Communal living in Bangkok?

the whole coliving thing is a bit overhyped here tbh, most "community" in bangkok comes from coworking spaces not apartments. i'd just get a cheap studio in on nut or udomsuk for like 5-7k and then hit up spaces like co-working cafe in ekkamai, the people there are super friendly and you'll meet folks grabbing lunch at the food court downstairs. the key is being consistent, show up at the same spot a few days a week and you'll naturally find a group

chiang mai is different though, if you can swing it i'd start there instead. nimman has entire buildings full of remote workers sharing kitchens and balconies, and the sunday night market is a solid place to just chat with strangers. bangkok's fine but it's harder to build that instant vibe, you gotta put in more effort to find your people

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honestly if you're coming from taiwan and expecting that same hostel-apartment vibe, bangkok is just different. the co-living scene here is either luxury for remote workers with cash or just regular condos with roommates. but here's the thing, thai people actually do share houses a lot, just not advertised in english. try searching on facebook in thai like "หาห้องเช่า" or "แชร์หอ" in the groups, you'll find locals looking for roommates in old town or rattanakosin area for like 3-5k baht. chiang mai is way easier for that communal feel though, nimman has heaps of backpacker sharehouses and coworking spaces where people just hang out after work. if you're set on bangkok, ari is prob your best bet for that mix of affordable and social, lots of cafes and bars where remote workers naturally cluster

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honestly the communal living scene here is different from taiwan, more spread out. in bangkok check out "coliving" spaces on facebook marketplace or the "bangkok expat" groups, there's places like "the common" near thong lo that do monthly stays with shared kitchens and common areas. chiang mai is easier for that vibe, tons of digital nomad houses in nimman or old city, just search "chiang mai coliving" on fb and you'll find groups posting rooms for 8-12k baht a month.

for a remote internship, ngl you'd prob have more luck with community in chiang mai than bangkok, it's smaller and people actually hang out together. bangkok's huge and people come and go fast, you'll find transient roommates but not a tight crew unless u join a specific coworking space like hubba or the hive. try the "bangkok remote workers" fb group too, people post about open rooms in shared houses there sometimes.

if you want the taiwan-style revolving door of travelers, look for hostels that do monthly rates, like "here hostel" in bangkok or "sleep guesthouse" in chiang mai, you get a private room but common areas full of people passing through. prob not ideal for working remote tho cause the wifi can be patchy and it's loud during the day

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Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

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for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

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honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

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