On my first visit to the city last year, I wanted to stay in an authentic neighbourhood, to be close to temples and historical sights. This year, while I wait for my passport to renew, I decided to try a different area, one that is home to the expats. The Nimman Chiang Mai a digital nomad haven has been an interesting place to be.
Location
Situated outside of old town, the Nimman area is located in the northwest of the city. The main thoroughfare is called Nimmana Haeminda Road and to the east side of this street is Nimman. On google maps, you can clearly see that the streets here form a grid pattern. Very different than the whimsical way the city planning has historically taken shape.
It takes me about 20 minutes to walk from one end of Nimman neighbourhood to the other. So, a fairly compact area that is filled with apartment buildings, restaurants, a mall, lots of shopping and even more cute and trendy cafés.
History
Around the year 2010 is when the digital nomad scene really started to take off. It is thought by many that Nimman was the birthplace of that. People flocked to Thailand because the cost of living was substantially less, they could stay here for quite a while without running into visa issues and it is safe.
This part of Chiang Mai is home to the University and its multiple campuses. This means the area has a huge youth component, and with that comes affordable food, tech, and vibes that are consistent with the digital nomad population.
Lost in Thailand
In 2012, the Chinese movie ‘Lost in Thailand’ was released. At the time, it was a blockbuster and was the largest grossing movie in China. Filmed on the University of Chiang Mai grounds, this instantly brought an influx of young Chinese into the city. It was so crazy at one point, that a tourist train was running through the university campuses, full of Chinese tourists who wanted to see where everything was filmed. This was eventually shut down after the students protested, stating that they felt like zoo animals on display.
Since then, there has been a significant international expat scene here. Today, walking the streets, I can see loads of Asian tourists, Koreans, Japanese and Chinese. Many of the cafés and restaurants have adopted styles and prices that are on par with these travellers.
So What’s Here?
Lots of apartment complexes and a few hotels. A large and bright mall called Maya, is situated at one end at a major intersection. Don’t miss those traffic lights or you will be waiting a full five minutes for the next opportunity to scurry across the road.
Tons of cute café’s, hip weed shops and a number of small but fancy bakeries. There are darling little boutique clothing stores and any number of international restaurants. The usual fast-food places as well, such as Maccas, KFC and even a Subway.
Need a co-working space? No worries, you can find them scattered around the little lanes or sois as they are called here.
One Nimman
A large international style building with a Venetian clock tower is situated kitty corner to Maya Mall. Here find a large open cobblestone courtyard where events and small festivals take place. The shopping under the glass ceiling is fun and quirky.
At one end is a large food fair type space and the upper floors are made up of salons and other such businesses.
Think Park
Across the street from One Nimman is ‘Think Park’. This space is a co-operative between the Korean and Japanese residents in the area. Find a small group of alleys, painted with bright and vibrant street art and lined with fun little shops.
An open area is set up for various events, when I visited there was a food fair here. The internal courtyard is complete with a koi pond, little cafés to sit in the sunshine and enjoy a bevvie and a large restaurant that gets hopping come nightfall.
Downsides
First and foremost, Nimman is right on the flight path. Chiang Mai is one of those rare cities where the airport is right in the city. This means, for Nimman residents, you are going to hear planes all day and into the night and they are loud and constant.
The second downside, especially for first timers who want to feel like they are in Thailand, is you wont really get that here. It feels like an international bubble. There is not a lot of Thai cuisine, no temples and it has a commercial city feel.
If you are coming to Chiang Mai and have been to the city before, you might consider staying here. For first timers who want authenticity, close access to the Old Town and all the charm and history that it holds, probably not the best option. It has been a positive experience for me. Even though I am not a digital nomad, it has showed me what that lifestyle can look like. You will also be surrounded by like minded people and sometimes, as a person who travels a lot, you seek that comfort.
