Living in Chanthaburi. Would you recommend it?

[ubonr1971]

The wife and I looking for a new place to move to in Thailand. If you are knowledgeable on Chanthaburi could you comment on any of the issues below.....

- Good hospitals? Are any high class ones similar to bkk standards?

- Schools? Any quality private primary / international schools?

- Does NCA bus go to bkk. If so how long does it take? Or how long to Pattaya?

- My wife is a Dentist. We want to open a clinic after settling in. I presume like any big city in LOS that there are numerous existing clinics? Any comments are appreciated. Is it a good place for a dental clinic. I think any large city with plenty of uni students will be suitable- based on how much money some of my wifes bosses are making with their private clinics.

- I currently teach at a govt uni. How many uni's are in Chanthaburi? Is it an easy place to find a teaching job?

- We will rent for a few years. Are there any high end villages where one can rent a house? If so, what are the names of the villages? We live in a smaller city in Issan atm and pay 8000 baht a month for small new house. How much is it to rent a 3 b/r 2 bath newish house in Ubon in a high class village- the ones where all the houses look the same and there are barking rat dogs every second house?

- Surrounding tourist sites? We once passed through Chanthaburi briefly and visited the waterfalls / rainforest which was nice. The beach is a 30min drive from memory.

Please comment on any of the above if you have the time or inclination.

many thanks

[Rooo]

Moved to East Thailand forum.

[Bluetongue]

Pok Ghao Hospital is the provincial hospital and also the wider teaching hospital for the east. It is huge.

There is a Bangkok Private Hospital and Siriveg Private Hospital. Pretty good for some things but do apparently sometimes send patients to Pok Ghao for operations.

I know La Salle has a school there plus there is another Catholic Private School

I don't know what the NCA bus is but there are regular bus and van services of all kinds to Bangkok, Pattaya, Rayong, Ko Chang, Chachensao, Korat etc

Don't know how many existing dental clinics but of course they are there

At least a couple of universities or branches of them, Buri Rapha rings a bell. Don't know about jobs.

These communities of new houses have been starting to spring up but I don't know the names of the villages they are in. I expect that rental here wouldn't be any or much more expensive than Isaan

Koh Chang an hour plus drive plus a ferry trip, the beaches - Chao Lao, Laem Sadet, Laem Singh, Laem Mae Pim half hour or more, waterfalls Phliu very close Soi Dao 2 hours also a National Park and wildlife breeding place, Krating and another one maybe Khao Chamao, plus Khao Kitchakhut National Park and pilgrimage site, Wat Khao Sukhim, plus there is a SeaWorld type place although I haven't seen this.

[mrtoad]

I really like Chanthaburi, there are numerous housing developments on or around the outskirts of the main city. IMO it has pretty much everything that you could need. The fact that it isn't over populated with foreigners is a positive thing. I generally spend around half my week there and the other in Trat.

As already been mentioned, there are also plenty of good places to go nearby to visit.

In terms of rental for something decent you'd be looking at 10-15k a month from my experience - which is peanuts really for a house rental.

I believe there is only one University in Chanthaburi, but there are numerous schools, which have already been mentioned. Chanthaburi is a fairly prosperous and wealth province, with a very busy Fruit and Gem trade

Getting to Pattaya it is about a 2 and half hour drive generally by car, I have no idea on what it is like for the bus - NCA dodn't operate the routes into Eastern Thailand.

[MJCM]

<snip>

I don't know what the NCA bus is but there are regular bus and van services of all kinds to Bangkok, Pattaya, Rayong, Ko Chang, Chachensao, Korat etc

<snip

I believe that with NCA the OP means NakornChaiAir.

AFAIK NCA doesn't go to as far as Chanthaburi but ends in Rayong.

[kuma]

<snip>

I don't know what the NCA bus is but there are regular bus and van services of all kinds to Bangkok, Pattaya, Rayong, Ko Chang, Chachensao, Korat etc

<snip

I believe that with NCA the OP means NakornChaiAir.

AFAIK NCA doesn't go to as far as Chanthaburi but ends in Rayong.

Yes I know NCAA as that and agree, they go only as far as Rayong. Pity, great service.

I personally like Chanthaburi as well ands am considering a place there.

A lot of questions. You are likely to fond many of the answers online and of course going for a visit would be a good idea.

[gomangosteen]

Two universities

Rambhai Barni Rajabhat University

Located about 8km central Chan city

Burapha University Chanthaburi Campus - Science and Technology, Marine Technology, Gems

Located at Khlong Khud, approx 24km from Chan city

. . . have a browse, 4yrs of pics Chanthaburi

And I always point out there are very few westerners here. The Royal Thai Immigration site showed 312 90-day reports in a 12-month period, maybe 100 or so long-termers in a population of 510,000. Half of them are up around the Soi Dao area in the north of the province, Scandinavians. One other native English speaker in our town and a few Dutch/German in larger surrounding area.

