Unfriendliest Town In Thailand

[duratanium]

I believe that Nakhorn Sawan has the worst reputation for unfriendliness -- at least among Thais.

?????

I have to disagree strongly on that point. (and it is Nakhon Sawan)

5 months in Nakhon Sawan and I have never had a problen at all, be it from the police, shopkeepers, hotel staff, tuk tuk drivers, or any of the locals.

They are always friendly, courteous and helpful.

I have been invited to parties and other functions and always been treated very well.

2 instances that spring to mind....

The last was the 'overseer of all the lands' as my Thai g/f calls him, whose son was made monk last month where there were 150 tables of 6 people per table. I was invited - along with the family - and treated with friendliness and courtesy by all I met there and I did not see another farang there.

The 2nd instance that springs immediately to mind was a birthday party for the son of a policeman. The father shook my hand warmly and introduced me to many others - even though he had not met me before. He made a point of coming over to my table and making sure I had enough food and when he saw the beer supply was getting low would instantly order more beer. The son was great and he eventually succeeded in 'dragging' me up on the stage where I refused to sing ( as I sound like a frog ) but I was happy to dance alongside the Thais who clapped and joined in.

Further down the line I have seen both father and son and they have treated me with the same friendliness.

Most shops - especially the smaller ones - are proud to have a farang as a customer, be it fried rice I am ordering or beer. I have never been overcharged or ripped off (fried rice with chicken B20, 4 bottles of beer B105).

I have driven through many a police roadblock and after a quick glance they have waved me through with a smile.

The Thais in general not only smile but often stop me and (for those who can) in broken English talk a little bit about where I am from and ask how I am.

Children stare and point, but they are children and many have never seen such a strange phenomenon as a white man before, so I do not see that as a problem.

I would go as far as saying that the white people I see tend to be the most unsociable - with one or two exceptions

Maybe some of it has to do with the fact I am happy to socialise - within my limits - and smile and try to be friendly and courteous to the local people.

Ahhhhh, glad I got that lot off my chest

[cloudhopper]

"Everywhere you go, there you are".

And when I go back to the States, it seems less friendly everywhere there than anywhere here...

[chanchao]

I thought Had Yai was exceptionally friendly. No issues with Nakhon Sawan either; for some reason this alleged 'unfriendlyness' made it into the Lonely Planet section for that town in a couple issues, not sure if it's still there. Ridiculous. But then it's not the only weird qualification in that guide, like it used to call Pattaya 'expensive' ! !! It sure as (*#$(*# is a lot cheaper than Samui and the most popular islands!

[soundman]

After living in thailand for more than a year I still used to get asked "how long you on holiday etc etc.) or comments of "falang falang hurled in my direction".

After 6 years, I rarely get comments hurled in my direction, only polite enquiries as to how long I have lived here. (from people who don't know me, have never seen me before etc.)

Even if out on a pub crawl in Bkk or Pataya, the first question to my mates is - how long holiday. First question to me - 99% of the time - how long live in thai.

I guess it is all a subtle thing of your self deportment & image. If someone is yelling across the street - falang ba etc. - maybe there is something about the way you are acting in public that has caused the comment.

Last year I visited over 55 jungwats on work realted issues. (no provinces further south than nakhon sri tammarat) & not once have I come accross rude & unfriendly local populations. (a few individuals have been a different story).

Maybe its all a slight change in attitude that is required for foreigners to fit in. Round pegs & square holes.....

Cheers,

Soundman.

[wolfmanjack]

Interesting thread as I have lived in the south for 16 years. I do find Ban Don (which is the name of the Amphur Muang of Surat Thani province) people to be mildly unfriendly, but then a majority of the population of most southern towns are Chinese-Thais. This is true for our little town, and true for Ban Don. That said, I don' t find southerners unfriendly. They just don't tolerate rudeness or arrogance from others. So, Bangkok people come down here with a patronizing 'country bumpkin' attitude and can't figure out when the 'bumpkins' don't welcome them with open arms. Farangs walk around with an attitude thinking that money buys everything and can't figure out when they get treated like sh!t. It's very simple, southerners don't tolerate sh!t and don't put a nice face on it when they get it.

