Udon Nightlife Is Dead, How About Other Cities?

[George Harmony]

This week I made a round in Udon and visited many farang establishments. I have never seen Udon 'so dead' at night.

Also farang restaurants owners are complaining.

One farang Udon resident said: 'many Udon farangs can not afford to go out anymore so often.'

How about other places in Thailand?

[pnustedt]

Many English teachers are out of town here due to school holidays. Kids also go back to the villages. Should get back to normal mid May.

[DILLIGAD]

Many English teachers are out of town here due to school holidays. Kids also go back to the villages. Should get back to normal mid May.

NORMAL !! You sure! LOL!

[MYKTHEMIN]

It will only get worse with the crazy exchange rates.baht needs devaluing.

[swissie]

Exept for the Farang-Tourist-Spots: There Is no nightlife in the rest of Thailand as far as the Farangs understanding of night-life is concerned.

So, Farangs that have grown to like the night-life, are probably ill-advised to move to rural Thailand. Even if this move is strongly recommended by a third party. (the third party is usually the Thai-GF, as I was told).

But if the Farang is willing and able to reduce his "night-life-desires" to:

- Listening to the evening chit-chat of various family members (How is your Thai?)

- Going to organized occasional Marriage / Son going to the Wat parties (pay the lump-sum for the table and leave after eating or when the other guests leave).

- Go to the local Karaoke (Where people in uniform get free treatement in the backroom, all others have to pay).

- Sit with the father in law on the front porch and drink liberal amounts of Beer-Chang while having a lively discussion.

If the Farang can reduce his night live desires to the points mentioned above, he can live anywhere in rural Thailand.

Cheers.

[kiniyow]

Pattaya Never sleeps~~~

[Halfaboy]

and in Pattaya the beat goes on !!!

[thrilled]

I go to thai night clubs in Udon.I have A blast.I just make sure not to disrespect the women.other than that no problem.

[bergen]

Nightlife in Ubon is getting better and better.

If you're not looking for farang beer bars, you'll be fine!

[ExpatOilWorker]

Take a trip to Roi-et, they have life music country club and even a soapy massage/go-go style of place, called Mai Tai.

[mrbojangles]

Not really any Farang establishments in Chaiyaphum (that I've found) but Tawangdang is always busy and a good night out. Apart from that, there isn't much choice though. I went to Khon Kaen for a night out the other week and it was pretty buzzing.

[Travel2003]

Isn't Udon a city with 300 000+ people?

Surely there is a good night life there.

In Khon Kaen with prox the same seems to have a fairly ok night life.

[swissie]

Hmmmmmhhhh.....! I guess, we will have to define "night-life" at this point.

To some, a modest Karaoke-Joint is already plenty of "night-live", others would accept nothing less but the "full-menu", before they would call it "night-life".

?

Cheers.

[Travel2003]

Hmmmmmhhhh.....! I guess, we will have to define "night-life" at this point.

To some, a modest Karaoke-Joint is already plenty of "night-live", others would accept nothing less but the "full-menu", before they would call it "night-life".

?

Cheers.

Ok.

Something in the middle of that.

Agree?

[Khun Watchaporn]

Most farangs in Udon are retired.

Just look at the state of exchange rates and dwindling pensions to see how that is going to affect the place.

I'm not a big drinker but pity those who came out here to retire when they were getting 70b to the pound. Now find their pound being hacked at and those that are left only worth scarcly more than half that, and have to budget for a few lousy Leos a few times a week.

No thanks.

Edited April 29, 2013 by Khun Watchaporn

[maprao]

Exept for the Farang-Tourist-Spots: There Is no nightlife in the rest of Thailand as far as the Farangs understanding of night-life is concerned.

So, Farangs that have grown to like the night-life, are probably ill-advised to move to rural Thailand. Even if this move is strongly recommended by a third party. (the third party is usually the Thai-GF, as I was told).

But if the Farang is willing and able to reduce his "night-life-desires" to:

- Listening to the evening chit-chat of various family members (How is your Thai?)

- Going to organized occasional Marriage / Son going to the Wat parties (pay the lump-sum for the table and leave after eating or when the other guests leave).

