Living in Cha am

Cha am was a fishing village cum summer getaway for the rich Thais in Bangkok. Many had summer homes at the beach. More recent years have seen Cha am change to a holiday resort. Along with the travelers came expat settlers.

As a result of the mix of "outsiders", guest houses, hotels, resorts, condominiums and housing estates have emerged. Cha am and Hua Hin are often uttered in the same breath as though the only separation was an imaginary line separating the two towns. In fact, the communities are quite different. As Hua Hin, Cha am is on the Gulf of Thailand and has good beaches. But Cha am town has a different "personality".

For starters, Cha am is more laid back. You will find fewer bars and more beach areas. Cha am has much more of a Thai feel. And the good news, comparable housing is cheaper.

Cha am does not have supermarkets and shopping malls, but if you want to live "Thai", they have a great fresh market. Avoid the "downtown" beach area for a more serene seaside experience.

And Cha am town happens to be about 30 km closer to Bangkok .. about 170 km.