As for the 'black heart' attitude from the rest of the country. It's true, most of the hired killers in the country come from Petchaburi, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani. It is also true that most of the people who do the hiring are from Bangkok and the central provinces. Who is the bigger 'black heart'?? The guy who pulls the trigger or the one who is too cowardly to do it himself but willing to pay for it?

Sometimes hiring somone has nothing to do with being cowardly but with the aspect of having an alibi.

[wolfmanjack]

After living in thailand for more than a year I still used to get asked "how long you on holiday etc etc.) or comments of "falang falang hurled in my direction".

After 6 years, I rarely get comments hurled in my direction, only polite enquiries as to how long I have lived here. (from people who don't know me, have never seen me before etc.)

Even if out on a pub crawl in Bkk or Pataya, the first question to my mates is - how long holiday. First question to me - 99% of the time - how long live in thai.

I guess it is all a subtle thing of your self deportment & image. If someone is yelling across the street - falang ba etc. - maybe there is something about the way you are acting in public that has caused the comment.

Last year I visited over 55 jungwats on work realted issues. (no provinces further south than nakhon sri tammarat) & not once have I come accross rude & unfriendly local populations. (a few individuals have been a different story).

Maybe its all a slight change in attitude that is required for foreigners to fit in. Round pegs & square holes.....

Cheers,

Soundman.

And maybe not. I was in a restaurant in bkk alone and a thai couple came in. The male started making comments to the waitress about farang pee bah and shit. I was the only farang in the place so I knew he was talking about me. I turned and made a comment in thai and they quickly left. I guess they thought it was great when they thought I could not understand but were embarrassed after they knew otherwise.

[toptuan]

...or comments of "falang falang hurled in my direction".

At least here in Isaan, that is usually a friendly or, at worst, neutral verbal response--often a near-involuntary reaction when Thai-Isaan folks unexpectedly see a farang in their midst. I've developed the immediate reflex of offering a smiling retort: "Khon Thai! Khon Thai!" which is always met with friendly laughter and frequent subsequent conversation..."Where are you from? What do you do? etc."

Incidentally, I've tried a couple vacations down south, and couldn't wait to get back to friendly Isaan. My Thai-Isaan friends concur, while often painting the whole of South Thailand with the "black heart" moniker.

Edited March 19, 2007 by toptuan

[Chris.B]

No issues with Nakhon Sawan either; for some reason this alleged 'unfriendlyness' made it into the Lonely Planet section for that town in a couple issues, not sure if it's still there.

I heard that from a friend a few years back but no it is no longer in the guide.

I don't find Nakhon Sawan unfriendly. I find smiling at someone and saying sawatdee krup brings out a friendly response in most people.

[soundman]

...or comments of "falang falang hurled in my direction".

At least here in Isaan, that is usually a friendly or, at worst, neutral verbal response--often a near-involuntary reaction when Thai-Isaan folks unexpectedly see a farang in their midst. I've developed the immediate reflex of offering a smiling retort: "Khon Thai! Khon Thai!" which is always met with friendly laughter and frequent subsequent conversation..."Where are you from? What do you do? etc."

Incidentally, I've tried a couple vacations down south, and couldn't wait to get back to friendly Isaan. My Thai-Isaan friends concur, while often painting the whole of South Thailand with the "black heart" moniker.

If you really want to have a laugh - speak a little isaan vernicular back to the locals. You will never have seen their faces straighten up so quickly.... "Ee-ung wah!!!!" (amongst friends only....)

Cheers,

Soundman.

[benjeleuk]

Agree. Surathani town where I used to live (for many many years) is unfriendly, boring and pretty much a dump. Beautiful province, though. Thanks god I no longer live there.

I must say that Surat Thani of all the places I have visited in Thailand is the only place I have felt uncomfortable. Its a pity because my wife is from there , her family are great but when I walk the streets with my Thai wife the looks and sneers make me feel edgy, it was in some cases as if they had never seen a Farang before, children were actually pointing at me and probably saying to their parents, "Look there is a white man". I must say I did not see many farang in Surat, only getting off the train to go to Samui.

