Does anyone have any experience living in Bang Pu (the one in Samut Prakhan)?

The focus of the question is not so much on Bang Pu as a BKK side trip, as much as on your actual experience with renting or owning somewhere within Bang Pu - particularly in one of the developments.

For those outside of BKK, Bang Pu is a fishing village/former military getaway in Samut Prakhan, on old Sukhumvit about an hour drive from the BKK CBD, which is particularly famous for its seagull infestations. In days past, it was a bit of a honeymoon destination for our GF's grandpa. It now houses a bird sanctuary, Meuang Boran (Ancient City), and - yummy, yummy - the aging and toxic Bang Pu Industrial Estate (old leather-processing area before Mab Thaput got big and even more toxic). The shoreline features mud flats, a lot of garbage (of course), and zero sand.

Have you rented or owned in Bang Pu? Are you there now? What has your experience been like? How's life in Bang Pu?

I am especially interested in your experience in living (renting or owning) in one of the Bang Pu developments - for example, around Bang Pu Golf and Sports, Preuksa 15 Village, Meuang Ek Village, 180 Bang Pu Beach House, etc. We are planning to bid on a couple homes out of auction in one of the developments there.

(By the way, a ThaiV Bang Pu mini-thread does exist (archived): however, its focus was a bit narrow on just the Industrial Estate: thaivisa: /forum/topic/529135-bang-pu-industrial-estate-samut-prakan/)

Thanks for your help!

For those who might have an interest in Bang Pu, forgot to mention: here's a thread with several useful comments from work experience nearby:

thaivisa /forum/topic/433175-samut-prakan-tanning-factories-threatened-with-legal-action/

I know the area moderately well .. but more from a Thai perspective then a Westerner one.

Not many Farangs out this way, despite it's proximity to Bangkok.

Might be more around the enclave focused on the Golf Course.

Slowly the area is opening up as the BTS extends further down Old Sukhumvit Road.

As you know, it currently finishes at Bearing, but a major extension is planned and, if you have travelled down the road, see that the construction is well underway. It will finish at Kheha Samut Prakan.

The map is available in this post here ... http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/406991-the-new-skytrain/?p=7123271

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Slowly the area is opening up as the BTS extends further down Old Sukhumvit Road.

Many thanks, David.

Yes, they've actually accelerated the BTS extension, haven't they. The construction must be a headache for you now, but once done, will be pretty nice.

From a Thai perspective, how's life out there? Do you get out in the local area occasionally? Are there some places with live music at night? Do you feel safety issues at all (I refer especially to almost comical moto teens and the warring Samut P vocational school gangs, etc).

I'd love to hear how you ended up out there yourself.

Thanks!

PM sent.

Gangs ... no ... well, not that I've seen.