6 things to know about living in Thailand
1/ Where to live in Thailand?
To come and live in Thailand is to go from dream to reality. Thailand is a beautiful country where it is really good to live. However, if you want to come and live in Thailand, it is important to be well prepared to avoid problems too. Indeed, many people come to Thailand thinking that it will be the dream, but they often find themselves confronted with reality which can even turn into a nightmare. Before coming to live in Thailand, things to know to live in Thailand to come and spend holidays to discover it and to see if you will be able to live long periods where the culture and lifestyle can be very different from those in France.
-Bangkok is the capital of Thailand with its multiple facets is one of the most visited cities in the world, it is an international platform for business, tourism, arts, fashion, entertainment and health. The city has a lot to offer, it is impossible to get bored! It has more than 400 magnificent Buddhist temples, palaces, canals, markets, huge shopping centres, old quarters and other very modern ones.
-Phuket is the largest island of Thailand, its natural charms. More mountainous than its modest 530m peak suggests, it is a rollercoaster ride to the southern tip of the island, which has attracted a number of investors from the tourism and real estate industries. The price of success, the clusters of touch-and-go constructions are attacking the still free spaces. The main roads, conurbations and famous beaches of the island (Patong, Karon, Kata) are often congested.
-Samui or Ko Samui has become one of the major tourist destinations of the country. The island attracts holidaymakers, farangs or Thai, in search of sun, beach, parties and water sports. A little too much perhaps, according to some and in some places, where tourism has reshaped the face of this small tropical paradise. Samui’s success is not waning and it shows!
-Pattaya is a famous seaside resort located in the province of Chonburi, it is a family destination but also a mecca for sex tourism in the country. Pattaya is the first seaside resort of Thailand, because of its situation because it is just 147 km away from Bangkok.
It has more than 100 000 inhabitants and welcomes every year several million tourists from all over the world, in addition to many Thai people coming from the capital to have fun on weekends and others coming mainly from the north-east of the country, Isan, to work.
-Hua Hin is located 280 km south of Bangkok, about 3 hours by bus. It is one of the first tourist beaches, and is still a popular destination. The sea and the white sand are quite clean, and the atmosphere is relaxing, making it a perfect weekend destination for tourists or Thai people in Bangkok.
-Chiang Mai is the 2nd largest city in Thailand, after Bangkok (although 50 times less populated than the capital). The city is very lively and it is impossible to get bored. On the cultural side, you will be able to enjoy some magnificent temples. Otherwise, pleasant excursions are possible in the surrounding area, such as the Chiang Dao Elephant Training Centre or the Chiang Dao Caves.
2/ Real estate Thailand
The price of real estate is not so cheap if you want western comfort, especially in the cities mentioned above. Then the question arises whether to rent or buy?
It is important to know that you cannot become the owner of the land in Thailand that you have to rent for a renewable period of 30 years. Full ownership can be on condos owned at maximum 49% by foreigners.
It is possible to get an overview of the market here.
-Bangkok real estate is more expensive because it is the capital of modern conveniences, especially the Sukhumvit area is a popular destination for foreigners. Rent a condominium with European style decoration 45 -60 Square meter Rent around 1000-1200Euros/month.
-Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand, located in the north of the country. It is an Asian-style city, without architectural unity and without necessarily pavements, with a few polluted main roads which it is better to avoid. But most of the centre is made up of narrow streets that wind quietly between the houses and the Buddhist temples. The most attractive districts of Chiang Mai: downtown, San sai, Hangdong, Doi Suthep, Doi Saket… You can find a new 40m² furnished studio (air conditioning, hot water, Wi-Fi, kitchenette but no TV) for 200€/month plus charges in a condominium (building with caretaker and guard, laundry on the ground floor).
Cities where there is the sea
-Pattaya is known all over the world as a place to relax and enjoy life. Indeed, countless activities have been created over the years to keep the 4 million or so Western tourists who visit the city every year busy. Pattaya is located about 150 km south-west of Bangkok, so real estate is more expensive too.