Maybee others have a different opinion of Surat, if so I would be very interested to hear your experiences, perhaps I went at a couple of wrong times (only been twice).

Edited March 19, 2007 by benjeleuk

[jdinasia]

Interesting thread as I have lived in the south for 16 years. I do find Ban Don (which is the name of the Amphur Muang of Surat Thani province) people to be mildly unfriendly, but then a majority of the population of most southern towns are Chinese-Thais. This is true for our little town, and true for Ban Don. That said, I don' t find southerners unfriendly. They just don't tolerate rudeness or arrogance from others. So, Bangkok people come down here with a patronizing 'country bumpkin' attitude and can't figure out when the 'bumpkins' don't welcome them with open arms. Farangs walk around with an attitude thinking that money buys everything and can't figure out when they get treated like sh!t. It's very simple, southerners don't tolerate sh!t and don't put a nice face on it when they get it.

As for the 'black heart' attitude from the rest of the country. It's true, most of the hired killers in the country come from Petchaburi, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani. It is also true that most of the people who do the hiring are from Bangkok and the central provinces. Who is the bigger 'black heart'?? The guy who pulls the trigger or the one who is too cowardly to do it himself but willing to pay for it?

I find it awesome in the South ... then again the ONLY place that I have EVER felt ill at ease (when wandering with my BF) was HuaHin and it was BKK folks there for the weekend making the assumptions. Quickly dealt with by handing them a business card ... <not mine> and telling them if they had any problems and needed an engineer .....

The amazing thing about this thread is that of all the places I have been in Thailand I find the South and NST in particular, the most friendly.

[davidjtayler]

Interesting thread as I have lived in the south for 16 years. I do find Ban Don (which is the name of the Amphur Muang of Surat Thani province) people to be mildly unfriendly, but then a majority of the population of most southern towns are Chinese-Thais. This is true for our little town, and true for Ban Don. That said, I don' t find southerners unfriendly. They just don't tolerate rudeness or arrogance from others. So, Bangkok people come down here with a patronizing 'country bumpkin' attitude and can't figure out when the 'bumpkins' don't welcome them with open arms. Farangs walk around with an attitude thinking that money buys everything and can't figure out when they get treated like sh!t. It's very simple, southerners don't tolerate sh!t and don't put a nice face on it when they get it.

As for the 'black heart' attitude from the rest of the country. It's true, most of the hired killers in the country come from Petchaburi, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani. It is also true that most of the people who do the hiring are from Bangkok and the central provinces. Who is the bigger 'black heart'?? The guy who pulls the trigger or the one who is too cowardly to do it himself but willing to pay for it?

I find it awesome in the South ... then again the ONLY place that I have EVER felt ill at ease (when wandering with my BF) was HuaHin and it was BKK folks there for the weekend making the assumptions. Quickly dealt with by handing them a business card ... <not mine> and telling them if they had any problems and needed an engineer .....

The amazing thing about this thread is that of all the places I have been in Thailand I find the South and NST in particular, the most friendly.

Hear hear !

I love the south too ... been to Had Yai, Surat, Krabi, Chumpon many times and used to live on Koh Tao ... fantastic people !

I haven't been to NST but have many friends who come from there that live on Koh Tao and Koh Phangan and they are great also.

[Austhaied]

I did some work in Chana, about 40 kms south of Songhkla . We had to have full time body guards / security as the locals were not only unfriendly, but wouldn't have thought twice of cutting our throats. The stares were black and cold as if evil had a firm grip on the town. Needless to say i couldn't wait to high tail it out of there.. Never again.

[girlx]

It's very simple, southerners don't tolerate sh!t and don't put a nice face on it when they get it.

As for the 'black heart' attitude from the rest of the country. It's true, most of the hired killers in the country come from Petchaburi, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani.

definitely true, and i have had several thai friends tell me that when you read the thai papers, most of the senseless crimes (outside the muslim insurgency) happen in nakorn sri thammarat. however, the town i live in has a bad reputation for horrible mafia people too, but i have gotten to know many of them personally and they are lovely...

