Is Bang Niang the liveliest area in Khao Lak?
Yes
The liveliest place will be near the night market. There are 7/11, currency exchange offices, massage parlors, and fruit stalls there.
The beach, in my opinion, is not really that great. We lived there, but always drove to other nearby ones.
If you have a car, everything will be close by, no matter which area of Khao Lak you settle in.
It's not always convenient to use a car), if you settle near the market within walking distance, is there a decent beach nearby? I understand that for Similan Islands, it is necessary to go through a tour operator.
@Dmitriy: Near the market there is a nice beach.