-Phuket is also nicknamed The Pearl of the South is the largest in Thailand. Its numerous modern infrastructures (hospitals, universities, airport, shopping centres…) and its flourishing economy, real estate market make it more and more dynamic, attractive and coveted. see moreThe price of real estate in Phuket
-Hua Hin is a charming seaside resort on the Gulf of Siam, located 140 km southwest of Bangkok, and compared to Thailand’s seaside town, Hua Hin is not expensive.
3/ Food Thailand
Thailand is a country where you can really find a great variety of food. Thai food is an attraction for table lovers, with its colourful flavours, and sometimes strong emotions, especially the one that makes you blush, with the vein in your forehead that doesn’t help to hide your trouble and your bright eyes calling for help.if you are sensitive to spices, ask when you order that your dish be “No Spicy”. Here is an example of some of the most popular Thai dishes
-Pad Thai is a traditional Thai pasta dish that is very popular.
-Green Thai Curry (Geang Kia Waan ) It is one of my favourite Thai dishes, but I always ask for it to be a little spicy.
-Massaman Kai is a Thai dish of Muslim tradition, originating from the south of Thailand, with an Indian influence.
Thai food is also very spicy and it can be difficult for the French to eat. But I have a little advice if you really don’t want or can’t eat spicy food is to learn this word in Thai which will help you to make yourself understood. This word is “May pet” which means not spicy.
4/ Thai car
If you want to import a car this is very difficult, the import tax is 100% for a car, this tax is calculated according to the customs tariffs (so cheaper than in reality) but if the car is more than 10 years old then the tax is cancelled.
The most popular car brands are Honda and Toyota, both cars and motorbikes. Thailand has a good road infrastructure, which is generally of high quality. If you are planning to live here for a year or a few months of the year, it is useful to know how to buy a car or two-wheeler in Thailand. Indeed, there may be certain restrictions.
5/ The different VISA Thailand
Visas for Thailand: the different types Presentation of the different types of Thai visas, to visit, work, study, settle or retire in Thailand.
-Travel without visa (less than 30 days) visa tension of 30 days
-Tourist visa (60 days)
The 6-month tourist visa (METV)
-Non-immigrant visa O (90 days)
-Visa O- A Long stay, 1 year retirement
The non-immigrant B visa (stravallo visa
-The Smart Visa (Work Visa)
-Non-immigrant ED visa (student, monk)
Maximum length of stay
-France: 30 days with a normal passport.
-Belgium: 15 days with a normal passport (90 for a diplomatic/official passport).
-Switzerland: 30 days with a normal passport (90 for a diplomatic/official passport).
-Canada: 30 days with a normal passport.
Each day exceeded will oblige you to pay a fine at the airport on your return (500 baht per day exceeded).
6/ Do you have to speak Thai or not to live in Thailand?
When in most other expatriate countries, learning the local language and making it a priority for themselves than to understand the local culture and to integrate into the just society does not ask for Thailand, where most foreigners start to speak English even if the English skills of most Thais are worse than those of high school graduates in western countries.
Here are 6 of the best reasons to start learning Thai based
1. Integrating into Thai society you are always going to be and when you first meet a Thai person, they will never wait for you to learn Thai. But as soon as you start a basic conversation in Thai they will look at you from a completely different perspective.
2. Thai people cannot gossip to you. By learning Thai you will always be above these things, Thai people cannot gossip to you and you can also respond to what they say.
3. Less likely to work in scams Scams usually consist of local Thai women that you approach and you tell a lie, then offer you a service.
4. It’s easier to find a beautiful Thai girlfriend if you can speak Thai.
5. Chances are better to get a job in Bangkok don’t know fluent Thai. So while you will only be required to have good English skills (which all Thais assume that foreigners have regardless of whether they are from England or France),
6. You get the answers to your questions You encounter as many situations with Thai people when you ask them questions in English and either they don’t understand what you are hearing or you simply misunderstand. Even though they know they don’t understand you in 90% of the cases.
Coming to live in Thailand there are some things to consider, because as with any country, Thailand has its advantages and disadvantages, so it is good to be well prepared so that this adventure goes as smoothly as possible and so that you have an experience that will change your life.
