Has anyone moved from Bangkok due to pollution (PM2.5)? If yes, where?

some people i know went up to nakhon nayok or kanchanaburi, the air is noticeably better and you're still close enough for a weekend trip back to bkk. a colleague moved to rayong for work and said the pm2.5 there averages like half of what we get here, plus the beach is nice. but honestly most people i've talked to who left for the air ended up coming back within a year or two because the job market and social life just aren't the same outside the city. if you can work remote full time it's worth a shot, but if not, investing in a good air purifier and planning outdoor stuff around the wind direction might be the practical move

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a friend of mine moved to samui last year and she says the air is consistently good enough that she forgot what the airvisual app looks like. the tradeoff is everything costs more there and you're pretty isolated if you don't have a car or a good bike. she works remote in marketing so it worked out but said the social scene is mostly expat retirees and digital nomads, not really the same vibe as bkk.

if you're not ready to fully leave, maybe try a short term rental in hua hin for a month or two first. a lot of people i know did that before committing and realized they missed the convenience too much, or found out the air there is good enough to justify staying. either way you'll know for sure without selling all your furniture.

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i moved to phuket partially because of the air but honestly the traffic here is its own kind of nightmare and the dust from construction is constant. if you work remotely and don't need bkk's nightlife or job market, check out places like kanchanaburi or rayong where the air is noticeably better and rent is half the price. just be ready for way fewer delivery options and no grab bike in 2 minutes

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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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