No expat 'scene ' (that's an attraction!!), no bars like the ones you may find in expat towns, our town is basically 'dry' not a single bar/hotel and a long-standing ban on alcohol in public places, parks etc (applies in Chan city also), 2 x 5 theatre cinemas, only show Thai language movies, no subtitles.

We like it, but not for everyone.

There's a blog I've seen by 'Mrs John' expat wife of a uni teacher they live C, seek that one out may be of interest they live in Chan city

[recycler]

Most things you mention are there in Chanthaburi, but for international and better English program schools you have to be near industrial and toerist areas that would mean in and around BKK, Chonburi and west-Rayong.

Same applies for access to some western food, restaurants and shopping and meeting other western people.

Home rental will be higher, but if you stay out of Pattaya and nearby places it's not that bad.

If you have a degree in teaching you may even be able to get a job on one of the international or bi-lingual schools, that have better salaries than the Thai schools and reduced school fees, the latter is not unimportant given the cost of proper education in Thailand.

[dluek]

I don't live in Chanthaburi but have spent a few weeks there at different times. Really like the city and province -- one of my favorites. The cultural make up and history are very intriguing; lots of old heritage buildings amid the narrow lanes in the Chanthaboon Old Town district, which is gradually being restored and turned into a tourist attraction (in a good way I'd say). The city has a lot of ethnic Vietnamese who are mostly Catholic from what I understand, explaining why the largest and probably most striking church in Thailand -- Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception -- sits in the heart of town. Also a lot of Chinese shrines dotted around town. This was where General Thaksin regrouped before leading an army back to Ayutthaya to repel the Burmese back in 1767 and eventually became king, so a lot of pride about that and there's a shrine and large statue dedicated to him. Also the province was controlled by the French for 12 years in the early 1900s. Phenomenal food as well, especially crab and fruit; also don't miss the local dish, muu chamuang). As mentioned not many expats, which I felt made the city feel more welcoming to foreigners... Unlike in Pattaya, Udon Thani and elsewhere, the locals aren't used to seeing foreign males all the time and perhaps don't carry some of the prejudices that Thais in cities like that are more likely to have. Both Ko Chang and Ko Samet easily reached for a weekend for some Western comforts. I've usually gotten there by Chertchai Tour bus, not the best but gets the job done. Unfortunately no airport; there's one in Trat but I think it's only serviced by Bangkok Air. The roads that run the length of the Chanthaburi coastline are very scenic and some decent beaches there, like Chao Lao, which gets its share of European visitors in high season.

[khunano]

I used to spend some time in Chanthaburi regularly until a few years ago, so I am sure things have developed in terms of housing available as there was not much to have meeting Western standards but mostly rather simple abodes only. Most things about Chanthaburi have been mentioned here already, one thing you may consider is the weather, it get's rather wet in the rainy season, this area gets much more rain than in Chonburi, Bangkok, Hua Hin etc. Some areas including Chanthaburi city get flooded regularly. The upside of this is of course that it is greener here than elsewhere, generally Chanthaburi is a very fertile province with beautiful coastlines and a hilly hinterland.

[gomangosteen]

notes

Bus transport imo is excellent

Government bus service, 214 baht Chan city-Suvarnabhumi 3hrs 10 min, use this one regularly

Plenty of other options to/from Bangkok - both Ekamai and Morchit stations, Cherdchai the biggest operator, plus of course minivans which we prefer to avoid

Housing

We moved due to Mrs O'Steen's job promotion/transfer to Chan city; never wanted to live there, it's not an attractive city and neither of us particularly like the place; we settled upon living 15km out (halfway to the beach at Chao Lao) we leased (year to year) a brand new 2 storey 2 bedroom standalone house.

3,500 baht per month, plus utilities

Stayed there three years

Moved this year, March, to a nicely renovated large single-storey house, more area around the house, secure and in a tidy little cul de sac with 6 other houses. Again a yearly lease, and again 3,500 baht per month.

It is no 'farang palace' - won't find many like that when there's so few foreigners

and . . . not easy to find - we jumped the queue due to my friendship with owner's son thru cycling club, we'd been searching for another place almost a year in our area. People stay put - or rent without needing to advertise.

Weather

Chan city didn't flood this year. A first, maybe, as a major flood diversion and water retention scheme diverted water from the Chan river. It worked!

