Which cities in Isaan are the most English friendly?

[smallchungus]

I'm potentially moving to Thailand in the coming years and Isaan girls sound lovely to be around.  I grew up in rural USA so Isaan has caught my interest (I will probably live just outside the city).  I've been looking between the big four cities of Isaan (Udon Thani, KK, Korat, and Ubon Ratchatani) as well as Buriram and Nong Khai.  Out of these which would be the best for an English only speaker?  Having some of the signage or menus with English would be a huge help as well as some English ability amongst the people who live there.  Which of these should I probably avoid as far as lack of English goes?  Thanks a bunch for any input.

[BE88]

Pattaya

[smallchungus]

16 minutes ago, BE88 said:

Pattaya

I have no interest in bar girls or anything offered in Pattaya other than food maybe.  I understand there are Isaan girls in a lot of the bars there but that isn't what I'm looking for.

Edited October 11, 2023 by smallchungus

[EVENKEEL]

I'd say Udon would be a place to start.

[bignok]

Khon Kaen has few farangs

Udon Thani has the most

Nong Khai is nicer though

Khorat is like a smaller Bangkok

Ubon is crap

Buriram is crap

 

 

 

[bignok]

Chiang Mai is the best medium sized city

Better food

Plenty of English

More things to do

[smallchungus]

How is Khorat and Nong Khai English wise?  Would you say Udon and Khon Kaen are the most English speaking of the 6 total I mentioned?

[sungod]

24 minutes ago, smallchungus said:

I have no interest in bar girls or anything offered in Pattaya other than food maybe.  I understand there are Isaan girls in a lot of the bars there but that isn't what I'm looking for.

Most of the girls who can speak English in Issan would have most likely been polishing poles at some point...........

[bignok]

1 minute ago, smallchungus said:

How is Khorat and Nong Khai English wise?  Would you say Udon and Khon Kaen are the most English speaking of the 6 total I mentioned?

Nong Khai has more farangs than KK but English is roughly the same for Thais.  I like both places. The Ton Tann night market at KK is great for live music, beers and food.

 

Udon has the most farangs by far so Thais likely more English. 

 

Khorat I had covid so not sure.

 

All connected by train. Go check them out.

[Wanderer555]

Given the conditions decribed in the OP and having traveled to all the locations you named, IMO Udon Thani and Nong Khai would be your best options.

 

Udon city has most of the required major services, shopping, and a good airport, though few distinctive features. 
 

Nong Khai city, sitting on Western bank of the Mekong river is a nice though laid-back small city. 

A quiet country life is very possible here if you are prepared and open-minded but not ideal for those who have other priorities. 

 

We have similar backgrounds, and it works for me as a home base with the option of frequent travel as desired. 
 
Cheers 

[youreavinalaff]

If it's an expat community you are looking for, all of the places you mention have one.

 

If it's real rural you are looking for, I'd say Buriram is your best bet as you don't have to travel out of town too far to get it. 

 

Not sure how someone can say it's " crap" when you've already explained it's rural life you want. Buriram has that in bundles.

 

If you are single and dedicated to living the life you say, you won't be there long before you start picking up the language. It's not that difficult to do when it's all around.

 

Contrary to what some on here say, locals are able to speak Thai. Sure, they will speak Isaan Laos and Khmer in the villages but you will get by perfectly well with Thai.

 

You might be better off travelling through and seeing which you prefer. Korat is only 3ish hours by bus from Bangkok. All other providence you mention are reachable from Korat by bus.

 

[Wanderer555]

12 minutes ago, bignok said:

Chiang Mai is the best medium sized city

Better food

Plenty of English

More things to do

Having lived in Chiang Mai for 2+ years I would agree, but the long smoke season is not fun and distracts from making it ideal. 

[bignok]

1 minute ago, Wanderer555 said:

Having lived in Chiang Mai for 2+ years I would agree, but the long smoke season is not fun and distracts from making it ideal. 

Isaan has bad smog as well. Not as bad as CM though.

[youreavinalaff]

Just now, bignok said:

Isaan has bad smog as well. Not as bad as CM though.

I disagree.

 

Edit your post to read " Some parts of Isaan"

[bignok]

5 minutes ago, youreavinalaff said:

If it's an expat community you are looking for, all of the places you mention have one.

 

If it's real rural you are looking for, I'd say Buriram is your best bet as you don't have to travel out of town too far to get it. 

 

Not sure how someone can say it's " crap" when you've already explained it's rural life you want. Buriram has that in bundles.

 

If you are single and dedicated to living the life you say, you won't be there long before you start picking up the language. It's not that difficult to do when it's all around.

 

Contrary to what some on here say, locals are able to speak Thai. Sure, they will speak Isaan Laos and Khmer in the villages but you will get by perfectly well with Thai.

 

You might be better off travelling through and seeing which you prefer. Korat is only 3ish hours by bus from Bangkok. All other providence you mention are reachable from Korat by bus.

 

You live in Buriram.

[Wanderer555]

5 minutes ago, sungod said:

Most of the girls who can speak English in Issan would have most likely been polishing poles at some point...........

Absolutely incorrect. 

 

There are many university educated ladies there that speak some English, and work as teachers, for the government, banks and similar. 
 

Where you socialize will largely determine those that you meet. ????

[youreavinalaff]

Just now, bignok said:

You live in Buriram.

And?

[Wanderer555]

I agree, as I now live 1.5 hours outside Udon city. 
 