- Go to the local Karaoke (Where people in uniform get free treatement in the backroom, all others have to pay).

- Sit with the father in law on the front porch and drink liberal amounts of Beer-Chang while having a lively discussion.

If the Farang can reduce his night live desires to the points mentioned above, he can live anywhere in rural Thailand.

Cheers.

Only someone who has "chosen" or been "forced" to live it would hit the nail on the head like this post. Well done Swissie.

[candypants]

forgot:

-build up a body of over

Isn't Udon a city with 300 000+ people?

Surely there is a good night life there.

In Khon Kaen with prox the same seems to have a fairly ok night life.

khon kean is great, we had a bachelor party there for no reason other than the fact that it was not bangkok, and no one had any affiliation with the place other than the fact a freind had passed through for work and been taken out on the town by the local cops and loved it.

around 20 of us 35-45 flew in for 3 nights. never forget it. the farang bars are minging, but the thai clubs are brilliant.

[marstons]

having just moved from Pattaya to Udon yeap its not so busy, the cops are breatherliser mad and bars way to expensive for the beers compared to Pattaya. But the eye candy is more pleasing on the eye than the past sell by date Pattaya ladies.

Uni opens soon so maybe things will pick up then but i still aint paying 80-100 baht for a beer.

[SantiSuk]

Exept for the Farang-Tourist-Spots: There Is no nightlife in the rest of Thailand as far as the Farangs understanding of night-life is concerned.

So, Farangs that have grown to like the night-life, are probably ill-advised to move to rural Thailand. Even if this move is strongly recommended by a third party. (the third party is usually the Thai-GF, as I was told).

But if the Farang is willing and able to reduce his "night-life-desires" to:

- Listening to the evening chit-chat of various family members (How is your Thai?)

- Going to organized occasional Marriage / Son going to the Wat parties (pay the lump-sum for the table and leave after eating or when the other guests leave).

- Go to the local Karaoke (Where people in uniform get free treatement in the backroom, all others have to pay).

- Sit with the father in law on the front porch and drink liberal amounts of Beer-Chang while having a lively discussion.

If the Farang can reduce his night live desires to the points mentioned above, he can live anywhere in rural Thailand.

Cheers.

Only someone who has "chosen" or been "forced" to live it would hit the nail on the head like this post. Well done Swissie.

Humorous yes, hits the nail it addresses on the head yes ..... But .... misses the OPs point. OP was talking about provincial town nightlife not rural nightlife.

Swissaussie was correct in his comment though about many falangs interpretation of nightlife as being falang-targeted hostess bars and go-gos; such falangs are indeed going to be frustrated in provincial towns if they cannot bend a bit towards a more Thai-oriented experience. As far as I can see from comments on here (OK - and some limited market testing - Ubon, Sisaket, Roi-Et, Surin) most Issaan towns above 100,000 people have a range of soapies, karaokes, cheap knocking streets, Thai discos where falang are welcome, late night Thai bars where falang go, student bars where students are sometimes keen to engage you in conversation and the odd passable falang-run establishment (if you restrict your drinking to post 9pm).

If thats too tame for you, then sure stick to Pats.Patong and BKK, but dont come complaining on here that theres no nightlife in Isaans towns. Its way more interesting than in equivalent sized towns in say US, UK and Germany

[farangme]

I'm surprised Udon has over 300k people. Feels a lot smaller. No soapies, fishbowls, go go's that I'm aware of. A few lame beer bars and a few mixed night clubs with 'single' ladies on the prowl. Rest of the nightlife is Thai style. Lots of good people watching around. Wouldn't come to Udon for the nightlife. If someone wants raunch, should head South. If someone wants a more 'normal' Thailand, so to speak, Udon is a good choice.

Sent from my PC36100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Neeranam]

Khon Kaen is swinging!

The last place I'd visit is a farang bar. I haven't had a drink for 14 years but even when drinking I never never to farang bars.

Thai nightclubs are great for pulling chicks. Farang bars are full of aging bar-girls in my experience.

[MrRed]

Not really any Farang establishments in Chaiyaphum (that I've found) but Tawangdang is always busy and a good night out. Apart from that, there isn't much choice though. I went to Khon Kaen for a night out the other week and it was pretty buzzing.

