Nong Khai as a place to settle. Good Idea ?

[Dave 74]

I would recommend for anyone to live here not less than 5 years, before they invest in the country. Preferably 10. Preferably not to invest at all.

[10Yen]

I would recommend for anyone to live here not less than 5 years, before they invest in the country. Preferably 10. Preferably not to invest at all.

Wow, and apparently, do the exact opposite of Simon !

[choochoo]

I was reading Bob Biggins book of business. He says to prioritize your objectives. 1. just make enuff to get by. 2. keep the wife busy. 3. business as a means of socializing.

Good god, none of the 3 was high on B.B.'s list......................lol.

Someone needs to define guesthouse. Is it a house with rooms to let out or is it a full blown hotel?

Simons business is to apparently run businesses, althoughhe does need help on how to keep the darn money-it keeps slipping away due to bad thais.................lol. Got to stop that leak simon. Has op stated anywhere he knows how to run a business hotel type operation?

[MonkeyLoo]

Choo choo

You need to ask yourself one question.

Would you speak to people face to face the way you talk to them here?

If the answer is yes. It begs the question....do you have a straight nose?

You are one prize c***.!

Congrats!

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[choochoo]

anyone who wants to run a business just to get by needs a good bonk upside the head. only way guys like you will learn.........lol.

[bannork]

I spent a lot of time in Nong Khai in the 80s and early 90s, there was a fun guesthouse near the river run by a Thai woman who's now living in That Phanom, name began with n, ( the memory's going), Mutmee guesthouse used to be run by a Swiss woman who sold it to Julian, he had a Thai wife and child but the child got sick.

In my view it's a great place for those who love the small town atmosphere, enough to do but small enough for everyone to be friendly.The promenade is nice at dusk too.

I don't know who runs Mutmee guesthouse now but for sure they have a great location, next to the river, I heard my only ghost in Thailand there, used to be a graveyard for the nearby hospital, but it would be hard to compete with them.

As for restaurants, there are a few farang eateries and the number of tourists is not so high, thank god.

If the OP wants to make money I recommend he buys some land and plants sugar cane, etc but if neither he nor his Thai wife are inclined to farming but he wants something to do, then part time teaching may be the best option.

And yes, this choo choo sounds like a complete prick.Hopefully he'll never grace northern Issan.

[choochoo]

@ least i dont come up with ways for op to lose money. Sugar cane? You want op to lose his moeny jsut because he has it or what?

People enjoy giving shit money advice? Maybe thats the in thing now.................lol.

[MonkeyLoo]

Thanks for the advice Bannork and all who have given some positive thought and ideas.

We did harvest some sugar cane this year from my wife's land. She only has a few rai. You are right it is easy money but I don't like the idea of buying land I can't own.

I like the guest house idea. It's just about getting the right location.

Choochoo.....If that's how you are in person go get some therapy mate.

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[bannork]

Thanks for the advice Bannork and all who have given some positive thought and ideas.

We did harvest some sugar cane this year from my wife's land. She only has a few rai. You are right it is easy money but I don't like the idea of buying land I can't own.

I like the guest house idea. It's just about getting the right location.

Choochoo.....If that's how you are in person go get some therapy mate.

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If you want to run a guesthouse then checkout the opposition, ie Mutmee. it's got a great location right on the river and near Sadet market.

Apart from location you have to get into the bible, The Lonely Planet, a praiseworthy mention there is worth a pot of gold.

Get your guesthouse and write to Joe Cummings, the author, tell him what a great guitarist he is and ask him why he isn't touring with The Rolling Stones ( he knows Mick Jagger)

[MonkeyLoo]

I looked at some land overlooking the river and fairly central. Ideal for a guest house but they were asking 7 million baht for less than 1 rai !!

Ideally I would like to just lease one if the right one comes up.

I've not read the Lonely Planet book for years. I remember it being popular with backpackers etc. I just use the Internet now and sites like TripAdvisor. I can do the Internet marketing side myself, that's been a part of my job for many years. And sure, the Lonely Planet is huge.