[solid]

Well, I think it's bangkok!

Maybe it's because I am brown with no white and those chinese-based-bkk bstds thought I am in lower class bs.

When they started to piss me off, I just invited them to visit my hometown. That shut them up real nice.

[wasabi]

not thailand related & this is not a political website

Where is the most friendly town in the Isaan region?

[maccaroni man]

Funny you guys bring this up, Just 2 hrs ago, I went jogging in our local park, about 6 kms out of Pattaya....As a couple jogged past me, the guy asks his fat chinese thai wife, "Men reu pao?"(Doesn't smell bad) and they have a laugh... I could understand if it was true, but I had freshly showered and not even broken a sweat yet...[

b]Although I am white, I kind of know how it feels to be black now (eg:racial discrimination etc..)Keep it real brothers!!

[/b]

my exact words after living in bangkok 10 years ago. the good news is times have changed for the better.

[sriracha john]

Is there some reason in resurrecting a two year old thread?

Running out of topics I suppose, but oh well...

Well, I think it's bangkok!

Maybe it's because I am brown with no white and those chinese-based-bkk bstds thought I am in lower class bs.

When they started to piss me off, I just invited them to visit my hometown. That shut them up real nice.

Of the 73 provinces I've visited, I would agree and Bangkok gets my vote, but for different reasons that I pretty much attribute to the crowded, noisy, chaos of that place.

Difficult to be friendly given the often over-whelming and endless environmental assaults.

[andook]

Funny you guys bring this up, Just 2 hrs ago, I went jogging in our local park, about 6 kms out of Pattaya....As a couple jogged past me, the guy asks his fat chinese thai wife, "Men reu pao?"(Doesn't smell bad) and they have a laugh... I could understand if it was true, but I had freshly showered and not even broken a sweat yet...[

b]Although I am white, I kind of know how it feels to be black now (eg:racial discrimination etc..)Keep it real brothers!!

[/b]

my exact words after living in bangkok 10 years ago. the good news is times have changed for the better.

Yep, there is nothing like being an "ethnic minority" in someone else's country to let you know how it really feels, eh?

Its amazing how people with low self opinion / confidence have to try and make themselves feel better by trying to find someone they can look down on even more though.

Bangkok is like any other capital city of the world. Noisy, polluted, rude people c/w driving habits. I couldn't live there for long.

It gets my vote every time.

[skipvice]

The friendliest town in Thailand is Banpong,just read the sign.

[ThaiGoon]

I was born and raised in the South, and this is the first time I ever know that we, Southerners especially the Chinese Thais, are the unfriedliest and have "black hearts." Pretty interesting. Never knew this before.

[soundman]

The friendliest town in Thailand is Banpong,just read the sign.

Wasn't the friendliest place on earth in 1942?? for the allied and asian POW's when the japanese used Ban Pong as the staging point for the Burma railway.

Soundman.

[Neeranam]

Had Yai or Bangkok are the unfriendliest.

Friendliest - Roi Et, Kalasin, Ubon.

[zaza]

I was born and raised in the South, and this is the first time I ever know that we, Southerners especially the Chinese Thais, are the unfriedliest and have "black hearts." Pretty interesting. Never knew this before.

I have a friend from the south,her heart is striped (black & white).Does your heart have white dots or it's just plain black???

[ThaiGoon]

I was born and raised in the South, and this is the first time I ever know that we, Southerners especially the Chinese Thais, are the unfriedliest and have "black hearts." Pretty interesting. Never knew this before.

I have a friend from the south,her heart is striped (black & white).Does your heart have white dots or it's just plain black???

I actually still don't know. I might have to ask a few posters on here who appeared to be the experts on this matter.

[KhunMarco]

Well Thaigoon if you think North people talking sh.i about south people is just a farang mith, I suggest you wake up and smell the coffee. That's called racism/discrimination and it doesn't happen only in LOS if that makes you feel better (my country for example..sic)

[JR Texas]

Well Thaigoon if you think North people talking sh.i about south people is just a farang mith, I suggest you wake up and smell the coffee. That's called racism/discrimination and it doesn't happen only in LOS if that makes you feel better (my country for example..sic)

JR Texas: I have lived in all of the regions in Thailand. I can say, without a doubt in my mind, that Pattaya/Jomtien is the worst in terms of friendliness.

