport, and numerous lovely ladies seems to originate from that province.

 

If you wish to live in a more rural area with Khmer inspiration then Buriram – and also Surin province – might be a possibility. There are also nice heights/hills with great view in the Cambodian border area.

 

In my view I would love the nature in the border area, but don't expect to mingle easily with other foreigners. All depending of where one settles in Buriram, there might be some distance to shopping with a variety of products on offer, so transportation need to be considered. If you choose to live in a city, it's probably like most other Thai cities...????

[ChipButty]

1 hour ago, kenk24 said:

There is not a lot to do there... if your wife is from Buriram and has family there, ok - otherwise, I would suggest many other places... depending upon what is important to you and what you like to do.. 

If she has family there all the more reason not to live there, live as far away as possible from the outlaws, 

[bermondburi]

3 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

If she has family there all the more reason not to live there, live as far away as possible from the outlaws, 

A very valid point. One of the reasons we no longer live there was to move far away from family. So bought a house in Pran Buri. Around 600km away so definitely no one popping over unannounced, making noise, borrowing things, emptying the fridge etc. ????

 

They still do that of course, but at least we know they're coming and can prepare accordingly... ????

 

And it's much less frequent. ????????????????????????

[bermondburi]

19 minutes ago, khunPer said:

There are a couple of great ancient Khmer-temples in Buriram really worth a visit or several (talk from positive experience and several visits), and an airport, and numerous lovely ladies seems to originate from that province.

 

If you wish to live in a more rural area with Khmer inspiration then Buriram – and also Surin province – might be a possibility. There are also nice heights/hills with great view in the Cambodian border area.

 

In my view I would love the nature in the border area, but don't expect to mingle easily with other foreigners. All depending of where one settles in Buriram, there might be some distance to shopping with a variety of products on offer, so transportation need to be considered. If you choose to live in a city, it's probably like most other Thai cities...????

Yes, the temples are nice. Phnom Ruang being the most well known from where the football team get their emblem. 

 

Been camping quite a few times in the border areas close to the forest. Still have a lot of wild elephants in there. Sometimes you'll see them come out the forest. Camp in a place an elephant cannot climb up would be my advice. We used a big rock. 

[Ireland32]

2 hours ago, Bigz said:

I spent my last 3 years in Buriram. It wasn't my original plan but I'm stuck here due to some private matters. I can tell you that it is dead boring, hardly anyone speak English, the province is not beautiful. Mainly flat landscape with rice paddies, dry season is unbearably hot and bone dry with constant water shortages. I enjoy the rainy season though. There are a couple of lovely landmarks but that's it. On the other hand the people are extremely welcoming, warm hearted and polite. Occasionally I still get requests from strangers for a photo with the 'farang'. Even the cops and immigration staff are extremely nice. Not once over my three years I was charged farang price or ripped off in any way. Very safe too. Hardly any theft especially in the villages. Here you can leave your entire shopping on the back of the truck in the supermarket car park for hours and no one will touch it. All in all it is quiet, boring but also safe. If you don't want to do anything just staring at chicken and buffaloes and have a quiet life go for it.

I spent three years in Korat , I will never get that back Waste of  of a town as a matter fact all of Isaan is a Bore , There is a Decent Restaurant The Swan in Buriram , Fantastic , I eat there and run out of town with takeaways , 80% of girls in Pattyare from Buriram most speak Khmer tooo, always use the 2 Hour rule away from her parents, I did 5 hours , don’t need that Drama , get a Firestick  or Android Box to keep your mind occupied 

[Bigz]

18 minutes ago, Ireland32 said:

I spent three years in Korat , I will never get that back Waste of  of a town as a matter fact all of Isaan is a Bore , There is a Decent Restaurant The Swan in Buriram , Fantastic , I eat there and run out of town with takeaways , 80% of girls in Pattyare from Buriram most speak Khmer tooo, always use the 2 Hour rule away from her parents, I did 5 hours , don’t need that Drama , get a Firestick  or Android Box to keep your mind occupied 

Heard about the Swan. Might try it soon

[nickmondo]

 

nearly everything i wanted to say has been said in the sensible comments above.

It is great for going to the football, lovely stadium, great atmosphere, and a Premier league team, and very cheap to go watch

It is great for the race track which is situated next to the football ground.  there are lots of events there, but hearing about them is not simple.  need to follow the FB page of the circuit, but the translations are dire.

I visited there 4 times for a few weeks at a time, to check it out, see if i wanted to live there.

as already mentioned, there is very little to do there.

very few places of interest

if your into girlie bars, they dont exist.

if your into numerous choices for massage, your wont get, its very limited.

the people are lovely.

the ex pats are mainly great also

i actually found some of the ex pat eateries very expensive compared to some of the more popular holiday cities.

its a nice place if you like very quiet, and dont want to do much apart from coffee shops and bars.

I decided not to live there........there is just not enough to do there.

