Two questions re Viangbua mansion

[swbloke]

Hello

I don't know CM and I'm visiting soon, I like the look of this place,http://www.viangbua.net/ Its just far enough from town to suite my needs, it's the top of my short-list for one months stay.

It has good and reliable looking reviews on Tripadvisor.

My two questions, not covered in the reviews and that readers here might have insight/knowledge of, are

1. Is the internet connection fast and reliable?

2. It mentions cable TV, will there be any British channels or HBO? Or a English language movie channel

The second questions isn't a deal breaker, the first is.

Finally any views on the area? It looks fine to me and the reviews don't raise any alarms.

Thanks in advance.

[kjhbigv]

The area is okay lots of young student types live around there. Just one thing there is a Thai Bar area just down from there.... if the map is correct and they can be loud. I should know I lived next to Santitham Plaza for a few years. I would check it out at night to see how close and loud it is. Apart from that area okay.

Can not comment on Internet but generally shared Internet in a place like this will not be very good when everyone is using it. You would definitely want to test it prior to committing yourself.

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[pom66]

Can't say about the internet but i stayed last year just down the same road at a place called The Opium brilliant

any way just round the corner you will find the cleanest and best food market for seafood and fresh produce

easy to get into town

the tv in the Opium had english TV channels so i should think Viangbua would be the same

[haybilly]

My Brother and his wife, when visiting Chiang Mai from Canada--have chosen Viang Bua twice with no complaints--he uses the internet, so I assume it was usable.

[NancyL]

We stayed there a few years ago and just loved the place -- the staff was really nice and that Thai market it's near is the best in town. It's a vibrant part of town, what with all the students, but the student bars aren't particularly close. They're a few blocks away, so it wasn't especially noisy at night. I just wished we lived a little closer now, because I really miss dropping by that Thai market three times daily to pick up stuff. It's not too far from a Tops Supermarket if you want western food. At the time we stayed there, that Tops was a superb little Rim Ping store -- even better than the Tops that's there now. No shortage of other shops -- barber, internet, copy shops, etc right in the area.

The only problem was in finding a song thaew that wanted to go out that way much past dusk -- it's a few blocks from the city center/tourist areas.

[tfc]

When I was there several years ago there was cable TV with English channels but no HBO. The internet is about the same as other serviced apartments I've stayed in, it was always pretty stable but slow which is normal considering that the whole floor uses the same connection. The Thai eatery next door "Nu's place" is awesome and it's easy access to Thanin market. Their kitchen rooms could do with a refurbish (from when I was there last) but in general it is a good place and the staff are helpful and friendly.

[swbloke]

Thanks all for your replies, I love the sound of the market and the local places to eat, mouth watering!

[mikey88]

I'm there right now. The internet is NOT fast.

The market food comes out largely tepid verging on cold.

I won't eat there because I don't think it's clean. (personal opinion...I've been sick before and I believe it was from there)

The cable is terrible.

There is only one movie channel in English which is a fox channel (need i say more)...

The staff ARE delightful.

The rooms are a bit tired.

There is work going on all year (I believe) ... workmen and some noise for renovations...

There is a Karaoke strip a few doors down and the sound can be heard blasting every night until 2a.m.

The area is good.

There are 2 large condo constructions going on a block down the road...I hear the noise all day.

March April May etc....the mountain facing rooms also face the western sun and are scorching.

Come to think of it ...everything's scorching MAM.....so...

There are no EASILY accessed tuks tuks or red taxis....Transport is a major problem in CM...and being this far out from the old city my friends who don't drive or ride motor bike can't stay here because they can't get anywhere with any ease...

To name a few....

[dbk2322]

I've stayed at Viangbua many times, most recently two months ago. Everything Mikey88 said is absolutely 100% correct in terms of Viangbua and the surrounding area.

But you're not going to find any place better if a month-to-month 'serviced apartment' is what you're looking for. There are a lot of places that are worse, and a couple that are maybe marginally better (at a much higher price point) but none will have stellar cable and internet. You'll have some 'stuff' to watch on tv and checking your email will usually be fine but any expectations beyond that may be disappointed.

[Microwave]

I've known people who stayed there, one for 3 months. They all really liked it, but they also rented scooters as they said that the songteows wouldn't go there due to it being near a university which caused sizeable traffic jams on Chang Puak Rd. as school let out. Also Viengbua Mansion is past the moat, which songteow drivers don't like going to. However, one group of friends said that the songteows would sometimes take back roads and drop them off at Thanin Market and they'd then walk to Viengbua Mansion. Expect to pay a higher price for travel at night. Many of the red songteow drivers are farmers from neighbouring villages who bring children from the village to CM in the morning and then return to the village, with the children, in the late afternoon. Thus, fewer supply of songteows in the evening which means price extortion.

I've been told that the strip of karaoke bars @ Santitham Plaza are owned by an influential policeman who allows the bars to stay open to 2.30 am. My friend just turned on his aircon and closed the patio door to shut out the noise. I would guess that any rooms facing the mountain would become extremely hot from now until the rainy season.

Nobody ever mentioned the quality of the internet service, but as more people stay in the building and use the internet, then the slower the internet service will become. Internet service would be better during the low season for tourists.

The convenience of being next to Thanin Market was unequaled, easily the best market in CM imho.

The bloke who lived there for 3 months said that he really liked being based @ Viengbua Mansion and would stay there again.

Nothing's perfect, but Viengbua Mansion seems to be great value for money, especially if you're paying on a monthly basis and get a mountain view room.

Hope this helps.

[HarmonicaNomad]

My wife and I stayed at The Opium, which is just up the road, for over 9 months so I can add more information to Pom66's comment.

Their Internet is fantastic, the best and fastest I've seen at any hotel in CM. Fiber Optic, 30 mbps Download/15-20 mbps Upload. The staff is excellent, very helpful, speak pretty good English (Mr Boom, the owner, speaks perfect English and is always very eager to help! Great guy!) Very, very clean and new. The prices are comparable to Viangbua but the hotel is much newer (I've seen both rooms and facilities at Viangbua) and it can even be lower on monthly, long term rental. I couldn't recommend The Opium more! I would (and will!) stay there again, no hesitation! Viangbua Mansion versus The Opium? The Opium hands down!

I agree with most of the comments made before about Viangbua, so I won't repeat the same things. I've know people staying at Viangbua for many months and what they described is pretty much spot on with the above comments. We ate at their restaurant there on the first floor many times, really liked their Club Sandwich, nice break from daily Thai food. The waitresses were very friendly. I've also used the internet there several time while enjoying a coffee at their Coffe bar and it's definitely not as fast as The Opium.

I love the area! The Thanin Market is awesome and the food excellent and very diversified. I ate food from there most days and never got sick. The food goes very fast and is cooked 3 times a day. For dinner, pick something up around 16H30 and it will be hot and very fresh. The place is very clean as per Thai standard. Actually, I only got sick once in Thailand and it was at the "nicest, cleanest" Western restaurant I ate at! There is also a small diner on the other side of the road from the Seven Eleven near the Opium that serve some great food! It's owned by 3 sisters and they cook some of the best Thai food we enjoyed in Thailand. Nothing fancy, just excellent Thai food cooked with love and served with a smile!

As for the songteows or Tuktuk, never had any problems getting a ride from and to the area, daytime as well as nightime. Getting one before 7am might be a problem though but just get the hotel to call one for you and one will show up pronto!

All in all, great area away from the hordes of tourists, would absolutely recommend The Opium but you could do a hell of a lot worse than Viangbua Mansion!

Enjoy your time in CM!