Which cities in Isaan are the most English friendly?

[StayinThailand2much]

8 minutes ago, bignok said:

I found English in Nong Khai to be ok.

To be fair, I based my judgement on having been there several years ago, so perhaps things have improved in that regard.

Edited October 11, 2023 by StayinThailand2much

[Red Phoenix]

1 hour ago, smallchungus said:

Ok I think I'm going to do CM->Chiang Rai->Udon->Nong Khai->KK

Check out Loei (and ChiangKhan) and NongBua Lamphu, they are on the way from Chiang-Rai to Udon Thani, and personally I like them more than Udon...

[bkk6060]

CM and Chiang Rai are not Isaan.  If you are looking for Isaan girls these 2 places I would not recommend.  They are mostly white skin girls with attitudes from my experience.  Maybe a few, but mostly not interested in meeting up with Farang, especially older Farang.  But, go check them out best to experience as much a possible.

Edited October 11, 2023 by bkk6060

[youreavinalaff]

41 minutes ago, retarius said:

All equally unfriendly. No Thai's speak English apart from the very odd one. No one in the shops speak any English, only bar girls can manage limited conversation. 

Are you suggesting Thais are being unfriendly simply because they don't speak English?

[Wanderer555]

34 minutes ago, Red Phoenix said:

Check out Loei (and ChiangKhan) and NongBua Lamphu, they are on the way from Chiang-Rai to Udon Thani, and personally I like them more than Udon...

I agree, I live alone in Nong Bua Lamphu province on 3.5 rai of gardens with a Baan Suan style home that I own. 

 

I enjoy this lifestyle, it is close to the provincial cities for shopping etc. and airport access. 
 

Maybe not the best way to start but an option after getting acclimated to Thailand. 

Edited October 11, 2023 by Wanderer555

[Wanderer555]

1 hour ago, smallchungus said:

How dry is Isaan?  I had to move away from Colorado because it was so bone dry.  It made me constantly have to clear my throat.  I missed trees and green a lot.  Water shortages scare me to death if that makes a difference.

It is a large area with different geographical influences though not as extreme as Colorado. 
 

Where I live, I have many large trees, banana plants and more water than I need in rainy season.  It does get hot and dry February to June but it is ok. 
 

Some areas such as Buriram, Surin are much drier and barren from what I have experienced.
 

Before I moved to Thailand I was living in the Colorado high country. 
 

Where are you from in Colorado?

Edited October 11, 2023 by Wanderer555

[Chris Daley]

Even if they can speak English they won't because they are just a Nong.

 

In the Thai family I saw one girl for about 3 years she didn't say a word.  She never talks when the parents are around.  Then one day we went to the store together and she spoke to me in perfect English.

 

The same thing at school.  They won't talk around the Thai-English teachers but they don't stop talking with the foreign English teachers.

 

The truth is the special program and EP students can speak way way better English then the Thai teachers.  The students are near fluent but the Thai teachers sound like farmers.

Edited October 11, 2023 by Chris Daley

[smallchungus]

14 minutes ago, Wanderer555 said:

It is a large area with different geographical influences though not as extreme as Colorado. 
 

Where I live, I have many large trees, banana plants and more water than I need in rainy season.  It does get hot and dry February to June but it is ok. 
 

Some areas such as Buriram, Surin are much drier and barren from what I have experienced.
 

Before I moved to Thailand I was living in the Colorado high country. 
 

Where are you from in Colorado?

I moved back to the eastern half of the US but I was in Colorado Springs

[DJ54]

OP suggest you take a holiday for 2-3 weeks before making any decisions about moving to Thailand. You don’t want to throw yourself in and dislike it. 
 

in bars you’ll, find English speaking mostly Expats and some staff. Personally I wouldn’t live my life as an Expat bar fan cause it’s same same … rinse wash a repeat.

 

Udon and Chang Mai would be a choice for starters. 

[smallchungus]

1 hour ago, DJ54 said:

OP suggest you take a holiday for 2-3 weeks before making any decisions about moving to Thailand. You don’t want to throw yourself in and dislike it. 
 

in bars you’ll, find English speaking mostly Expats and some staff. Personally I wouldn’t live my life as an Expat bar fan cause it’s same same … rinse wash a repeat.

 

Udon and Chang Mai would be a choice for starters. 

Maybe that would be a better idea. Focus on the cities that would make it easiest to get acquainted with Thailand and the most likely first place I would live.  I will probably check Hua Hin as well as an escape from smoke season spot so land in BKK, go to Hua Hin for like 2 days, go back to BKK to fly to Chiang Mai, then fly to Udon Thani.

