As Thailand’s tourism industry picks up towards the end of 2023, embarking on your first journey to the Kingdom of Thailand and its capital Bangkok can be both thrilling and overwhelming.
This comprehensive guide aims to equip you, the farang (foreigner), with valuable insights and tips we curated from locals and experienced travelers. It’s part of a series of guides we aim to publish in the coming weeks to help travelers old and new get the most out of their trip here.
Whether you’re navigating the bustling streets of Bangkok or immersing yourself in the vibrant nightlife, Coconuts Bangkok’s Dos and Don’ts will help you make the most of your culturally respectful and enjoyable stay.
Dos
Do eat local street food
Now, you might be tempted to eat fancy food as it’s safe and/or clean, or you’re just the type who prefers familiar comforts. To that, we say, “You’re in Thailand, dude!” and it’s a heck of an experience venturing street food hotspots in Bangkok and beyond. Local street food is authentic and cheap, and can save you some money if you’re traveling on a budget. To be safe, do check for sanitation standards – for example, you may only want to buy from vendors who prepare food using gloves. Bring hand sanitizer or wet wipes just in case.
On that note…
Do try more Thai desserts. There’s much more to it than just mango sticky rice.
Yeah alright we hear ya. Thai rap sensation Milli may have popularized the mango sticky rice dessert beyond Thailand, and we can see that it’s popular among tourists here. But there’s so many more sweets to sample such as kluay kaek (banana fritters), tub tim grob (red rubies), bua loi (rice balls in coconut milk), khanom tom (coconut dumplings), khanom chan (layer cake), and khanom krok (coconut pancakes).
In addition to that..
Do eat from a large variety of cuisines
Bangkok is not just a culinary melting pot for Thai food, it also offers a vast selection of cuisines. You get the usuals like Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Italian, and Indian, but there’s also more interesting options like Malaysian, Greek, Burmese, Nepalese, Ethiopian, Georgian, and even Peruvian.
Do get toasties for life at 7-Eleven
If you’re feeling rather lazy to go out and eat, then, more often than not, your hotel has a 7-Eleven nearby. The toasties have been the quick go-to meal for many, in addition to all the frozen and microwaveable meals and burgers at the mart.
Do get a Thai massage
From all the traveling and eating you’ll be doing, odds are your body’s going to take a beating. So get yourself a traditional Thai massage because we bet you it’s going to feel great. And no, ha ha ha, we don’t mean the ones with a happy ending. Get yourself a proper treatment, and you’ll feel reborn after a session lasting anywhere from 1 to 2 hours.
Do hit the nightlife hotspots
You’ve heard of Bangkok’s nightlife scene – there’s plenty of everything for everyone. If you are the basic touristy farang then head to Khaosan Road where you will meet tons of drunk backpackers, loud booming EDM and hip hop music, weed (more on that later), and balloons.
Not a fan of that? Hip hop clubs are aplenty, including Sugar, Bobo, Sway, and Dope N Dirty. Looking for EDM? Then head straight to RCA where there’s numerous clubs like Spaceplus, Route 66, Onyx and the trance music focused Amnesia. You’ve also got house and techno clubs like Mustache and Sing Sing Theater. And that’s not to mention the countless EDM festivals that happen throughout the year.
Looking for something more eclectic? Underground venues 12×12, Decommune and Never Normal may be more to your taste.
Or if you’re looking to do something different…
Do go to a Thai bar with live music
Why not party like a Thai person by singing along to popular songs of heartbreak and loyalty? Rather than hitting the dance floor and pouring drinks at clubs, here, you can sit with friends and, well, pour drinks at one of the many bars. At this kind of venue, there’s usually a live band playing covers of Thai pop and rock hits, and the objective here is to sing along and get drunk and, hopefully, not get swindled by a taxi waiting outside.
Do try Thai alcohol
Look, having a bottle of Chang, Leo or Singha is great, and so is all the typical whiskey and rum you can gulp down. But have you really tried Thai alcohol? From the Sangsom rum to the sato rice wine to the herb-infused yadong, these local beverages pack quite the punch.
Do Muay Thai
Stressed out? Why not do a few sessions of Muay Thai? Learn to relieve the stress from getting swindled by releasing all that anger through timed kicks and punches. It won’t bring back the money you lost, but you’ll learn some mortal kombat.
Do the bum gun
Bum guns! We continue to question why the West does not have these installed by every toilet. Once you go bum gun, you can never go back.
Do use the hole-in-the-ground toilet
Or not. Perhaps it’s too unsanitary for many, but you can learn the ancient art of the Asian squat as you drop a number two.
Do go to temple fairs
Thailand’s temple fairs are great destinations for you and your friends, which offer a look into Thailand’s local culture. Ride the ferris wheel, eat some local snacks and food at the many vendors, and buy some oddities.
Do ride the skytrain and subway lines
Avoid the taxi commute and ride the trains. You’ll get around the city much easier and faster. Feel more adventurous by venturing further away from the heart of the city, and then taking a walk around each station. You’ll never know what quirky cafe or cool little bar you might discover.
