Life In Udon Thani...how is it for you?

[krisb]

Do you enjoy living there?

What's there to do there?

Good shopping centres?

Activities wise, is there things like golf, gyms, etc?

Is it a good place to raise kids? as in any good international schools?

Interested to hear your thoughts on life in Udon please!

Thanks.

[slipperylobster]

1. Exercise Nong Prajak

2. Physical Education College Gym

3. Central Mall

4. Go look at the traffic Circles

5 Mr Tong (he's gay and amusing)

6. Farang Street (Soi Posam Pan....Samphan)

7 Dinosaur Footprints one hour away

8. Visit Nong Khai

9. Count scooters on the sidewalk

10. play cards

[Shiver]

I started reading that and thought it was a comprehensive list, but by the time I got halfway through, I realised it was a bit tongue in cheek.

To OP, I'm not a parent, but believe there are some 'okay' schools (in relative terms), but if you want a good school then I think a different country might be a better starting point. I can't count the number of times I've sat with a beer listening to foreign teachers complaining that they get into trouble for actually trying to teach the kids something useful, or when they fail a student for not turning up/copying answers from google or friend, or just playing with their phones (and so confiscating them). It's a soul destroying job if you don't just go along with the programme. Then again, if you're just looking for a school to help your child to fit in with the other kids and society, then anywhere will do, and perhaps use additional private tuition to help them actually learn the useful stuff. For example, you could probably use Vedic Mathematics to teach an older kid all he/she ever needs to know about mathematics in about 2 weeks. Not sure I'd want my kid to appear too smart though, for social reasons.

3. Central Mall

I've got to go there soon to buy a new phone, as 3 young guys on a motorbike decided their need for a phone was greater than mine last week. So there's security to consider these days that wasn't an issue years ago.

4. Go look at the traffic Circles
Endless fun for two or more players. One tells you the time, one has a statue, and one has people running around in circles to gain merit, so you can watch them for endless hours of entertainment.

5 Mr Tong (he's gay and amusing)

Lol, last time I went there (years ago) he was shouting into the microphone "can all the French people please go home" (there'd been a bit of a 'kerfuffle' just prior).

6. Farang Street (Soi Posam Pan....Samphan)

There is a caveat that the last person there has to turn out the lights. Very very quiet over recent years, and especially this last couple of months.

[jimky]

There is one true international school but as you can see here http://www.udoninternationalschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/fees_2015-2016.pdf it is expensive. It is new, not sure how good it is but all the teachers are qualified to teach in USA, UK or Australia.

Then there are okay private schools. http://www.pattanapanyaschool.ac.th/new/index.php/en/ is 7X,XXX per year and is Thai, English and Chinese. After shopping a few this where put my son for now. They seem good but he's young. Will know better how it is later.

There's another not far from there (name escapes me now) we're the English was MUCH better, but I decided against it because seemed almost too serious. Probably good if big on discipline etc. I want my kids to have fun and just learn what they need to.

Don Basco is another.

As for if like living here. I like that the airport has cheap flights to Bangkok often, and can also find cheap flight to Chiang Mai and Phuket if shopping them. A lot of entertainment for me here is traveling. As for day to day life so much is just hanging out with friends and family. Central Plaza is large and lots of place to each. I hang out there a few times per week. UDTown is big outdoor shopping mall is good too. This stuff gets old, if just doing it alone though. The food is very good though. Have so much variety and tons of places to eat.

As for kids, it is one of the better Thai cities for things to keep them entertained. Obviously, Bangkok has MUCH more for kids, but outside that it probably ranks pretty high for Thailand cities of things for kids to do.

1. Usotel Waterland is a new larger water park that has annual passes available.

2. PlayPort is a cheaper water park that is still decent for small kids.

3. Kidzoona (Molly Fantasy) next to UDTown is a very good play area for kids.

4. Nong Prajak has a very good outdoor playground.

5. CentalPlaza has Bowling, Ice Skating, FunPlanet (arcade) another play area upstairs

6. The Tescos and Big Cs have play areas for the small kids.

7. Is several movie theaters, but very often we don't get an English version. Did for Fast 7 and for a couple others, but quite often US movies that have an English option in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, in Udon we don't have an English version offered.

8. Is 2 McDonald's (Central Plaza + main road entrance to UDTown)

9. So many hotels can just pay a small fee to use their swimming pool.

Probably some more things I'm not thinking of. The airport having cheap flights and being relaxed though is key for us. Is plenty to do here, but being able to zip off for a weekend doing other things makes it even better.

Golf there is one I know of, but haven't golfed here so can only say have it. How it is I don't know. Gyms there are several but haven't used so same can only say yes have them.

Edited May 11, 2015 by jimky

[novo58]

Agree with all mentioned by jimky........................plus also add ..............Nong Prajak park is a large park in central Udon with a large "lake". Has walking / cycling track, exercise stations, regular " events", nearby massage shops ( not the pattaya massage type).

Immigration office in centre of town which although in a small building still manages to handle the needs of the locals efficiently ( but has a reputation of asking for donations for some services).

Udon is close to Laos border should the need arise for a quick trip over the border. Good selection of hospitals.

As mentioned .............good variety of options for flights to the big smoke if needed with some good prices sometimes on offer.

Like everywhere ..................peak time traffic can be a bit heavy, but outside that time I find it not too bad.

Several golf courses( mainly on military bases) but layouts are nothing special.

My 18mths here ( so far) have been pleasant.

[losername]

Yes to all of the above. Have lived here 7+years.

If you have any specific questions, ask away. I do not have kids or a Thai family so you can skip that angle.

[krisb]

How is it compared to Khon Kaen?

I suppose I mean is it a bigger city? How about westerners, more in Udon or KK?

[nongsangcity]

udon bars close at midnight....there is a big night club with a good live band which stays open late...but westerners arnt welcome in there been in twice and both times I have had to almost fight the locals not to be thrown out....terrible treatment...probably the real Thailand......Khon Kaen...some bars open until 06-00 and I would say the night life is better in kk......but I live near udon.....I like udon......but midnight bar closing is a problem....

[TheFishman1]

I like Chiang Mai much better

[UTH001]

Life in Udon Thani is quite comfortable, affordable, many good restaurants, good variety. Good (private) hospitals, all the usual supermarkets, chain stores and shopping malls, mostly everything's available here. These days many flight options to both Bangkok airports, easy airport to leave from (parking at the airport is sometimes a bit of a problem). Downside? Traffic can be terrible, don't start me on the number of bad drivers, not that much to do here. And it is much hotter in Udon Thani than in Bangkok!

[SunsetT]

Life in Udon Thani is quite comfortable, affordable, many good restaurants, good variety. Good (private) hospitals, all the usual supermarkets, chain stores and shopping malls, mostly everything's available here. These days many flight options to both Bangkok airports, easy airport to leave from (parking at the airport is sometimes a bit of a problem). Downside? Traffic can be terrible, don't start me on the number of bad drivers, not that much to do here. And it is much hotter in Udon Thani than in Bangkok!

..................But much cooler in the winter!

[JLCrab]

A lot more Americans in UdonT than in Khon Kaen if that makes any difference plus or minus.