Possible Move to Chiang Rai, Question Regarding Safety and Environment

[yunnantea]

Hi Everyone,

I realize I might be re-hashing an old topic here. I am considering a move to Chiang Rai from the USA. I have lived in Yunnan China from 2003 to 2013 and then the USA until now. I am concerned about safety as a foreigner in Chiang Rai. I was there a few years ago as a traveler and I felt safe overall, but I have not lived there. I also want to live somewhere that's laid back and I don't want have to be worried about being assaulted or robbed. Especially concerned if my wife (Chinese citizen) would be safe there if I was not around. China seemed pretty safe except for the traffic, pollution and tainted foods.

I know nowhere is perfect, but do you folks living in the Chiang Rai area long term feel pretty safe. Is there a strong us/them mentality going on with Thai's there?

[pomchop]

I have never ever had even a hint of a safety problem in Chiang Rai. I once had two chinese girls who were doing a teaching intern live downstairs in my house and they never ever had any problems at all that i am aware of...

Frankly other than car / bike accidents i think your chances of having any safety problems in Chiang Rai are very very low.....especially if you mind your own business and don't go into road rage or anti thai rants...i always worry more about problems from other farangs than with the local Thais as there are sometimes a few farangs that like to get drunk and look for trouble...but even those are easily avoided.

[yunnantea]

@pomchop

Thanks for the reply. I tend to feel the same about alot of the farangs in Thailand and elsewhere. We are are just looking for a quiet lifestyle and are respectful and admiring of Thai culture. So it's safe to assume it's much much safer in Chiang Rai than Chiang Mai or Phuket, Hua Hin? More tourists means more likelihood of Thai's who are fed up with drunken farangs?

[pomchop]

I certainly think much much safer than Phuket....Chiang Mai is much bigger and i would say not as safe as CR but then i never had any problems in CM either. I've only been to hua hin once so can't comment on that.

I have been around quite a bit all over thailand and s.e. Asia and CR to me is about as down to earth and simple and safe as you're likely to find most anywhere ...especially if you are not looking for trouble which it sounds like you are not the type to go around insulting people.

Check the topic Good Things about CR.,,,it's not perfect but there are many many good things to see, do , enjoy, experience.

[Bardeh]

Safety is absolutely not a concern with regards to muggings, robbery, etc, whatsoever. Chiang Rai is a lovely laid back town, and on the whole everybody is very friendly and welcome. The main thing to be aware of if you're thinking of coming here is the air quality in February, March and April each year. It can get pretty bad with the burning that goes on in the countryside.

[villagefarang]

In all my years in Thailand I have never encountered physical or verbal abuse from Thais. I have only encountered verbal abuse from a few former TVF members in Chiang Rai. That said Chiang Rai is a very safe, laid-back place to live.

[teddysbuttons]

As a woman, I have never had one problem in Chiang Rai. I have always felt safe otherwise I wouldn't be here There are quite a few Thai/Chinese here, also Chinese culture and the celebration of important Chinese events. Both of you will fit in nicely. The Northern Thai's are friendly, helpful and courteous as long as your reciprocal.

There are a couple of Supermarkets where you are able to get a lot of Western foods, at a price Housing is good, you can rent from a couple of hundred a month to a thousand US per month, whatever your choice is. A lot of housing is furnished.

All according to your age, or whether your working here, your main problem will be visa's. You really need to spend some quality time inquiring regarding these. Retirement visa's start from the age of 50.

CR looks forward to meeting you

[yunnantea]

@Bardeh Thanks for sharing your impressions of the safety level in CR. I know about the burning... is it a similar level to CM?

@villagefarang That's good to hear the locals have been nice. China was a mixed bag... the nationalism there can get out of hand sometimes.

@teddysbuttons I think she would fit in too... and she'd be alot closer to her family than she is now. For the visas I will probably spring for the Thailand Elite visa (I am 42, wife is 30). I know it's pricey but I don't plan to look for a job as I'll be traveling to China fairly often. I don't want to have to worry about whether or not I'll be granted a new visa time and time again. Opening a business in CR might be possible too, but I would not do that until after we'd been settled for atleast a couple of years. Thanks for the well wishes!