[Caldera]

Hot and dusty, not unlike neighboring Cambodia. Slightly less boring than other Isaan provinces, thanks to having a race track and Thailand's finest soccer team. Generally friendly, laid back countryside people.

 

Personally, I wouldn't want to live there, but I've enjoyed my short visits.

 

 

 

[bermondburi]

17 minutes ago, Caldera said:

Hot and dusty, not unlike neighboring Cambodia. Slightly less boring than other Isaan provinces, thanks to having a race track and Thailand's finest soccer team. Generally friendly, laid back countryside people.

 

Personally, I wouldn't want to live there, but I've enjoyed my short visits.

 

 

 

Think that sums it up pretty well. It's got more going for it than elsewhere in Isaan, nice people, nice to visit, but wouldn't want to live there. 

[Solinvictus]

There is a drag strip and circle track racing there right? Just curious as I hope to go check it out sometime if so.

[Maha Sarakham]

3 hours ago, ChipButty said:

If she has family there all the more reason not to live there, live as far away as possible from the outlaws, 

 

That is actually one of the reasons we are inquiring about other provinces, as she doesn't want to live too close to her parents.  Occasional visits are fine, but we both prefer privacy.

 

Greatly appreciate the responses everyone, seems like it might be a good place for a visit but relatively similar to other provinces in Isaan.

[CharlieH]

Troll remarks and responses removed.

[Chris.B]

 

Welcome to Buriram

[bermondburi]

 

[youreavinalaff]

1 hour ago, Maha Sarakham said:

That is actually one of the reasons we are inquiring about other provinces, as she doesn't want to live too close to her parents.  Occasional visits are fine, but we both prefer privacy.

Most unfortunate. 

 

Within 300m of our house just about every maternal uncle,aunt, cousin, second cousin........of my wife's lives.

 

Never any issues. My wife has made it clear from the beginning that we are just another married couple and nothing special to see here. We never get any more visits than anyone else, or even that we make to them.

 

I've seen many people talk about the 2 hour or 5 hour rule. Such a shame that this has to happen. Get your wife, or even yourself, to simply have a chat with family similar to how my wife did.

 

If she won't entertain this, sadly 100 hours away won't solve the issue. 

[Mischka]

A big plus: Buriram-Satuk Airport with two airlines (AirAsia, NokAir) is always easy to travel to

[Maha Sarakham]

44 minutes ago, Mischka said:

A big plus: Buriram-Satuk Airport with two airlines (AirAsia, NokAir) is always easy to travel to

 

Definitely one of the perks, thanks for bringing that up.

[Maha Sarakham]

5 hours ago, Chris.B said:

Welcome to Buriram

 

My wife and I really enjoyed this song, good meaning behind the lyrics.  Which districts to find the most beautiful women in Buriram being one part ????

[Rawairat]

Great for holiday to see the  bike racing, few ruins to see and pleasant in the cool season but like most places up north unbearable during the hot season. 

[1FinickyOne]

12 hours ago, ChipButty said:

If she has family there all the more reason not to live there, live as far away as possible from the outlaws, 

I love my Thai family and lived with them for near 20 years... wonderful people... though not from Buriram - and not drinkers and gamblers and borrowers... 

 

others experiences surely differ.. 

 

we actually have in laws of one sister from Buriram and they are awful... I hope that is not a norm..

[red roger]

Lived in Burirum for 8 years. It's not the place for anyone wanting diversity. In the village where I stayed I've got to say that there were many wierd farang.

Also to the south of the city there are many undocumented farang caught out by circumstances beyond their control (plummetting exchange rate, divorce etc) who are keeping their heads down.

That said, Burirum people are pleasant folk.

[KhaoYai]

Obviously its a matter of personal preference but some people have been a little unfair to Buriram - if we are talking about the city.  Granted there isn't a lot to do for a foreigner but the city has changed beyond all recognition in recent years.  If you're a motor sport fan then its not so bad although personally, I wouldn't want to live there - but neither would I want to live in most places on the plain of Isaan - jeez it gets hot in summer and there's very little shelter.  If you're a person that likes to sit out on the porch and do nothing all day - a 'waiting for god' sort, you'll be fine anywhere, including Buriram.

 

I guess it all depends on what you're looking for - my nearest city is Pak Chong, more of a big town really.  When I first moved there I thought there was very little there that interested me.  A year or so later I'd discovered plenty of decent bars (one farang bar), snooker clubs, nightclubs and some very good restaurants.  Not sure the same can be found in Buriram but I have had a couple of excellent nights at Speed Disco ????.

 

As a foreigner, I think the best way to describe Buriram is - its just too far, its too far from anywhere.

 

To the guy who said Korat is boring - clean your glasses and put the beer down.

[Maha Sarakham]

4 minutes ago, KhaoYai said:

Granted there isn't a lot to do for a foreigner but the city has changed beyond all recognition in recent years. 

 

That's what we had heard.  Figured it was worth asking some of the experts here that have had boots on the ground for years ????

 

Thanks for the comments everyone, keep them coming, really enjoying the read.