Closer you get to the coast, less rain. It's a big province, and the hills (mountains they say!) of Soi Dao are 1550m above sea level. And they get rain, a lot of it. Was another factor in our choosing to live nearer the coast, see the big black clouds go past and empty over Chan city.

Edited December 12, 2014 by gomangosteen

[thaiboss]

Moved to East Thailand forum.

the beaches - Chao Lao, Laem Sadet, Laem Singh, Laem Mae Pim half hour or more,

i am interested in the beaches here ... do they have rent town house or similar for about 5000 baht ??.....are the beaches also over run with thai tourist on week ends ?????? simply there would you recommend to live there ?? thank you

[dzodun]

If one lives in Chan where are the best places to make a border run? The OP may want to have this info himself.

[Chapi Chapo]

Hi,

I'm going to try to give you a different answer to help you.

First I would like to say that Chanthaburi is my favorite city in Thailand followed by Sisaket.

The size is perfect (compare with a city like Trad which is to small to me). You have 3 different centers : The old city with the gem market (and an excellent Anuban School with a very good English Program), the "new" center around the big C, then, on the other side of the river who cross the city (with nice coffee shop and restaurants), you have Chanthanami with the Robinson and their "JJ Market" (they call it like this). I prefer this part of the city.

Around Chanthanami you have a village of houses to rent like you are looking for with a great view on the mountains. Depends on the size but the prices are around 9 to 15 000 THB / month. This village is on the road 3348 and it's name Ko Khwang. Here is a link to this place on google map : https://www.google.fr/maps/place/Ko+Khwang,+Mueang+Chanthaburi+District,+Chanthaburi+22000,+Tha%C3%AFlande/@12.5628649,102.1043323,13z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x3104804568cb6d1f:0x403d84ae1b4cb70

People are really nice and quiet in Chanthaburi. You won't ear "fareng, fareng" every 2 singles minutes for 2 reasons :

Because of the gem market they see farengs for quite a long time.

This part of Thailand was owned by the French at the time of Indochina. The French sold this part to the Thais.

You will enjoy a lot of things around here like the seafood, the best variety of Thai mangos... You can go the to the sea, it's only 25 km far (Leamsing), it's also close to Koh chang, Koh Samet.

To go to Bangkok you have buses (4 hours) to Ekkamai or mini vans (3 hours) to Victory Monument. But you can also go directly to Rayong, Pattaya, Chonburi, Ubon Ratchatani and Korat.

But...

There is something you must know about this area : During the raining season, it's really raining a lot. And not like many other places with a daily big storm and that's it. It usually rains all day long and during weeks.

Here is a nice link about the city : http://www.ajarn.com/blogs/ajarn-world/a-long-weekend-in-chantaburi

If you want you can send me a private message, I have a lot of pictures of the city on my facebook.

Hope my message will be helpful.

KR

Edited December 12, 2014 by Chapi Chapo

[Berinek]

I live in Chanthaburi and I love it. Very few white foreigners here and no massive tourists. There is just few expats here plus there is quite large community of foreigners from Africa who are involved in gems business. The city is not too big and not too small. Just an ideal size. It has everything what you need for comfortable life. People here are very friendly, nice, helpfull and not cheating foreigners like in other Thai cities with big expat communities. It is nice original Thai city with cheap prices and not spoiled by foreigners which is I think the biggest advantage of living here. Not too many people can speak english, so it pushes you to speak Thai, which makes the life much easier and more fun as a result. There are good pubs, restaurants, 2 multiplex cinemas, shopping malls, many nice coffee shops with reasonable prices, hospitals, schools, lot of students keeping the place vibrating, mototaxis, pick up taxis, several nice and cheap hotels, swimming pools, gyms, or anything you would think you need as foreigner. Koh Chang just 70 kms, Koh Samet 80 kms far and few beaches just within about 20 kms distance. Bangkok is 250 kms, Pattaya 170 kms. Chanthaburi is big for bicycle and many Thais here are active regular bikers, with bicycle clubs, which is unusual for Thailand. I am renting the house very near city center for 6.000 THB. Water is very cheap here. The only negative I can see is that it is not so easy to find a place for rent because there is higher demand then available offers, so it takes time to find something acceptable for foreigner's standard. I deffinitely recommend Chanthaburi as one of the ideal places to live in Thailand. However everybody is different, so I would recommend to come for visit for a few days first to get the feeling.

[Berinek]

Just forgot to mention about the border run. There are two options. Either Hat Lek or Poipet. I personaly prefer Hat Lek because it is not too busy.

[gomangosteen]

^ ???

There are two border crossings within Chanthaburi province. Why go to Trat or Sa Kaeo provinces?

No need to travel far.