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[choochoo]

So sugarcane is ez money and youve done it but dont want to do more of it. <deleted> am i missing?

[MonkeyLoo]

Correct - I'm happy doing the small amount of sugar cane on my wife's existing land, but as I say I don't like the idea of buying more land that i don't own myself. Besides that i would prefer a more social activity such as a guest house.

As I say it's not all about money. If I wanted to get rich I doubt I would be in Thailand anyway.

As the saying goes "if you want to make a small fortune in Thailand, start off with a large one ".

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[choochoo]

No offense but anyone looking for serious business advice here automatically qualifies them as a bad bet for doing business. Most of us have no idea-myself included.......lol.

Its just that the premises are so cluckked up. Its ez to see big red flags.

Thai visa is great for visa info. Absolutely zero value for those looking to start a mundane cookie cutter business.

Again- who opens a business for socilaizing... you got to be insane willing to put up a few $100,000 to do that.

[MonkeyLoo]

Who said I was putting up a few $100,000 ?

I was just looking for ideas for business in Nong Khai, perhaps people have noticed a gap in the market or have had ideas or experiences in Nong Khai that they could share.

I have many friends with businesses in Thailand. They are not their main source of income. It's done by many as a pastime and way of socialising.

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[Noi657]

Is the best idea you got a run of the mill Guesthouse?

Er.. yes. Some GHs make money you know...

Simon

Owner/builder of:

Phuket Airport Hotel

Phuket Airport Overnight Hotel

Phuket FLY Guesthouse

Phuket 24/7 Hotel

Phuket Airport B&B

Ao Nang VIP Hotel

Phuket Airport VIP Guesthouse

Just saying....

Impressive CV, you've done well, to all you naysayers who say it can't be done, look to Simon.

Agreed! Don't listen to all the idiots with nothing to offer but sarcastic comments! I've read a lot of Simons posts on various forums. He seems honest and very informative but still gets slated by people! Jealousy? Probably! Most of the muppets with nothing to offer others have most likely been burnt in the past and find this forum as a release to vent they're anger and frustration when they see someone that's remotely happy and would like to follow they're aspirations. If you don't have anything to offer, do us all a favour **** off whence you came!

[roamer]

I miss The Meeting Place in Nong Khai. It was run by a shady Aussie named Allan (since diseased) and had good farang food back when it was not easy to come by in Thailand. Back then, very few foreigners could get long term visas, so we all passed through Nong Khai every few months on the way to Laos for a new tourist visa and he would show us the seedy side of the town. Those were the days.

Oh boy, the memories are flooding back. Lovely guy, lovely location in a quiet side street. No email, no mobile phones, pin a message to the board. Travelling around in those days was just so more relaxing. People you met were interesting as it took time and effort to get to places, Thailand itself was a lot more laid back. I'm in CM at New Year (hopefully) we must meet up and toast Alan !

OP, times have changed but I still like Nong Khai and can see why you do. Good luck in your quest.

[choochoo]

Now we getting somewhere. You dont want to put up a lot. You just want a plaything then. Go do it. Im sure lots of people would sell you a gh thats going nowhere(financially) to you in a second.

Seriously i cant remember the last time i chose a place to stay because of a personable owner................lol. You want to socialize buy a BEER BAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ps i was under impression you were looking at prime land so that indicated you were thinking serious money.....SORRY!

Edited March 24, 2014 by choochoo

[roamer]

I miss The Meeting Place in Nong Khai. It was run by a shady Aussie named Allan (since diseased) and had good farang food back when it was not easy to come by in Thailand. Back then, very few foreigners could get long term visas, so we all passed through Nong Khai every few months on the way to Laos for a new tourist visa and he would show us the seedy side of the town. Those were the days.

Oh boy, the memories are flooding back. Lovely guy, lovely location in a quiet side street. No email, no mobile phones, pin a message to the board. Travelling around in those days was just so more relaxing. People you met were interesting as it took time and effort to get to places, Thailand itself was a lot more laid back. I'm in CM at New Year (hopefully) we must meet up and toast Alan !

