Thai woman confronts loud Italian tourists on train

6 hours ago, Zimar said:

...fine the tourist operator would send a strong message.

Ridiculous. What has the tour operater done to deserve a fine?

29 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Yes, there is. BTS SkyTrain Regulations prohibit unreasonable loud noise, unruly behavior, or actions that cause a public nuisance within the system. Fines can be imposed.

And whete is that announced on the trains or platforms?

10 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

Thr students should file a complain to the woman. Illegal picture/video taping without blurring faces, insulting the group by using not decent Engels words and sentences, and several more. Besides this ridiculous act should be shared on several platforms to show people how tourism in Thailand works.

Or... they could lay criminal charges against the woman for libel. In Thailand, if you've lost face in public, and especially if the person broadcast it on social media, that's clear libel (by Thai standards) - because your reputation has been damaged and humiliated in public. It doesn't matter whether the person(s) deserved it or not - the fact is your reputation has been damaged and the other person is therefore guilty as charged. It's also why some of the more astute mainstream media are hiding the faces. Because they too could be named in a criminal libel action.

Just now, save the frogs said:

They are shooting themselves in the foot.

If they go after tourists for minor issues like this, tourists will be less inclined to come here.

It's sad that they made the Italian Embassy lose face over this.

It will definitely not stop me, or people like me. If it discourages people they do not want in Thailand from coming, I salute that. As someone once said, less is more. 😉

16 minutes ago, John Drake said:

Scanning some of the Thai posts to X/Twitter last night and this morning, I saw some posters claimed to have discovered the Italians' hotel and were planning on staking it out. Several major Thai media platforms are contributing to the "excitement." There is an unhealthy frenzy about all this.

This Thai fella followed them back to the hotel,

it seems the story is getting bigger and bigger ... some of you still defend the young italien and blame the thai lady for wrongdoing? ....

https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=chiang%20mai%20post

Edited 7 hours ago7 hr by motdaeng

1 minute ago, roo860 said:

This Thai fella followed them back to the hotel,

The potential for violence seems to be escalating. The statement from the Italian embassy (I went to their X account) has only generated more hostile posts.

Just now, John Drake said:

The potential for violence seems to be escalating. The statement from the Italian embassy (I went to their X account) has only generated more hostile posts.

This is nuts. Reminds me of how the Cambodians rioted in Phnom Penh and sacked the Thai Embassy over comments a Thai actress made..

Post breaking forum guidelines removed. @ronnie50

Low-Value Posts Reminder.

Posts that add no written contribution harm the forum and reduce its value for readers and search engines.

This includes:

2–3 word replies

Emoji-only posts

Memes or GIFs with no explanation or context.

Screenshots with no supporting text

Embedded social media posts with no comment or opinion

Youtube videos with no explanation or comment

If your post does not explain, add context, or express a view in your own words, it has no value here.

What happens next

Any such content will be removed without notice

Repeat posting of this type may lead to further moderation action

They weren't actually screaming actually?

They were being a tad rowdy is all.

Back off for a moment.

If this incident was never recorded, it would have been a total nothing burger that Thai commuters probably wouldn't have told their mates or friends about later, yes?

Rowdy young people. Rowdy foreigners or whatever. YAWN.

Considering what's going in the world these days, the hysterically absurd amplification of such things is even more darkly ridiculous.

To wit, the "American lawyer" going postal.

It's all about respect, or lack thereof. Respect the land, the history, the language, the traditions, and the societal norms. Travelling should be about understanding where you are, and appreciating what makes that place unique. The best travellers do not simply visit a culture. They listen to it, and learn from it. If you can't do that, maybe you should travel less. Sure, Thais can be loud (at festivals, Karaoke, etc.). They love to have fun (in the right places). But what you don't typically see are Thais being loud and obnoxious on public transport. Context is everything for a Thai. And yes, the Thai women took the bold (and decidedly, un-Thai) approach of confronting the offenders. I'm glad she did. Sometimes people need to be called out in order to bring problems to the fore.

10 hours ago, Wuvu2 said:

FAR fewer than that 😔

You mean far more and rising all the time. 🤷🏼

Well, six of one and half a dozen of the other here. Yes, the loud-mouthed moron tourists are clearly culturally unaware and belligerent, but the Thai woman is also living in fantasy land too expecting some sort of culture auto-compliance from all.

