How safe is walking in Bangkok at midnight?

[Goodboybkk]

Dear all,

 

 

How safe is walking alone, for example, 500 meter from BTS station to your apartment/condo in Bangkok at midnight?

Have you been mugged?

Thanks

 

[thaibeachlovers]

Other than random chance safer than London or Auckland IMO.

 

I've never actually heard of a farang being "mugged" anywhere in LOS. Certainly not without cause.

[Menken]

I would rate is as quite safe. Far safer than US,UK, EU cities.

 

Having said that I prefer to live as close to the MRT BTS as possible. Both my wife and myself are thoroughly capable of walking a kilometer to and from but I worry about her because sometimes she's off work quite late when production runs long.

[StayinThailand2much]

How long is a piece of string? 

 

Male or female? Wearing expensive jewellery? What area are you talking about; Klong Toey, Sukhumvit Sois 3 to 21...?

Edited April 16, 2023 by StayinThailand2much

[proton]

Just watch out for bikes on the pavement, pot holes and soi dogs

[StayinThailand2much]

5 minutes ago, proton said:

Just watch out for bikes on the pavement, pot holes and soi dogs

Ladyboys and drunks as well. 

Edited April 16, 2023 by StayinThailand2much

[nigelforbes]

I rate the chances of being mugged in Bangkok as extremely low, unless you're acting like a moron and inviting trouble. 

[Menken]

10 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

What area are you talking about; Klong Toey, Sukhumvit Sois 3 to 21...?

???

 

23 minutes ago, Goodboybkk said:

, 500 meter from BTS station to your apartment/condo in Bangkok

 

[Menken]

As a second response I'd say that 500m Iprobably wouldn't worry about anywhere but I think after Ekamai the BTS line neighborhoods / kwang gets sketchy. Phra Kanong and On Nut better in last 10 years but after I find it quite slummy and unappealing not that it's necessarily dangerous

Edited April 16, 2023 by Menken

[Will B Good]

Lived 300m from Nana BTS for 18 months.........never felt worried or threatened .........but I guess it's quite a busy, well lit area.

 

Having said that i never wore any gold chains (tacky-tacky) no phone, not even a watch, and only carried enough cash for the night....so not much of a target.

Edited April 16, 2023 by Will B Good

[ezzra]

Well, if it's any indication my 91 years old grandmother is walking from her bus stop to her condo and midnight every night wearing expensive jewelleries a Chanel handbag and so far, so good.

Edited April 16, 2023 by ezzra

[ChipButty]

Midnight is still early in Bangkok, 

[KhunLA]

As safe as anywhere IF using common sense.

[spidermike007]

Incredibly safe. Likely 15x safer than Los Angeles or Miami. Never had an incident in all the years I am here. Pattaya is likely the least safe, if you allow yourself to get drunk, and encounter ladyboys. 

[JimTripper]

Never any problems but I would not walk near the africans that late. They might try to accost you sexually back in the room.

Edited April 16, 2023 by JimTripper

[orchis]

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

Well, if it's any indication my 91 years old grandmother is walking from her bus stop to her condo and midnight every night wearing expensive jewelleries a Chanel handbag and so far, so good.

where? I could do with a Chanel bag.

[jacko45k]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Other than random chance safer than London or Auckland IMO.

 

I've never actually heard of a farang being "mugged" anywhere in LOS. Certainly not without cause.

Only by police?

[stoner]

2 hours ago, Goodboybkk said:

How safe is walking alone, for example, 500 meter from BTS station to your apartment/condo in Bangkok at midnight?

i would wear a condom if i was you. 

 

but seriously...i have lived all over thailand for over 10 years and never had a single problem or worry that way. 

[Myran]

I did it for years when I stayed in Bangkok and never experienced anything that made me feel unsafe. I'd be much more hesitant of doing it back in Europe.

 

That being said, I am a male, and I wouldn't recommend females to walk alone at night in Thailand.

[Swiss1960]

All depends on where you live, male or female, look like an easy victim or not, time of day, street with bright lights or dark. Example:

 

Daughter lives near MRT Petchaburi. We checked out many apartments around that station, specially in the night time. 
- I would NOT recommend a young woman to walk down Petchaburi Road at night to the west towards Circle living... full of drunks, drug addicts and homeless... 
- South towards Rutnin eye hospital - no problem

- east towards Lancaster and beyond - no problem

- north towards toll road ok

 

Fact is, if you feel vulnerable, take a motorbike taxi. 