Next time you are visiting will take you on a proper night out,you will be more than just buzzing in the morning.Took it easy on you last time we did. probably because of the importance of the football!

[citizen33]

No soapies, fishbowls, go go's that I'm aware of.

I haven't visited Udon for a couple of years now and was never a soapie customer, but there certainly were several in the recent past. Is the go go bar Wolverine still open? This is away from the main cluster of bars and pretty dire but seemed to survive with trade from service men.

[George Harmony]

No soapies, fishbowls, go go's that I'm aware of.

I haven't visited Udon for a couple of years now and was never a soapie customer, but there certainly were several in the recent past. Is the go go bar Wolverine still open? This is away from the main cluster of bars and pretty dire but seemed to survive with trade from service men.

The wolverine is still open. My initial post is about establishments which mainly target on Farang public.

See also https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=184099598410373&set=a.183207678499565.1073741826.183206258499707&type=1&theater

Edited May 3, 2013 by George Harmony

[Khun Watchaporn]

Thai places are the place to go for fun.

Was just in Sisaket province, passed one farang place there, a Western male, aged 50-60, sitting by himself at the bar in an otherwise empty bar, beer Chang in front, beyond that a small TV with Nat Geo on it in Thai....

The next night was the exact same.

Think I'd rather inject toilet cleaner and just be done with it.

[George Harmony]

Thai places are the place to go for fun.

Was just in Sisaket province, passed one farang place there, a Western male, aged 50-60, sitting by himself at the bar in an otherwise empty bar, beer Chang in front, beyond that a small TV with Nat Geo on it in Thai....

The next night was the exact same.

Think I'd rather inject toilet cleaner and just be done with it.

Ok Khun Watchaporn, but in Udon it was 3-5 years ago much more different. Many farang bars were bussy every day, also in the afternoon. The farang population of Udon is rising.

Why are the bars quite??

Is it the strong Baht? Is it the changing behaviors.....they are fet up with the girly scene, ladydrinks and barfines?

What is it?

Edited May 4, 2013 by George Harmony

[BugJackBaron]

Thai places are the place to go for fun.

Was just in Sisaket province, passed one farang place there, a Western male, aged 50-60, sitting by himself at the bar in an otherwise empty bar, beer Chang in front, beyond that a small TV with Nat Geo on it in Thai....

The next night was the exact same.

Think I'd rather inject toilet cleaner and just be done with it.

Ok Khun Watchaporn, but in Udon it was 3-5 years ago much more different. Many farang bars were bussy every day, also in the afternoon. The farang population of Udon is rising.

Why are the bars quite??

Is it the strong Baht? Is it the changing behaviors.....they are fet up with the girly scene, ladydrinks and barfines?

What is it?

Hard to say but I can tell you that in the Jomtien beach area of Pattaya the bar scene is quite horrible. The Rumpho bar complex had more action

a year ago when it wasn't finished than it does now. . Now it is almost dead. So to answer your question, I believe that the problem is the exchange rate + low season. In the case of Pattaya , Russians are also a problem as they never visit bars. One of the best restaurants in Pattaya has also complained that this seems to be the worst low season.. So I suspect it's not just Udon and not just bars.

Good News? Well, downturns are downturns because sooner or later recovery happens.....

[JLCrab]

Saturday Nite in Udon Thani Is Dead? This could wake the dead. (couldn't resist)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=8diHqx1oa9g#t=206s

[Chaichara]

Can't remember when I last went to a farang bar - Oh yes, it was about 5 years ago to meet someone in the Irish Clock. There seems to be a lot of farang bars in Udon though. There used to be a lot more in that strip in front of what used to be Robinson. They were all demolished to make room for the new Central Plaza, whether they ever relocated or not?

[citizen33]

There used to be a lot more in that strip in front of what used to be Robinson.

These were I think 'farang alley' and the adjacent bars on the main road, like the old Mr Tong's. I've had a few tours around Udon in the past, including Day & Night (the new tin shed) and Nutty Park (another little row of bars), and I think some of the alley bars relocated there. On my trips it always seemed to me that the farang bars were rather quiet, but perhaps it is indeed even worse now.