OP, times have changed but I still like Nong Khai and can see why you do. Good luck in your quest.

PS. Ignore the idiots, what they know they could write on the back of a postage stamp, and what they don't know could fill a book.

[MonkeyLoo]

I must drop by the Meeting Place and take a look. Been past it many times.

Hopefully I will find the right location soon.

Nong Khai has a lot going for it from what I can see. We will enjoy here.

Thanks again for the positive input.

Choochoo........Get some help man.

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[Noi657]

Whatever you decide to do Monkeyloo, I wish you all the best.

[choochoo]

The BEER Bar was made for guys like op!

[MonkeyLoo]

Also, I don't know how it will affect Nong Khai but does anyone know when the rail link from China to Singapore will be complete?

The small (98 Sq meter) land I saw on the river and quite central was priced at 7 million baht.

Over priced for sure but it could be a sign.

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[MonkeyLoo]

I couldn't do a beer bar. I would drink myself to death.

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[wym]

Also, I don't know how it will affect Nong Khai but does anyone know when the rail link from China to Singapore will be complete?

The small (98 Sq meter) land I saw on the river and quite central was priced at 7 million baht.

Over priced for sure but it could be a sign.

WHEN???

You do mean "if" don't you?

Decades mate, decades. If ever. . .

[MonkeyLoo]

Also, I don't know how it will affect Nong Khai but does anyone know when the rail link from China to Singapore will be complete?

The small (98 Sq meter) land I saw on the river and quite central was priced at 7 million baht.

Over priced for sure but it could be a sign.

WHEN???

You do mean "if" don't you?

Decades mate, decades. If ever. . .

Alright then.........

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[roamer]

Also, I don't know how it will affect Nong Khai but does anyone know when the rail link from China to Singapore will be complete?

The small (98 Sq meter) land I saw on the river and quite central was priced at 7 million baht.

Over priced for sure but it could be a sign.

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The rail link is a very big "if". All I can say is that re-visiting NK a couple of years after the bridge had opened it had appeared to hit the tourist trade quite a bit, it had become a transit point rather than a destination in itself. The town itself had grown considerably but it seemed that most of the tourist trade was passing straight through to Laos then.How much trade there is now for a GH is something that only boots on the ground can judge.

[Noi657]

The word 'hub' seems to be doing the rounds lately! Nong Khai, in my opinion it is just a hub for going to Laos, I love going to Nong Khai and having a meal on the mekong, but that's about it. Udon Thani, they're trying to make that a hub for tourists?? No chance! Maybe a transit hub but that's about it in my opinion. While not trying not to slag it off too much, there's just nothing there to warrant it being a tourist destination. The place has got more popular with farang because it's a cheap part of the country where they can reside with the wives etc.

[ronniec]

I've been going to nong khai for 6 years at least twice a year,although a bit quiet at times there is still plenty to do,join either of 2 golf society's enjoy riverside bar/restaurants e.g Brendan's,apples or the Vietnam one also some good bars on the soi beside nong khai hotel happy bar is always good for a beer and a chat with terry and the boys,and there's always a party or two to be found.anyway you will enjoy

[choochoo]

So you wanna own a guesthouse. With a background in marketing op needs to get a job in a hotel and learn all he can. From cleaning vomit off carpets to more fun stuff..................lol.

[HappyinNE]

I have lived in Nong Khai full time for four years and before then I taught in a "School" for one semester a year for ten years. Times have changed in that time, but I still see many business fail up here. Both locals and Farangs. The one thing I miss is good (I mean very good) western food (There are many places to get German food but I have other tastes). I would love a place that had French and/or Italian food, I have also not found a place to get a good steak but I really don't expect than in Isan.

Many new Guest Houses have opened recently, Several Farang Bars have closed lately.

By the way you can shop around at the banks for a rate better than 2%. I have a special savings account that pays 2.75% and several other accounts form 3.25 all the way up to 4.2%. Needless to say when I have money I want to keep in the bank (like the 800,000 visa money) I shop around. A little bit different, but being different to get a higher rate is no problem for me.