[Dazinoz]

23 hours ago, smallchungus said:

Is it possible to stay through smoke season in a place like Chiang Mai or is it as bad as they say?

Hundreds of thousands of people live in Chiang Mai and stay in smokey season so I guess possible.

 

I been living here 10 years and this year is the first the smoke has affected me (knowingly) with stinging eyes. Other than that not a problem for me.

[bignok]

3 hours ago, smallchungus said:

Maybe that would be a better idea. Focus on the cities that would make it easiest to get acquainted with Thailand and the most likely first place I would live.  I will probably check Hua Hin as well as an escape from smoke season spot so land in BKK, go to Hua Hin for like 2 days, go back to BKK to fly to Chiang Mai, then fly to Udon Thani.

Good plan. Try southern Hua Hin.

[Expat68]

On 10/11/2023 at 12:18 PM, EVENKEEL said:

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

I agree, Nong Kai is only 50 km up the road, easy to get to (train, bus or taxi). Nong Kai is quieter and I would say more English per quota 

[Unify]

On 10/11/2023 at 12:54 PM, 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?

Air pollution is a risk factor for not only lung diseases such as emphysema and lung cancer, but for heart disease, stroke, and dementia. 

[Caldera]

On 10/11/2023 at 11:54 AM, smallchungus said:

I'm potentially moving to Thailand in the coming years and Isaan girls sound lovely to be around.

Sounds like you'll have a longhaired translator in no time, so you're sorted in the language department.

[zyphodb]

On 10/11/2023 at 12:54 PM, 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.

yes there are, but a good 70% speak Laos...

[bignok]

2 minutes ago, zyphodb said:

yes there are, but a good 70% speak Laos...

Isaan Lao has different tones to Lao and about 20% different words.

[Irish star]

None of them I lived in Korat 4 years 1 year Udon , time I will never get back , sadly 

[bignok]

1 minute ago, Irish star said:

None of them I lived in Korat 4 years 1 year Udon , time I will never get back , sadly 

Why did you live there?

[bignok]

Even Lao and Kymer people understand central Thai up to a point. No real value in learning alternative languages unless you love languages or plan on living in these parts for 20 years. Just learn good central Thai.

[zyphodb]

31 minutes ago, bignok said:

Isaan Lao has different tones to Lao and about 20% different words.

You know what I mean you pedant...

[bignok]

3 minutes ago, zyphodb said:

You know what I mean you pedant...

Yes sort of. My point is central Thai is fine.

[Muhendis]

On 10/11/2023 at 12:19 PM, bignok said:

Buriram is crap

Naah.

It's heaven on earth if you like that sort of thing.

[Shetraveler]

On 10/11/2023 at 11:54 AM, smallchungus said:

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.

How about learning some Thai and not arriving here just to objectify the women?

[Shetraveler]

2 hours ago, Dazinoz said:

Hundreds of thousands of people live in Chiang Mai and stay in smokey season so I guess possible.

 

I been living here 10 years and this year is the first the smoke has affected me (knowingly) with stinging eyes. Other than that not a problem for me.

Yet last year, 12,000+ Thais ended up hospitalized.  
Just because it doesn't affect you doesn't mean it doesn't affect anyone.

 

[bignok]

4 minutes ago, Shetraveler said:

How about learning some Thai and not arriving here just to objectify the women?

Why go to Isaan there?

[Dazinoz]

3 minutes ago, Shetraveler said:

Yet last year, 12,000+ Thais ended up hospitalized.  
Just because it doesn't affect you doesn't mean it doesn't affect anyone.

 

Did I say it didn't? And thats why I specifically mentioned me. I know it affects some people.

[fulhamster]

On 10/11/2023 at 12:21 PM, bignok said:

Chiang Mai is the best medium sized city

Better food

Plenty of English

More things to do

Not is Isaan

[perconrad]

On 10/11/2023 at 1:16 PM, bignok said:

Ubon has direct flights to Phuket with Air Asia and Nok flies to Chiang Mai.

Since I live close to Ubon and want to fly to Phuket for holiday in october I have searched for a direct flight, but can't find any.

 

Can you help me with where you see a direct flight?

 

In former years I have used NOK Air I think, but can't find any companies now.

 

[bignok]

2 minutes ago, perconrad said:

Since I live close to Ubon and want to fly to Phuket for holiday in october I have searched for a direct flight, but can't find any.

 

Can you help me with where you see a direct flight?

 

In former years I have used NOK Air I think, but can't find any companies now.

 

No have anymore. Go via Bangkok. AA is cheaper than Nok. Or check Lion Air but I dont think so.