[Assurancetourix]

You can go to Mae Salong ( or Santikhiri which is his other name ) which is a chinese big village or little town in the mountains ;

There nearly all people speak , eat, listen chinese language and music .

If you like to cycle or ride a motorbike , it's like paradise

Panasonic FZ200 - f/4.5 - 1/800* - iso 200 - 26 mm - 2015:01:12 at 3 .14 pm

If you like tea, it's also the paradise

[anto]

Its safe ,but its one of the most boring large towns in Thailand .I live in Chiang Mai which is not exactly exciting year round ,but Chiang Rai is dead as a do do .

[villagefarang]

Its safe ,but its one of the most boring large towns in Thailand .I live in Chiang Mai which is not exactly exciting year round ,but Chiang Rai is dead as a do do .

That sounds like a good thing to me and I believe that is what the OP is looking for.

[yunnantea]

@Assurancetourix (aka Cacophonix) - love the pictures. Would love to experience Little Yunnan in Thailand. Love cycling... must be coolish there too.

@anto & @villagefarang - I prefer quiet... if I want some fun or shopping I can go to Chiang Mai... it's not far.

[boomerangutang]

It's safe, though I feel safer when traveling in Burma.

Stealing can be a problem. I've learned to be less trusting, and lock things up. Of course, it only takes one bad apple to spoil (the reputation of) the bunch. It's less likely Thais will steal. More likely hill tribers or migrants. Again, it may only be 1/100th of 1% who steal.

[yunnantea]

@boomerangutang Most of the stealing is smash and grab? or sneak in the house when you aren't looking/home? I have a barky doberman pinscher, would she be a deterrent?

We got her in China because our house was broken into twice, there was never a third time. In her defense she'd never bit a human. But she will bark at anything that moves.

[pomchop]

I don't lock my gate and rarely lock my doors unless i am away on a trip...never lock my car either. Never had a single thing stolen. Maybe just lucky but i've never thought that a locked door would be much of a deterent when someone can slice a screen or bust a window if they really want in.....

I think the bigger problem is "loaning" a thai one of your tools or most anything and they seem to think a loan and a gift are the same thing....so i simply don't "loan" anymore.

[villagefarang]

Dogs are a good deterrent to break-ins as well as not leaving your home unattended for long periods. Location, the kind of people who live in your area and good relations with your neighbors also help.

We don’t want to tempt people by allowing them to walk into the house and have a look around unannounced, so we do keep things locked but we don’t live behind walls or have bars on the windows. Then again the dogs tell us if someone is outside.

[siriweith]

sameone just come to live in chiang rai from chiang mai

talking about 5 degree difference.

if you want night life chiang mai is better

but you must to accept pollution and traffic more chaotic than bangkok

is normal loose 1 hour and half for across the city in a day time.

if is life this....

yunnan i like

i remember the cinese don't care about me

in a bank o everywhere if i need to buy something who is on my back pass me

look like same i not exist there

but the place is beautiful

the people a little less.

one man drive vespa from italy until asia and write a book also go to live there in yunnan

him name was giorgio bettinelli die already same years ago.

Edited July 2, 2016 by siriweith

[siriweith]

all my neighbor in chiang rai are from bangkok and chiang mai

chiang mai was ok until 10 years ago

who can do try to go away

who cannot do,continue to dream about samethink don't exist anymore

the quality of the life accettable.

but we are talking about thai people

and what farang desire most of the time is not the same

....if we were normal,we no come to live to this country

Edited July 3, 2016 by siriweith

[yunnantea]

@pomchop You'd be surprised how an open window invites thieves. In China we ended up putting bars over our windows after 3 break ins in 3 years.

@villagefarang - Same as anywhere. Have you trained your dogs to avoid snakes? Do you ever let them off leash in the hills?

[pomchop]

@pomchop You'd be surprised how an open window invites thieves. In China we ended up putting bars over our windows after 3 break ins in 3 years.

@villagefarang - Same as anywhere. Have you trained your dogs to avoid snakes? Do you ever let them off leash in the hills?

seven years same house in CR and never a problem....i'm the only farang in the immediate area but seems my neighbors are just not thieves as it would be very easy to figure out when i am not home....one of the things i love about CR is i just don't seem to be overly concerned about break ins etc....bars on windows is not something i want to be a part of...

