Onlychaam.com > Cha-Am > Expats > Where to...?

Expats: live in Cha-Am

Where to find the services you need

Cha-Am is not a big city, but it's a popular resort where many expats have chosen to live, so you can easily find almost everything you need.

Electricity, Internet... where shall I go?

Telephone

The two major operators are TOT and TT&T. TOT office can be found on Phetkasem road, on the left side in the direction of Bangkok, a few yards after the main traffic lights junction. T&T is on Phetkasem road, on the left side of the road when coming from Hua Hin, in soi Nitithon 2 (before the main traffic lights junction and just after the purple building of Electricity). There is also a CAT office on Narathip road, on the right side when coming from Phetkasem road, close to the beachroad.

Internet

You can subscribe to Internet by contacting TT&T or TOT, and see the different packages they offer. Please be aware that the connections in Thailand are very slow, and that packages offering a decent speed (we mean the actual speed you will get, not the one advertised) are usually expensive. Some providers force you to use their own SMTP, and some can also decide to block P2P during the day to save bandwidth. Besides all that, censorship is applied heavily and many websites are blocked. Happy surfing... and chay yen yen!

 Read or contribute to a post in our forum about Maxnet (operated by TT&T)

Electricity

For all matters regarding electricity, you can find information at kan fai fa, which is the purple building at the corner of Phetkasem road and soi Raj Pli 1 (better known as "soi fai fa"). It's on the left side of Phetkasem road when coming from Hua Hin, just before the main traffic lights junction (just after the footbridge).

Building permit, house registration...

For all matters related to building permit, water, house number and house registration, go to the Tesaban office on Phetkasem road, on the right side of the road when going in the direction of Bangkok, at km 199. It closes at 4.30 pm..

Electricity office ("kan fai fa").

Tesaban at km 199.

Where to...? Services

Where to pay bills

You can pay most of your bills (Internet, telephone, electricity...) at all Seven-Eleven shops (ask for 'counter service'). They just scan the bar code on the bill.

Where to find a bank

Most major banks have a branch in Cha-Am. You will find most of them near the main traffic lights junction. Siam Commercial Bank is on the beach road.

 For more information, see our page about Money and Banks

Where to go to have water delivered

To have drinking water delivered to your house (small bottles or 20 litres tanks), you should spot a delivery car in the area where you live and arrange with them directly (or have your owner do that if you rent a house).

Where to...? Shops

Where to buy books

Unfortunately there is no bookshop selling English books in Cha-Am. There are a few bookshops in Hua Hin though, like Bookazine, on the second floor of Sailom Pavilion shopping mall on Damnern Kasem Road. But for a larger selection of books, we advise that you go to Bangkok (where you will find several 'Asia Books' shops) or that you order online (at Amazon for instance).

Where to buy computer stuff

There are very few computer shops in Cha-Am and Hua Hin, most of them getting their stock from Bangkok. If you need to buy a computer, don't think twice and go to Bangkok (either to Pantip Plaza or to IT Mall on Ratchada). Computer accessories can be found at Tesco Lotus in Hua Hin Market Village, a shopping center in south Hua Hin.

Where to buy western food

You can find some western products in shops like Okay or Cha-Am Memory.

 For more information, see our page about Shopping and our page about Restaurants.

Where to buy a motorbike or a car

It depends on the brand you choose, of course. There is a Toyota center on Phetkasem, on the left side of the road when going to Bangkok, just before the bridge over the railway. A Yamaha center and a Honda center are in the same area, on the opposite side of the road.

Where to...? Immigration and other formalities

Where is the Immigration Office?

Foreigners living in Cha-Am should go to the Immigration Office in Hua Hin for all matters regarding visas, work permits, 90 days report, etc. The Immigration Office is in soi 102, around 3 km south of Hua Hin. Just follow the signs and drive carefully on the bumpy road! It is open Monday to Friday, from 8.30 to 15.30. It is closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

One of the signs you have to follow.

The road can get flooded during the rainy season.

The last sign, in Thai only!

The Immigration Office.

Where to go to get or extend a driving licence?

If you want to obtain or renew a Thai driving licence, you have to go to the "Transport office" (sam-nak-ngan-kon-song) of the province of Phetchaburi. Fortunately there is a branch in Cha-Am. It is located on the right side of Phetkasem road in the direction of Bangkok, between km 198 and 199. When coming from Cha-Am, take the first U-turn after the one opposite the Tesaban office, then take the first small road on your left. Follow the road for a few hundred meters and you will find the office on your left, just after the fork.

The sign you have to follow.

The Transport office building.