Hang Dong, good area to live?

[thelongshoot]

Hello Changers!

I am thinking of moving to CM in the next month or two - I live in Hua Hin at the moment, and have lived in Thailand for 12 years. I have been to CM for holidays maybe a dozen times but I dont have a clue when it comes to the suburbs etc, I only know my way around the city. Actually I went to CM last week for 3 days with the sole purpose of driving around the outside of the city to get a feel for potential areas to live and it didnt go well, which is my fault as I didn't plan it very well. I just started in the center and went North, then back.... Then South for a bit, then back etc. The east. I just seemed to be driving on busy highways all day. Rain stopped play for 75% of my 3 days also.

As i said though, I did plan it poorly so need need to post about my doing it the wrong way. I know that!

Basically, I don't think I want to live in the city center. For a kick off, I am looking to long term rent a 3 or 4 bed with a large garden and I dont think there are too many of them right in the center. I also have 2 huge dogs that need daily walks and i like being close to or around nature, without living in the middle of nowhere. I also like to have a sense of community around me and the center is mostly commercial, shops, cafes etc if you know what I mean? I had a look around Niminaem (spelling?) as someone suggested that to me and it looks like a cool place to kill a few hours in the evening strolling around but not really the kind of place i want to live.

A friend of mine suggested Hang Dong. He said its a more quiet sort of small town place (or large village) which has everything you need in terms of shops and restaurants, and also quite a few expats with the usual expat type pubs and stuff dotted around and only 15 mins from the city if you need to go there for anything. I had a look on google maps and it looks perfect.... The river running through it, loads of countryside around and does not seem to be properly busy.

So is it worth a look there? Are there any other areas you guys would suggest, if you dont mind? My plan then is to narrorw down 2 or 3 areas and then just jump on the internet and have a look at real estate sites, and also come up to CM once more and spend a few days nipping around these areas looking for "house to rent' signs.

One thing I should say - I dont love the idea of Moo Baans, unless they are real small and within strolling distance of shops, cafes etc. CM seems to have many of them dotted around the highways with nothing around them. I have a car, but i like the idea of jumping on my scooter and just nipping to the local shop etc....

Any suggestions would be appreciated thanks so much!

[WinnieTheKhwai]

The river doesn't really run through Hang Dong district; it does form the Eastern most border of the district, but only once you get further to the South.

Personally within Hang Dong I would say that the most attractive areas hug the foothills of the mountain range to the West. Basically the part West of the Canal Road. Not just Hang Dong (or Sanpatong which is the next district down) but also the parts West of the Canal Road that are in Mae Hia and Suthep subdistrict, in the City (Muang) district.

Also worth looking at in terms of community / village feel: Saraphi District; basically from Nong Hoi in the city all the way down on either side of the Old Lamphun Road.

[Aussieroaming]

I lived near the convention centre and loved it...not quite a mere walk to cafés and shopping though, although it has a market nearby and plenty of small restaurants. I loved it and my wife thought it was in the bush.

[stuurman]

Hi, we cruised around different neighbourhoods a few months back before we moved to Chiang Mai. After several days of driving around the different area's we found that Mae Hia (just north of Hang Dong on the west side), just south west of the airport, ticked most of the boxes. Since a few weeks we live in a Moo Baan close to the Royal Park Rajapruek and very much enjoy this location. Close to nature for cycling and hiking and just a short drive to Nimman road for bars and restaurants. There are also plenty of restaurants in the neighbourhood and Mae Hia wet market and the shops around it cover our daily needs. Tesco, Macro and Big-C are all nearby as well.

Be aware that in the area directly south of the Airport you might get noise from passing airplanes.

[haybilly]

I live in Hang Dong-but agree that, if you can find a nice place, at the right price, in Mae Hia District--go for it, I prefer Mae Hia to hang Dong--but, having said that Hang Dong District is pretty big and there's good, bad and probably really great parts.

[mascarabertha]

I find that most of the people that I'm thrown together with from that area are low to middle income, low to middle intellect and do not generally add anything significant to a conversation.

[cloudhopper]

I find that most of the people that I'm thrown together with from that area are low to middle income, low to middle intellect and do not generally add anything significant to a conversation.

Thanks for your significant contribution to this topic. Where do we find wealthy intellectuals such as your good self residing then?

[Sparkles]

.If you don't neeed to go to the city on a regular basis there is pretty well everything south of Airport

Plaza.The growth of restaurants in this area,in the last few years, has been incredible.Mae Hia Market on the Canal Road has developed into a one stop shopping area Rimping,PO ,BB bank, Cafes etc

Bic C,Tesco, Makro, Tesco, Kad Farang are all within close distances,West of the Canal Rd ,as mentioned by WTK, sounds ideal for you. We often take the back roads west from The Night Safari area

and you are virtually out with nature and quite a few cafes and coffee stops.i would suggest you grab a map on your arrival, get a car/bike and spend a day cruising that area.Many peoply rely on a

sign on the front gate to attract renters rather than using an Agent.Anyway good luck