[villagefarang]

Our dogs seem to instinctively know that snakes are unwelcome visitors so they alert us to their presence. One time our cats alerted us to something and when I had a look it was a rather good size cobra which I dispatched before it could hurt anyone. I gave it to our neighbors to eat.

We have a couple of outdoor dogs who roam loose like most dogs in the village and range between our house and the MIL’s house. The Golden Retriever stays on the leash because she lives indoors and it is a big job to clean her. We do let her swim once a week and give her a good shampoo and blow-dry afterwords. When she was younger we would let her run free on the trails but have since stopped doing that.

The most recent snake.

Edited July 4, 2016 by villagefarang

[1FinickyOne]

Yo Yu -

My basic rule of thumb that I pass along to friends visiting is that if they do not tend to get into trouble where they live, they will not tend to get into trouble here.

If you look at the reports of violent behavior w/farang and Thai near all of it will have the words "bar" or "alcohol" and most of it occurs well after midnight. So, if you do not tend to get into fights after midnight where you live, it is not likely to happen here either.

I live outside of a small Northern city and rarely if ever hear of any violence. I never ever feel uncomfortable walking around. The most violent thing here, and it is violent, is the road and often poor driving habits.

Enjoy CR - it is a beautiful province... but I agree with the other poster who said CM is safe too and has a better selection of restaurants and a larger expat population w/many clubs and organized things to do... get a bit out of town for either one and you should find what you are looking for...

good luck.

[BKResort]

Chiang Rai is very safe, more than Chiang Mai and most tourist spots in Thailand, and big cities like Bangkok. On Downtown, sometimes bad things happens, and it is not easy to become a local and not be mistaken for a tourist. That why I prefer to live a little out the city. In Chiang Rai it is easy to find nice countryside environments just 20 minutes away, like in Bandu, Mae Fah Luang, Mae Cham, in the way to sites where also its are large Chinese communities like Mae Salong and Mae Sai. Be free to message me if needs any more info about, or referrals in Chiang Rai.

I live in Bandu, and have business in Phayao, another nice and calm town, but without all the amenities and attractions you can find in Chiang Rai.

Edited July 4, 2016 by BKResort

[bobbyd1]

Chiang Rai is the best kept Secret. A great retirement place to hang your hat at and enjoy a fulfilling life. I feel safer here than I did in California. Some responses from my colleagues have pointed out the positive points. We welcome you! The only issue you will have is the disgruntled Pundits that find only the bad side of life here in the LOS. I have lived in Udorn, Korat and now Chiang Rai. I have only been living in Thailand for 12 years, but you will find chaps that have lived here a heck of a lot longer and have many positive aspects to share with ya. Pay attention to Village Farang posts, that guy has it going on and tells it like it is.

[rijb]

Pay attention...

[yunnantea]

@villagefarang - Love the snake pictures... I can't show my wife such pictures. She is deadly afraid of snakes. Every time I talk about possibly moving to a place, she asks me about snakes. Love the cats and retriever pic. Why did you stop letting the dog off leash? was it snakes?

@kenk24 - well said... no I don't start fights with people. I don't drink because even small amounts of alcohol give me a headache. China driving is insane too. IMO, the most dangerous thing about living there. Will look at outside of CM as well.

@bobbyd1 - thanks for sharing. villagefarang has got some serious creds here. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to add their comments.

[villagefarang]

@villagefarang - Love the snake pictures... I can't show my wife such pictures. She is deadly afraid of snakes. Every time I talk about possibly moving to a place, she asks me about snakes. Love the cats and retriever pic. Why did you stop letting the dog off leash? was it snakes?

@kenk24 - well said... no I don't start fights with people. I don't drink because even small amounts of alcohol give me a headache. China driving is insane too. IMO, the most dangerous thing about living there. Will look at outside of CM as well.

@bobbyd1 - thanks for sharing. villagefarang has got some serious creds here. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to add their comments.

When I used to walk our GR to the local reservoir, our three Thai dogs would usually join us and sometimes a neighbor dog or two. In a large group like that their prey drive would often kick in and they would bound off trail to see what kind of trouble they could get into.