It is very clear what they think about "farangs" behind the "give me your money smile."

Part of this problem is no due to the fact that the worst class of farangs are living there (not all......I know the Love Thailand/Pattaya or Leave It Crowd will bite on this).

I am talking about the foaming at the mouth Neanderthals. The other side is the desperation and anger that forces many Thai people to Pattaya/Jomtien.

Ironically, from what I have read on this thread, the friendliest people I have found in Thailand are in the northeast region.

[nakhonsi sean]

Nakhon Si Thammarat is comming in for a lot of stick here. Having lived in Thailand on and of for over thirty years. In Nakhon now for five years on the trot and comming here for thirty. I don't find it any more or less friendly than other parts of Thailand. I have never had any real problems here. Few farang that I know have had any. The few who have had problems, I suspect, would have found problems in any Thai town or even at home.

I have always liked Nakhon and get on well with the locals. What you put out comes back. I have many friends who love the place. I know some that don't.

People in the South, I find, are more independant of mind which makes for more interesting conversation. They are less effusive than other areas in Thailand but I like that, you have to earn their friendship.

Pretty decent spot all in all.

[bmanly]

JR Texas: I have lived in all of the regions in Thailand. I can say, without a doubt in my mind, that Pattaya/Jomtien is the worst in terms of friendliness.

I have rarely found this to be case myself, sure in few places but it's not the general rule. I definitely don't think it's the worst.

Part of this problem is no due to the fact that the worst class of farangs are living there

You must be hanging around with the wrong crowd. The farang friends I have there are great guys, some retired lawyers, apartment owners, those on pensions who prefer living in the tropics, multi millionaires with businesses back home, some who work tirelessly for local charities etc. etc. In fact if I had a problem these guys would do anything to help me out.

The other side is the desperation and anger that forces many Thai people to Pattaya/Jomtien.

There are 2 points I'd like to make on this. You have stated that Pattaya/Jomtien is the least friendly place in Thailand yet you have just said yourself that the same people have come from somewhere else. Most of the population in Pattaya come from somewhere else, some are good and some are not so good same as anywhere else. The other point is nobody forces anybody to come to Pattaya for work, it is the persons own choice.

Ironically, from what I have read on this thread, the friendliest people I have found in Thailand are in the northeast region.

This I agree with with, I love the Issan people and to me were on par with the nice people of Khampaeng Phet.

[lazeeboy]

I've read something similar about Surat Thani being somewhat unfriendly but NST sounds awful...Thais in general are nothing like what you're describing. I've been in Hat Yai a few times and they were fine with me but I was also with my Thai wife and family (mother-in-law and brother-in-law) so I can't compare with somebody who has interacted with them alone.

Baaksida...It's interesting that the Muslims in that area are nice to you considering some of the Muslim views towards Westerners. I've also been in Pattani which as you know is Muslim dominated and a real hot spot now. I have a lot of family down there (mother-in-law's side) but none of the Muslims have ever said anything bad to me or made bad comments. Even when I got stuck on a family friend's motorcycle, three Muslim teenage boys were talking to me and trying to help me out...even after I had told them I'm American. In general though, how they behave with Thais and Westerners here in Bangkok differs greatly from the South. It must be tough for you to live around people like those neighbors of yours...Hat Yai is very mixed with a lot of Chinese and Thais not to mention Westerners. I hope you can find a way to deal with those nasty neighbors without getting in trouble.

thais in koh samui in general are not nice born and bred im talking about come here stay in there rooms eat in there cafes rent there jet skis drink in there bars they are great live here in your own house buy food in tesco eat in and they show there true colours obnoxious uneducated idiots as for the taxi drivers there must be a training coarse they all go on because they all act the same discurtious rude arogant and mostly not local samuians the children who came here with there builder parents 10 or so years ago mix with tourists all there life are now 16-20 are the worst teenagers i have ever met any where in the world and they can insult you in almost perfect english now thats scary ...........