Brown out Samui

[georgie48]

Even on this forum - Chiang Mai is said to be the 2nd largest city in Thailand - the heading of the forum says so - but is it true?. Many Thai friends say there are other towns down south alot larger than Chiang Mai. After also being voted as the 2nd best city in the world - after Bangkok by an international magazine, one wonders where these facts come from?

[uptheos]

I suppose they can put anything down, if people believe Bangkok is number one!

[gotlost]

If you go to the Thai Visa Weather Forum and go threw the cities listed by our esteemed leader George. The population figures has Chiang Mai at about number 6 on the population in Thailand. Besides it can not be true Nakhon Ratchasima say they are number 2.

Edited July 23, 2010 by gotlost

[uptheos]

The facts for Chiang Mai came from the same source as those for Bangkok.....you believe whatever you want to, we all do.

[harrry]

A lot comes down to how the city is defined. At one stage Brisbane was the second largest city in the world defined in area as it had one council covering a really huge ares. Other cities as we think of them ofte are composed of several smaller municipalities

I think the same sort of problem exists here as definitions vary.

Historicly Chiang Mai was larger than other country cities however I thinkman f thes have grown ore rapidly than CM over e last forty years or so.

[el jefe]

If you do a google search, the answers come up that CM is anywhere from 3rd to 8th, depending on the site. If the question is about the area of the city, CM is the 5th largest city in Thailand.

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

if by population the Chiang Mai is 5th largest based on 2008 data

Thailand Population Wiki

I am sure it could be measured in other ways like economic activity or commercial buildings, land area etc.

[georgie48]

if by population the Chiang Mai is 5th largest based on 2008 data

Thailand Population Wiki

I am sure it could be measured in other ways like economic activity or commercial buildings, land area etc.

Thanks to the guys who replied - i wonder if any of the super moderators are reading this - if they could change the heading to this forum / get the heading changed - as it is clear Chiang Mai is not no2 by either size of the city, population or economic. it is not THAT important - however for newbies like me - it is good to know the facts

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

Could still make the case C.M. is 2nd in influence because it has major universities, distinctive buildings like the royal summer palace and temples, Intl airport and convention center and other attractions.

[orang37]

Sawasdeee Khrup, TV CM Friends,

The current Wikipedia on Chiang Mai, the province (chungwat), states that the province is 2nd. largest in terms of area, 6th. largest in terms of population (based on 2005 figures), and 58th. in population density, with 13.4 % of the province population "ethnic" groups (Karen, Akha, Lisu, Lahu, etc.).

This blog entry : Tambon blogspot gives a link to supposedly newer (2009) statistics ... down to the Amphoe level ... on an official Thai-language only site : Dept. of Provincial Administration : but unfortunately that link is incorrect, or not functional now.

If you can read Thai (we can't) perhaps the main DOPA site : DOPA home page could be used to get at the statistics.

Always wondered if "Chiang Mai is number two" is a mainly farang perception. For us Chiang Mai will always be "number one"

best, ~o:38;

[gotlost]

Chiang Mai general topics. The cultural capital of northern Thailand. Home of ancient Lanna Thai Kingdom. Whether you're admiring the panoramic views of Doi Suthep, to dining along the serene Mae Ping river, Thailand's second largest city will captivate your senses.

Chiang Mai Directory - Forum Sponsored By

This is taken from just below the Chiang Mai forum listing on the local forums. (SECOND LARGEST CITY) but on TV weather page it shows CM by population as number 5.

[Thaihog]

Chiang Mai general topics. The cultural capital of northern Thailand. Home of ancient Lanna Thai Kingdom. Whether you're admiring the panoramic views of Doi Suthep, to dining along the serene Mae Ping river, Thailand's second largest city will captivate your senses.

Chiang Mai Directory - Forum Sponsored By

This is taken from just below the Chiang Mai forum listing on the local forums. (SECOND LARGEST CITY) but on TV weather page it shows CM by population as number 5.

Chiang Mai is confusing as it's both a city (muang) and a province. You could drive a car more than 2 hours from the city but still be in the province of Chiang Mai.

Muang Chiang Mai is not that big and IMHO it would be the 5th or 6th biggest city by population in Thailand... I would say that Nakhon Ratchasima, Udon Thani, Hat Yai, Khon Kaen are bigger, but what do I know

[gotlost]

Chiang Mai general topics. The cultural capital of northern Thailand. Home of ancient Lanna Thai Kingdom. Whether you're admiring the panoramic views of Doi Suthep, to dining along the serene Mae Ping river, Thailand's second largest city will captivate your senses.

Chiang Mai Directory - Forum Sponsored By

This is taken from just below the Chiang Mai forum listing on the local forums. (SECOND LARGEST CITY) but on TV weather page it shows CM by population as number 5.

Chiang Mai is confusing as it's both a city (muang) and a province. You could drive a car more than 2 hours from the city but still be in the province of Chiang Mai.