Both Ban Laem (Daung on Cambodia side) and Ban Pakkard (Prum) are about 30km east of Pong Nam Ron (on Highway 317, where the main Chanthaburi Thai Immigration office is (there's a immigration service centre in Chan city near the Easter Hotel, in the Gems Complex)

These crossings were commonly used by visa run companies from Pattaya etc

Pong Nam Ron is 43km from Chan city.

Minivans go to Ban Laem from near Robinsons for 100 baht each way, arrive/depart on the hour.

Easy to catch the 8am van, come back on the 10am one with time to spare at the border market.

Some pics and info on local immigration/borders here

Edited December 12, 2014 by gomangosteen

[Berinek]

Thanks gomangosteen for this. I do not realy use border runs as stay on yearly extensions, but its still amazing like many Thais even do not know the geography of their own province. Because when I have moved to Chanthaburi 2 years ago from Trat province and asked what Cambodian border is closest and best to go from Chan city they told me Poipet or Hat Lek :-) It is my own ignorance I did not check myself. However Hat Lek could be connected with few days spent on quiet coast of Trat province which offers few nice hidden places ;-) So I did not mind. ;-)

[mrtoad]

Dont big it up too much, its great the way it is

[KhnomKhnom]

Looks like good place to slowly die... a long way from anywhere. Hope you have at least one good hobby if retired.

[MJCM]

Just forgot to mention about the border run. There are two options. Either Hat Lek or Poipet. I personaly prefer Hat Lek because it is not too busy.

Hat lek is in Trat province and Poipot is in Sa Kaeo, why are you going there, as Ban Laem is way way closer

Edit: Just noticed that gomangosteen beat me to it by a Mile

Edited December 12, 2014 by MJCM

[brianP]

Just forgot to mention about the border run. There are two options. Either Hat Lek or Poipet. I personaly prefer Hat Lek because it is not too busy.

Hat lek is in Trat province and Poipot is in Sa Kaeo, why are you going there, as Ban Laem is way way closer

Edit: Just noticed that gomangosteen beat me to it by a Mile

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1487096611547078&set=vb.1423589291231144&type=2&theater Here is where I am.

[brianP]

I live in Kung Wiman, we have natural aquifers and artesian springs everywhere. Even on top of a mountain right next to the sea. Many locals live off the land and ocean here and several rare and local herbs and plants only available here. The Thai govt. has put many baht into the scenic Burapha chondilite road for bikers and cars that goes from Rayong to Trat. The mangroves are around although the shrimp farms have intruded much of it. Some surf in season and good diving. But the food, especially seafood is the very best! I search the many small peaks for ruby and sapphire, there is a working mine 5 clicks away. The people are very nice and I have more Thai friends then farangs now. I go squid fishing, and for king mackerel during season and the jungles have many feral chickens that fly and the locals use slingshots to down them. The nok kapow is of a green dove-pigeon that is common in the hills. In 5 years time, I have seen much progress and the Bangkok Thai's hit the beaches every weekend and holiday. For ATV's and dirtbikes it is an amazing playground and the major rains make it even more fun. Lot's of big and small snakes and scorpions and centipedes and that huge beetle that buzzes when it flies. Anything you plant here takes off with a vengeance. Cheers

[brianP]

Looks like good place to slowly die... a long way from anywhere. Hope you have at least one good hobby if retired.

Beats quickly dying in the city! Who doesn't have many hobbies after exiting the workforce?? Start living and quit worrying about death.

[cloghead]

Cool video, Brian

Was this pic taken in Chantaburi? If so, whereabouts? Last time I drove the coastal route I saw nothing like this...

[gomangosteen]

That pic's near Khung Wiman - popular tourist area, good swimming beach around the second corner,

note the red cycle lanes each side - this is an extension (no exit) to the Chaloem Burapha Chonlathit coast highway which has these marked cycle lane beginning in Trat province, the whole length of Chan province through to Rayong.

Popular with cyclists. Last month the East Coast Cycle Challenge had it's halfway point here at KW - they rode from Rayong and back, and the annual Love 2 Ride event starts here.

Click for more of Khung Wiman area

KW beach

Evening at Khung Wiman, facing NW towards Koh Samet/Rayong

Edited December 13, 2014 by gomangosteen

[gomangosteen]

and the weather's always bad - Dec 2013-Jan 2014

Beach 12 December 2013

[retiredusn]

We have used the Bangkok group hospital located in the center of town several times and are ashamed of the US hospitals since very UP to date and full service.

[gomangosteen]

Happy New Year 2558, Laem Sing beach carnival, Chanthaburi

Edited December 31, 2014 by gomangosteen

[Water Buffalo]

Planning to visit soon. Can anyone recommend a hotel on the beach?