[Pedrogaz]

Anywhere in the world you take a chance, even in Tokyo. How big a risk is Bangkok....less than any city in America or Britain and more than any city in Europe. Take care and don't take stupid risks.

[OneMoreFarang]

Living here for almost 30 years, I think the chance is very low. I never avoided going anywhere any time of the day or night because it could be dangerous.

Having said that, a friend, about 70 years old, walked once maybe 2am from Soi Cowboy to his apartment in Soi 22, maybe 500m walk. He doesn't look rich, and he is not rich. No fancy watch, etc.

He was attacked and stabbed many times. The aggressor didn't stop him and tell him: give me your money or else. He just attacked my friend with a knife. 

Luckily a taxi driver saw that, and he brought my friend to a nearby hospital. He was admitted to the ICU and lived to tell the story.

 

That incident was never reported in the news. And I am pretty sure the local news avoid reporting stories like that. So be careful - even if 99% of the time there is nothing to worry about.

[nigelforbes]

I've been mugged in Nana several times, Soi Cowboy and Patpong also, blo ody gogo dancers.

[ChaiyaTH]

Depends where you are but what is the hassle anyway, just buy the Grab motorbike packages for additional discount, and book those, will just be 20-30 baht for 500 meters anyway.

 

They are often there in minutes, you can even book it when nearly arriving already.

Edited April 16, 2023 by ChaiyaTH

[spidermike007]

One of the reasons many of us love it here, is the security factor. In comparison to a rival spot like the PI, this is paradise. 

 

In the PI, the security situation is not very good. You always have to keep your eyes open, keep an eye on your back, and beware of robbery, home theft, and violence. It is rampant. I have many friends who live there, and they all say the same thing.

If you do get into an altercation with a Philippine man, or are getting robbed or harassed, unless you are a 6th degree sensei, do not fight back. An astonishing number of locals are well trained in the fighting arts. Many are good with sticks, knives, blades or any sort, and their hands, fists and feet. I have a friend who is a world class security consultant. He is a black belt in a few different martial arts. He says he can usually fight his way out of a gang of men, nearly anywhere in the world. Except in the PI. That is the only country he will NOT take an assignment.
The average guys there, can take down the average Westerner in five seconds. In Thailand few have those kinds of skills. Very few. And I am thankful for that! 
 

[Captain Monday]

Other than a few years ago with stories of bent coppers pulling frangs for piss tests totally safe.

Watch out for pickpockets. Of course, don't accept hugs from ladyboys. 

 

As opposed to USA with aggressive panhandlers, crazed druggies, and "toughs" who are trying to start street hassles  in Thailand other than touts  I am largely ignored and I like it that way.

 

Seems most who get in trouble here  are asking for it.

[expat_4_life]

The real danger at night is, you're more likely to trip and fall on the notorious footpath paving stones then to get mugged.

I know plenty that have have tripped at night but nobody that has been mugged.

Edited April 16, 2023 by expat_4_life

[Lorry]

8 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Living here for almost 30 years, I think the chance is very low. I never avoided going anywhere any time of the day or night because it could be dangerous.

Having said that, a friend, about 70 years old, walked once maybe 2am from Soi Cowboy to his apartment in Soi 22, maybe 500m walk. He doesn't look rich, and he is not rich. No fancy watch, etc.

He was attacked and stabbed many times. The aggressor didn't stop him and tell him: give me your money or else. He just attacked my friend with a knife. 

Luckily a taxi driver saw that, and he brought my friend to a nearby hospital. He was admitted to the ICU and lived to tell the story.

 

That incident was never reported in the news. And I am pretty sure the local news avoid reporting stories like that. So be careful - even if 99% of the time there is nothing to worry about.

About 10 years ago,  a farang was attacked with a machete and mugged at BTS Phrakhanong at 11pm.

At that time (before covid), 11pm would not be considered late at night in Bangkok. I often walked deserted walkways along our Khlong at 2 am or 3am. GF was not happy that I did that. I am a bit more careful nowadays.

 

I would not walk 500m to my condo at night at BTS Bearing,  Samrong and so on. Not a safe neighborhood.

 

For young women walking in the sois, Bangkok has never been safe. They are mugged regularly, even at daylight (5am, 6am when going to work)

 

 

[markclover]

Yes it's safe.  This is not America.

[Deserted]

It's safe.