Italians making too much noise. I must remember this the next time I am staying in Thailand and some Thais are having a party and 100dB music blaring out until 2 am.

UPDATE

Italian Exchange Students Accused of Shoplifting in Bangkok

Picture courtesy of Amarin

Italian exchange students who sparked outrage over their behaviour on Bangkok’s BTS Skytrain have now been accused of shoplifting promotional items from a shopping mall in the capital shortly before the train incident.

According to reports from witnesses said the incident took place inside a shopping mall in the Rama 9 area, where a group of almost 30 Italian exchange students entered a car manufacturer’s promotional booth.

Promotional items allegedly taken twice

Witnesses said one male student, identified as the same individual later seen making an obscene gesture in the widely shared BTS video, initially approached staff politely and asked for permission to look inside the display vehicle. Staff allowed him to do so.

However, the situation quickly changed when the rest of the group reportedly rushed into the booth and began taking promotional items that had been put on display. Witnesses alleged the students helped themselves to multiple “lucky dip” prize capsules as well as other giveaway items including hand sanitiser, car cleaning cloths and notebooks.

Staff reportedly asked the students to return the items, but witnesses claimed the group ignored the requests, pretended not to understand and walked away carrying the goods.

According to the report, the same group returned to the booth later and allegedly attempted to take more of the promotional prize capsules. Staff intervened and stopped them before they left the area. Witnesses also claimed no shopping centre security personnel attended or intervened during either incident.

Behaviour under increasing scrutiny

The alleged shoplifting took place before the same group appeared in a viral social media video showing disruptive behaviour aboard a BTS Skytrain service, an incident that has attracted widespread criticism in Thailand.

The BTS footage prompted an apology from the Italian educational tour operator responsible for organising the students’ trip after the video circulated widely online. Thai police have also said they are examining whether any laws were broken and have indicated that visa cancellation and deportation could be considered if offences are established.

The allegations relating to the shopping mall have not yet resulted in any announced criminal charges, and the claims are based on witness accounts reported by Thai media.

25 July 2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1J85ZFG6Eb/

The Thai fella that followed them back speaking to one of the students

Edited 6 hours ago6 hr by roo860

7 hours ago, visalady said:

Nowhere near as bad as a group of Chinese shouting and yakking at each other, Indians are not much better either. Does not take much to stoke up the netizens into a xenophobic furry.

This has nothing to do with nationality. It's simply a social phenomenon. Young people, when in groups, feel the need to assert themselves with their peers, whether through gestures or voices. Whether they're French, Dutch, English, Spanish, German, or Italian, all European countries are affected. I get the impression that Asians are much more reserved about this, but that's just an impression. The worst experience you can have is encountering this in a holiday park. They'll bother you everywhere you go: the pool, the beach, sports activities, restaurants, entertainment, and even at night in the hallways and rooms—there will be a commotion. The only solution will be to put up with it or leave. A word of advice: check reviews before venturing into such places.

24 minutes ago, Cabradelmar said:

It's all about respect, or lack thereof. Respect the land, the history, the language, the traditions, and the societal norms. Travelling should be about understanding where you are, and appreciating what makes that place unique. The best travellers do not simply visit a culture. They listen to it, and learn from it. If you can't do that, maybe you should travel less. Sure, Thais can be loud (at festivals, Karaoke, etc.). They love to have fun (in the right places). But what you don't typically see are Thais being loud and obnoxious on public transport. Context is everything for a Thai. And yes, the Thai women took the bold (and decidedly, un-Thai) approach of confronting the offenders. I'm glad she did. Sometimes people need to be called out in order to bring problems to the fore.

I've seen Thai women in my hometown in the UK prostituting themselves by the Railway station and associated pubs nearby.

Is that your ' context ' for Thais, I'm pretty sure that's not an activity in the holiday brochures for the UK nor expected behavior.

It doesn't take much once the Thai press and social media shakes up a storm to turn a small event, that could be nipped in the bud, into a World war.

Now we have the Thai vigilantes boasting and saying they know where the Italian students are staying.