Muang Chiang Mai is not that big and IMHO it would be the 5th or 6th biggest city by population in Thailand... I would say that Nakhon Ratchasima, Udon Thani, Hat Yai, Khon Kaen are bigger, but what do I know

Why be confused there are other provinces in Thailand that have the same name as a city in its province such as Surin province and Surin City. Population of Surin province about 1.5 million. Surin City population 46,000.

[gotlost]

These figures are from the Thia Visa Weather forum.

Bangkok 5,104,4076

Samut Prakan 388,700

Nonthaburi 356,300

Udon Thani 247,231

ChonBuri 221,300

Nakhon Ratchasime 208,781

Chiang Mai 200,952

Lampang 156,139

Khon Kaen 147,579

Ubon Ratchathan 122533

Pattaya 97,296

Phuket 82800

Chiang Rai 82,800

[jackr]

Thought Hat Yai was the second largest, although Chiang Mai is certainly the SECOND city.

[gotlost]

Thought Hat Yai was the second largest, although Chiang Mai is certainly the SECOND city.

Hat Yai, province Songkhla. Population of Hat Yai 191,696.

[sabaijai]

Or 11th according to World Gazetteer.

1 Bangkok 5 831 835

2 Samut Prakan 453 176

3 Nonthaburi 409 175

4 Udon Thani 229 516

5 Chon Buri 203 127

6 Nakhon Ratchasima 201 229

7 Hat Yai 200 270

8 Phra Pradaeng 199 640

9 Pak Kret 199 158

10 Si Racha 189 759

11 Chiang Mai 186 655

Definitely not number 2 by any measure despite the common farang perception.

[Ulysses G.]

CM is officially the second best city in the world (take that Paris). Population figures are not all that important.

[uptheos]

CM is officially the second best city in the world (take that Paris). Population figures are not all that important.

Absolutely, Chiang Mai is the eternal city of light and life!

No Latin Quarter, Montparnase, Eiffel tower, Louvre, Triumph Arch, Notre Damme, La Bastille, Les invalides, Les Champs Elysses, Opera House or Moulin Rouge and a very long etcetera here.........and you can't even get knocked over by a motorcyclist whilst strolling on the sidewalk, whilst inhaling belching black smoke, or even go to go to meet your maker at a red light...........boring.

Edited July 23, 2010 by uptheos

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Chiang Mai general topics. The cultural capital of northern Thailand. Home of ancient Lanna Thai Kingdom. Whether you're admiring the panoramic views of Doi Suthep, to dining along the serene Mae Ping river, Thailand's second largest city will captivate your senses.

Chiang Mai Directory - Forum Sponsored By

This is taken from just below the Chiang Mai forum listing on the local forums. (SECOND LARGEST CITY) but on TV weather page it shows CM by population as number 5.

Chiang Mai is confusing as it's both a city (muang) and a province. You could drive a car more than 2 hours from the city but still be in the province of Chiang Mai.

Muang Chiang Mai is not that big and IMHO it would be the 5th or 6th biggest city by population in Thailand... I would say that Nakhon Ratchasima, Udon Thani, Hat Yai, Khon Kaen are bigger, but what do I know

Why be confused there are other provinces in Thailand that have the same name as a city in its province such as Surin province and Surin City. Population of Surin province about 1.5 million. Surin City population 46,000.

Yup, pretty much all provinces have the same name as the major town. Only a couple exceptions, e.g. Songkhla (Had Yai is the major town). Also, absolutely no way that Khon Kaen is anywhere the size of Chiang Mai; it's tiny.

It has been said before, but a lot depends on where you stop counting. And, one should take into account that migration within Thailand is not really tracked officially at all; half of Thailand could move to Chiang Mai and they wouldn't know it in City Hall.

So, probably a better route is to forget any government information (always a safe bet) and focus on information from business sources. For example, you know that Tesco don't put in a major store unless they thought there's x-thousand people in the area to shop there. So, just go to the sites for Big C, Carrefour, Tesco, Makro, Central etc and see where their branches are. Then you'll see that Chiang Mai is a prime candidate for second place. (Depending on if you count Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan probably, but those really are more parts of Bangkok than that they are their own place.) Also Udon is well behind, and when visiting the place and driving around it's clearly smaller in size. (One ring road with not a whole lot of built up stuff around it; compare that to Chiang Mai)

[Rinrada]

Outside of Thailand how many people have ever heard of Samut Prakan and if they have with what association?.......Crocodiles ...real show stopper and with RIP off Duel pricing as well...

Chiang Mai should be Number One......and of course ...IT IS...init :jap:

[jackr]

Thought Hat Yai was the second largest, although Chiang Mai is certainly the SECOND city.

Hat Yai, province Songkhla. Population of Hat Yai 191,696.

It's not all about populace; a city's economic, political and regional importance are also factored in, although with the word 'Largest' in the op, that CM certainly ain't.