Monocle's Guide to Expat Tribes in Asia for Building Social Circles

Monocle's Asia editor James Chambers, based in Bangkok, offers a guide to the various expat communities in Asian hubs like Hong Kong and Bangkok, drawing on his decade of experience. He identifies several distinct 'tribes' that newcomers can connect with to build a social network abroad. These include hotel general managers, who are well-connected and knowledgeable about business and travel trends; French and German expats, with the French forming visible clusters in Hong Kong since the Hollande presidency, while Germans tend to avoid each other; English teachers, who are drawn to Asia for better pay and working conditions, with new British international schools opening in Thailand; UN families in Bangkok, who form a close-knit community around the UN's regional headquarters, though recent US aid cuts have impacted them; and foreign correspondents, who gather at the Foreign Correspondents' Club in Hong Kong or in Bangkok's Chit Lom area. Chambers notes that while expat bubbles exist in most major cities, they are particularly pronounced in hubs like Hong Kong. The article is a personal reflection on the social dynamics of expat life, offering practical advice for those relocating to Asia.