In 2023, BTS launched two new lines: the yellow line and the pink line, the latter of which is undergoing trial run and everyone can ride for free until early January 2024.
Do take the motorcycle taxis
Motorcycle taxis? Whaaaa? But yes, motorcycle taxis are probably an interesting experience for those who don’t have such a service back home. It’s the best way to quickly weave through traffic and get a funny smell in your hair from wearing their helmets.
Do get a local haircut
This is easier for men to do but getting haircuts from local barbershops could be a fun activity. There’s one under a highway bridge that’s full of history that might be worth looking into.
Do marvel at art events
There are a plethora of art museums with exhibitions happening all year round, such as Bangkok Art and Culture Center, River City Bangkok, MOCA, as well as big art events like Awakening, Bangkok Art Biennale, and Galleries Night.
Do watch Thai films
Yeah, summer Hollywood blockbusters are great, but it’s a boss move to check out some Thai films in the cinema or streaming services. Learn the language by practicing the way of reading subtitles.
Do smoke weed
Yes, to put it simply, weed is legal. Just look at the absurd amount of dispensaries available in the city. Smoking recreationally seems to be okay as long as you don’t disturb others, as they have the right to file a complaint.
Do go to a ping pong show
Call it overrated, call it shocking – ping pong shows should be experienced at least once in your lifetime.
Do take the ferry
A form of transportation that might not cross many people’s minds are the ferries by the canal. Get on board and soak in the pungent smell of Bangkok’s canals and see a side of the city you won’t usually see by car or skytrain.
Do climbing gyms
In our opinion, Thailand has a good amount of climbing gyms. Lately, it’s somewhat gained a lot of popularity with the likes of Stonegoat, Balance Climbing, and Urban Playground popping up as some of the many places you can flex your bouldering skills. Look up our climbing gym guide if you’re looking to take up the hobby.
Do go to a fresh market
Better than going to a fancy restaurant or supermarket, fresh markets offer fresh vegetables and fruits as well as locally sourced ingredients for your next home cooked meal. There’s plenty of markets around the city.
Try kratom
Recent legislation now allows kratom, a decriminalized narcotic, for use in products such as drinks, candies, and more. Beverage entrepreneurs are gearing up to loosen the juice, meaning fans of the big, veiny leaf and its alkaloid high have more to look forward to than slurping bitter homebrew.
Kratom is a leaf found across Southeast Asia. While not psychoactive, it has a stimulant effect in lower doses. It can relieve pain and create a feeling of euphoria akin to a “body high.” In higher doses, it can make users drowsy.
It should be stressed that Kratom is an absolutely addictive substance. While it has numerous therapeutic benefits, its alkaloid contents tickle the same dopamine and serotonin receptors as opiates, and regular use can lead to dependence – and very difficult withdrawal symptoms.
Do learn Thai
You’re in Thailand, maybe it helps to learn common phrases na!
Don’ts
Don’t speak louder and slower. It’s not helpful, it’s rude
Not everyone in Thailand is proficient in English, but speaking louder and slower to someone is patronizing and very rude. Don’t be that rude farang scumbag.
Don’t trust shady taxi or tuk-tuk drivers
When you see a parked taxi or tuk-tuk with the driver beckoning you to come during a busy night out, they may try to take you somewhere you don’t want to go, and will charge you a hefty fee. We can tell you right now that you should keep looking for taxis driving by or take other forms of transportation.
Don’t do inappropriate things in the temple
Needless to say, there are a handful of rules when entering temples. Remove your shoes before entering the worship area. Be mindful and don’t step on the door threshold. Don’t touch the sacred Buddha statues, and don’t even turn your back while near a statue to snap some selfies. That’s no good. Don’t be that loud douchebag either, who makes a nuisance for others who are there to pray.
Don’t flush paper down the toilet
We cannot stress this enough. There’s a reason so many establishments and venues put up signs. Seriously, we don’t have a proper sewage system, toilets get clogged up, and you’ll be left having to hold it in because some idiot failed to follow the rules.
Don’t ride elephants and maybe don’t wear elephant pants
Riding elephants is inhumane as much as you want to think it isn’t.
And those elephant pants? Nothing says basic tourist than wearing those admittedly comfy elephant pantalones. You’ll become the target of locals trying to sell you things at marked up prices, and not to mention you’ll earn the ire and annoyance of locals.
Don’t give money to beggars
You might feel sorry for them but odds are the beggars you see may be part of a ring that swindles people.
Don’t touch people’s heads
This is self explanatory.
Don’t put your feet up and point at someone
Also self explanatory, we hope.
Don’t get a Buddhist tattoo
This is tricky. While there is no law that prohibits people from getting a Sak Yant, proper research is needed before you get one.
Don’t criticize a certain someone in power
We won’t go into detail, but lèse-majesté is a crime in Thailand. People have been incarcerated for speaking out against that certain someone. ‘Nuff said.
Don’t fall in love with a girl you met at Nana Plaza
We hear stories about farangs falling in love with bar girls thinking they’ve met the love of their lives. Some fall victim to seeing the woman once a week or month, with each meeting including them asking for large amounts of money. Don’t fall for that, stud.
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