Last year the smoke here was bad but not as bad as when I returned from Chiang Mai in early March.

 

Next year I will travel outside the country during the smoke season. 

[bignok]

3 minutes ago, Wanderer555 said:

Absolutely incorrect. 

 

There are many university educated ladies there that speak some English, and work as teachers, for the government, banks and similar. 
 

Where you socialize will largely determine those that you meet. ????

Most just speak Thai and Isaan.

[bignok]

1 minute ago, Wanderer555 said:

I agree, as I now live 1.5 hours outside Udon city. 
 

Last year the smoke here was bad but not as bad as when I returned from Chiang Mai in early March.

 

Next year I will travel outside the country during the smoke season. 

I was drinking in a rooftop bar in  Udon during March. Pretty bad smog.

 

Really have to go south. Phuket is fine.

[youreavinalaff]

9 minutes ago, bignok said:

Most just speak Thai and Isaan.

Isaan? 

 

That's a region of Thailand. Not a language.

 

There are many languages in Isaan. 

 

Isaan Laos, Khmer, Gui, Thai Korat....to name a few.

[smallchungus]

Thanks for all the replies.  Is healthcare decent in all these places or are the "big four" going to be best for that?  Udon is sounding pretty good for English as well as access to Western restaurants if farangs are there.  Is it possible to stay through smoke season in a place like Chiang Mai or is it as bad as they say?

[bignok]

3 minutes ago, youreavinalaff said:

Isaan? 

 

That's a region of Thailand. Not a language.

 

There are many languages in Isaan. 

 

Isaan Laos, Khmer, Gui, Thai Korat....to name a few.

https://www.sebastienbrousseau.com/isaan-language/

[bignok]

3 minutes ago, smallchungus said:

Thanks for all the replies.  Is healthcare decent in all these places or are the "big four" going to be best for that?  Udon is sounding pretty good for English as well as access to Western restaurants if farangs are there.  Is it possible to stay through smoke season in a place like Chiang Mai or is it as bad as they say?

Smoke season is Feb to April. Bad from Bangkok to north. Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai are the worst.

 

Best to go south. Nakhon Si Thammarat is a cool city.

[VocalNeal]

1 hour ago, smallchungus said:

I'm potentially moving to Thailand in the coming years

So plenty of time to learn rudimentary Thai. ????

[Wanderer555]

4 minutes ago, smallchungus said:

Thanks for all the replies.  Is healthcare decent in all these places or are the "big four" going to be best for that?  Udon is sounding pretty good for English as well as access to Western restaurants if farangs are there.  Is it possible to stay through smoke season in a place like Chiang Mai or is it as bad as they say?

For healthcare, I would rate Khon Kaen as first with Udon second.

 

The smoke in CM can be very unhealthy  for extended periods of time, with Isaan now having bad smoke in some areas depending on proximity to Laos, geography and wind patterns.

 

It is up to each person to determine their own tolerance level. 

[JensenZ]

1 hour ago, smallchungus said:

I have no interest in bar girls or anything offered in Pattaya other than food maybe.  I understand there are Isaan girls in a lot of the bars there but that isn't what I'm looking for.

You have a total misconception about Pattaya. I never visit a bar for alcohol or girls, yet I've enjoyed nearly 18 years here. Pattaya can be anything you like. The idea of trying to settle in Isaan sounds horrifying, even without reading endless stories about how dull life up there can be. The only time I've been there is when I flew into Udon Thani on visa runs to Vientiane. That was more than enough time spent there - passing through.

 

Do yourself a favour and spend some time in Pattaya, away from the bar zones in town. You might be surprised how quiet and peaceful many areas are. Seeing as you like Isaan girls, at least you'll find many that can speak English in Pattaya.

Edited October 11, 2023 by JensenZ

[bignok]

 

[bignok]

3 minutes ago, JensenZ said:

You have a total misconception about Pattaya. I never visit a bar for alcohol or girls, yet I've enjoyed nearly 18 years here. Pattaya can be anything you like. The idea of trying to settle in Isaan sounds horrifying, even without reading endless stories about how dull life up there can be. The only time I've been there is when I flew into Udon Thani on visa runs to Vientiane. That was more than enough time spent there - passing through.

 

Do yourself a favour and spend some time in Pattaya, away from the bar zones in town. You might be surprised how quiet and peaceful many areas are. Seeing as you like Isaan girls, at least you'll find many that can speak English in Pattaya.

Hookers go there

[fredwiggy]

The best answers are those you get from people who actually live close to, or in, those major cities. Some travel around and spend a day and think they know about the cities but they only see a bar or restaurant or two and haven't a clue. It's the same everywhere. All those cities have farangs, bars, temples, parks, gyms, restaurants, farang restaurants, hospitals, major supermarkets, and women. They are interchangeable for the most part. Isaan is Isaan, meaning it's a spread out area of Thai people and farangs, all whom prefer rural and country living and not tourist areas. All have women who speak some or good English, if you look for them. You can always use a translator on your phone to ask questions. Some areas do have a smoke problem, mostly the northern areas, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Mae Hong Son. If you like beaches you'll have to drive at least 8 hours or take public transportation. Unless you like traveling, seeing Thai sites, and are comfortable in an area without beaches, Isaan is quite boring. You'll want to find the local farang crowd, which is in bars a lot of the time, because it isn't like rural USA. Not knowing the language is a deterrent to everyday life, so living in the city or very close is better.

Edited October 11, 2023 by fredwiggy