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Foreign Man Found Begging With a Child in Phuket

Residents in Patong, Phuket, are urging authorities to take firm action after a foreign man was seen walking with his young son and begging for money from tourists. The incident, reported on 5 May 2026, has caused distress among locals and visitors, raising concerns about social issues in a major tourist area.

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The footage was shared by the Facebook page “Hod Jung Changwat Phuket”, showing the man holding his child’s hand while approaching tourists and tuk-tuk drivers for money along Thaweewong Road in Patong, Kathu district. The post stated that tuk-tuk drivers could no longer tolerate the situation and called on relevant agencies to act urgently, describing it as a growing social problem.

In the video, the foreign man is seen moving through the busy tourist area with the child, believed to be his son, directly asking passers-by for money. The behaviour has reportedly made many people in the area uncomfortable, including local workers and business operators who rely on tourism.

Following the clip’s circulation online, numerous social media users commented that they had witnessed similar behaviour on multiple occasions. Many expressed concern that such incidents reflect wider social challenges in key tourist destinations like Patong, which could affect the area’s long-term image if left unaddressed.

The reaction from the public has focused on the need for concrete enforcement and intervention by authorities. Locals are calling for stricter monitoring and appropriate measures to prevent similar cases, particularly where children are involved, due to potential welfare concerns.

The daily News reported that officials have not yet publicly outlined specific actions in response to this incident. However, the growing attention online is likely to increase pressure on relevant agencies to investigate and implement measures to manage the issue more effectively.

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image.png Adapted by ASEAN Now Dailynews 6 May 2026

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JamesPhuket10 Gold Member

JamesPhuket10

Advanced Member
3 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

One must display empathy

I know what you mean, when a bar girl says to me she is poor, she is forced into this job, she hates it and does not want to do I I just hand over my wallet and walk on, poor girl, we must have blind empathy. 😃

AdamTheFarang Explorer Member

AdamTheFarang

Member
6 hours ago, geisha said:

So you judge someone by their religion ! Begging is not allowed and the man should not be doing it. Why doesn’t he beg in his own country ? He was reported to be Israeli.

Read my post again and look at my logo!

Jim Blue Platinum Member

Jim Blue

Advanced Member

How things have changed!

Twenty years ago it was a white

Aussie who held up a cardboard sign

"Teacher stranded need ticket money".

In front of the Beer Garden Soi !

jts-khorat Gold Member

jts-khorat

Advanced Member
16 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The footage was shared by the Facebook page “Hod Jung Changwat Phuket”, showing the man holding his child’s hand while approaching tourists and tuk-tuk drivers for money along Thaweewong Road in Patong, Kathu district. The post stated that tuk-tuk drivers could no longer tolerate the situation and called on relevant agencies to act urgently, describing it as a growing social problem.

It was a common sight along Soi Bangla to see Burmese children of primary school age begging for money, selling flowers, in worst cases mutilated with missing limbs, being out in the bars until the morning hours.

The handlers were, of course, Thai.

So I am very surprised to hear that tuk-tuk drivers, often described as quite hardened members of the local Thai society, had this unbelievable level of distress on seeing a foreigner bringing his own kid along.

But I am sure, there are indeed relevant "agencies" acting on the social problem of empowerished children, being Thai or not, all over Phuket. The news would have made so much more sense, having a paragraph or two about their good work in Phuket added (actually there are, some, I am being a bit facetious there -- because I do not think those benevolent Thais will put this kid there).

Captain Flack Star Member

Captain Flack

Global Moderator

Post commenting on moderation removed.

@flaming dragon your posts are removed because of your in capability to follow forum rules.

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CCesar Senior Member

CCesar

Member
18 hours ago, elektrified said:

How is that relevant?

Looks more like an eastern European gipsy scam starting up in Thailand.

Keeenok Powell Silver Member

Keeenok Powell

Advanced Member

Might take the lad with me next time I visit Patong.

Captain Flack Star Member

Captain Flack

Global Moderator

Post breaking forum rules removed.

@thongplay rules 17.News articles are collected from recognised sources and may be consolidated or rewritten with AI assistance. Respectful discussion of the article content is welcome. Disrespectful comments about the articles, the use of AI, or the news team (e.g. “clickbait,” “slow news day,” mocking grammar, or AI taunts) are not permitted. Posts breaching this rule will be removed, and posting suspension or account closure may result

Harsh Jones Gold Member

Harsh Jones

Advanced Member

Bird sh** farang as they say

Nick Carter icp Star Member

Nick Carter icp

Advanced Member
14 hours ago, geisha said:

He was reported to be Israeli.

Where was that reported ?

smew Silver Member

smew

Advanced Member
16 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

No bond has been lodged for my visa.

When did it become a requirement ?

a cash in the bank

gargamon Ruby Member

gargamon

Advanced Member

Reminds me of an old song... The chorus comes to mind.

“There's a hole in Daddy's arm... Where all the money goes...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLVWEYUqGew

kiwikeith Platinum Member

kiwikeith

Advanced Member
On 5/6/2026 at 11:19 AM, elektrified said:

How is that relevant?

Yes how did he get a visa with no money and to go begging, never seen anything like this in Los b4, very sad to see

elektrified Diamond Member

elektrified

Advanced Member
2 hours ago, kiwikeith said:

Yes how did he get a visa with no money and to go begging, never seen anything like this in Los b4, very sad to see

Who said he has a visa?

JamesPhuket10 Gold Member

JamesPhuket10

Advanced Member
On 5/7/2026 at 3:28 AM, jts-khorat said:

It was a common sight along Soi Bangla to see Burmese children of primary school age begging for money, selling flowers, in worst cases mutilated with missing limbs, being out in the bars until the morning hours.

The handlers were, of course, Thai.

So I am very surprised to hear that tuk-tuk drivers, often described as quite hardened members of the local Thai society, had this unbelievable level of distress on seeing a foreigner bringing his own kid along.

But I am sure, there are indeed relevant "agencies" acting on the social problem of empowerished children, being Thai or not, all over Phuket. The news would have made so much more sense, having a paragraph or two about their good work in Phuket added (actually there are, some, I am being a bit facetious there -- because I do not think those benevolent Thais will put this kid there).

The child beggars were taken off the street in Phuket at least 20 years ago, so the Tuk-Tuk driver might not have know they existed in the first place.

90% of the girly bars have gone as well over the same time period.

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