There was an old drunk who kept some chickens at his little plot in the forest and the dogs would chase them as they ran wild in the area. Working as a team our three male dogs killed one and the guy got very upset. He was satisfied with a small payment but my wife didn’t want the aggravation so we stopped walking to the reservoir with the dogs.

Eventually they outgrew chicken chasing but our wild walks had been replaced with soi walks by then. It is roughly 800 meters to the end of the soi and back so we do that a few times each day. It is more social and our GR likes to say hello to little kids and neighbor dogs that live along the way.

By keeping her on the leash she stays clean, out of ponds, ditches and rice fields. The leash also makes the adults feel safer as they are afraid of big dogs. The kids all love the big harry farang dog and she is very gentle with them but the leash keeps other people from hurting her out of fear.

It is a shame about not being able to take the dogs to the reservoir because it is a nice 8 km walk and very beautiful. This is a shot taken on a solo walk the other day.

Edited July 6, 2016 by villagefarang

[anto]

@villagefarang - Love the snake pictures... I can't show my wife such pictures. She is deadly afraid of snakes. Every time I talk about possibly moving to a place, she asks me about snakes. Love the cats and retriever pic. Why did you stop letting the dog off leash? was it snakes?

@kenk24 - well said... no I don't start fights with people. I don't drink because even small amounts of alcohol give me a headache. China driving is insane too. IMO, the most dangerous thing about living there. Will look at outside of CM as well.

@bobbyd1 - thanks for sharing. villagefarang has got some serious creds here. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to add their comments.

When I used to walk our GR to the local reservoir, our three Thai dogs would usually join us and sometimes a neighbor dog or two. In a large group like that their prey drive would often kick in and they would bound off trail to see what kind of trouble they could get into.

There was an old drunk who kept some chickens at his little plot in the forest and the dogs would chase them as they ran wild in the area. Working as a team our three male dogs killed one and the guy got very upset. He was satisfied with a small payment but my wife didn’t want the aggravation so we stopped walking to the reservoir with the dogs.

Eventually they outgrew chicken chasing but our wild walks had been replaced with soi walks by then. It is roughly 800 meters to the end of the soi and back so we do that a few times each day. It is more social and our GR likes to say hello to little kids and neighbor dogs that live along the way.

By keeping her on the leash she stays clean, out of ponds, ditches and rice fields. The leash also makes the adults feel safer as they are afraid of big dogs. The kids all love the big harry farang dog and she is very gentle with them but the leash keeps other people from hurting her out of fear.

It is a shame about not being able to take the dogs to the reservoir because it is a nice 8 km walk and very beautiful. This is a shot taken on a solo walk the other day.

Looks dangerous to me .There could be some sexy Thai girls lurking in the reeds ,waiting to pounce on some old unsuspecting Farang .

[yunnantea]

@villagefarang I really enjoy the dog stories. I guess I am trying to envision my doberman living there in Thailand. She's a one dog pack when it comes predating chickens or other wildlife. I am concerned off leash she'd find some trouble and at 80 pounds she's pretty intense looking, I would not want someone to hurt her out of fear. In China there were people in our gated community who carried baseball bats because there were a couple of shitty dog owners who had aggressive dogs that hurt people and other dogs and didn't have control of them. It sounds like i'd need to get a few rai and set up a fenced area and then do walks with her. In Oregon now she goes on wild runs through the woods but comes back torn up and often with diarrhea from eating dead animals and horse poop. She's almost 6 now, and leash walks a couple of times a day would suffice and they'd keep her clean and out of trouble.

http://imgur.com/WKydhuK

What's the name of that reservoir?

Edited July 7, 2016 by yunnantea

[villagefarang]

What's the name of that reservoir?

On Google Earth it is called Cham Tong but I have never heard the locals refer to it by name. There are many located in the hills and mountains around Phayamengrai. They are used for supplemental irrigation of the rice crop and for fishing. Some like ours have relatively easy access (see below) but a few of the ones in the higher mountains are harder to get to. It should be noted, I have never encountered any snakes on these trails.

Edited July 8, 2016 by villagefarang