I'm an American who's lived in Bangkok for 10 years, and these are 7 things tourists should never do when they visit

[webfact]

Orion Ray-Jones cycling in Bangkok, something he doesn't recommend for tourists. Sam Polcer

 

by Marielle Descalsota

 

-- Orion Ray-Jones moved from Brooklyn to Bangkok in 2013.

-- Over the years, Ray-Jones fell in love with Bangkok's vibrant and welcoming culture. 
-- Ray-Jones said tourists should explore more than just Bangkok's nightlife and red-light district.

 

Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand, is one of the most-visited cities in the world.

Bangkok, Thailand. Marielle Descalsota/Insider

This as-told-to story is based on a conversation with Orion Ray-Jones, a content strategist who's lived in Bangkok for 10 years. It's been edited for length and clarity.

 

I moved to Bangkok from Brooklyn in 2013 to take on a job at a branding agency. After that job finished, my wife and I decided to stay because of the people. Thailand has one of the most welcoming cultures in the world. 

 

Bangkok was the world's most-visited city from 2016 to 2019, according to Mastercard's Global Destination Index, an annual report that ranks and consolidates tourism data in 200 cities. In 2019, more than 22 million tourists spent at least one night in Bangkok.

 

Full story: https://www.insider.com/thailand-bangkok-tourist-mistake-travel-guide-local-tips-2023-4#bangkok-the-capital-city-of-thailand-is-one-of-the-most-visited-cities-in-the-world-1

 

-- © Copyright INSIDER 2023-04-24

 

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[likerdup1]

If I had a nickel for every article like this...

 

So much is left out too.

 

Don't touch a Thai person on the head.

Don't wai to others unless you know how and why you are doing it.

Take shoes off whenever visiting a Thai household.

etc etc.. list goes on.

[Andycoops]

Nothing here that you can't find in a decent guide book, no doubt a self publicist trying to pop his head over the parapet.

[NORDO]

There are 37 countries in the Americas.  Which are u from ?

 

Ive ridden my through Bkk   Numerous times over the last 13 years.   Never an issue except honking horns and yelling at me.  I’ve been North to south and East to west borders.  Never an issue.  Other than people of opportunity hosing the farang.

[bignok]

51 minutes ago, likerdup1 said:

If I had a nickel for every article like this...

 

So much is left out too.

 

Don't touch a Thai person on the head.

Don't wai to others unless you know how and why you are doing it.

Take shoes off whenever visiting a Thai household.

etc etc.. list goes on.

Don't touch your gf on the head?

[Bangkok Barry]

I stopped at tip 1. Walking is a great way to experience Bangkok, the same as it is when you're any place in the world.

[Srikcir]

12 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

I stopped at tip 1. Walking is a great way to experience Bangkok, the same as it is when you're any place in the world.

With air quality forecast today in Bangkok at 151 (unhealthy), not the same as any place in the world.

Beijing 91

Seoul 55

Paris 33

Los Angeles 44

[ezzra]

Every now and then you get someone who feels compel to share his views on Thailand and its other places with the world and the op is the current one, does he say something we didn't already knew? No, but if it's made him happy to vent, so be it.

[herfiehandbag]

1 hour ago, Andycoops said:

Nothing here that you can't find in a decent guide book, no doubt a self publicist trying to pop his head over the parapet.

He has no time to be a self publicist - far too busy being a "content strategist ", whatever that is!

[PETERTHEEATER]

What is a 'content strategist"?

[Red Forever]

I read the article to the end.

Nothing to see here. Just some bloke stating the bleeding obvious.

[OneMoreFarang]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

a content strategist

nuff said

 

[bignok]

2 hours ago, likerdup1 said:

If I had a nickel for every article like this...

 

So much is left out too.

 

Don't touch a Thai person on the head.

Don't wai to others unless you know how and why you are doing it.

Take shoes off whenever visiting a Thai household.

etc etc.. list goes on.

Head touches aren't welcome anywhere from a stranger. Taking shoes off is European as well.

 

Thais are 90% the same as Europeans.

[metisdead]

A grammar police post and a reply has been removed. 

 

A troll post has been removed.

[Pique Dard]

"...and these are 7 things tourists should never do when they visit"

 

well, in that case, you aren't a tourist

[Iron Tongue]

Glad to see the Insider is still only pursuing gritty, hard-hitting journalism like this!

[Tropposurfer]

Hi hum ... nothing to see here. Oh! Is that the time ?! Must get on with my privileged falang life. lol ????

[Blue Muton]

Lots of nonsense in this article as many have already observed.

 

starting with the dangerously misleading statement that Thais are welcoming and friendly. Should have said ‘many’, or even ‘most’. Then goes on to scams ‘Bangkok's most famous scam is when a local lies to a tourist....’ doesn’t sound too friendly?

Then the bit about ‘jai yen’ which was given the literal translation of ‘cool heart’, which is quite different from it’s real meaning in the context which was to keep a cool head. He then really ought to have warned of the potential consequences of getting loud and angry.

 

Lots more missing and nonsensical as previous replies state.

[Older and Wiser]

4 hours ago, likerdup1 said:

If I had a nickel for every article like this...

 

So much is left out too.

 

Don't touch a Thai person on the head.

Don't wai to others unless you know how and why you are doing it.

Take shoes off whenever visiting a Thai household.

etc etc.. list goes on.

Not just what he left out but what he put in. Would you recommend a tourist to take a tuk tuk if you'd stayed in Bangkok more than a few days even, he does.

[metisdead]

A post of a vulgar nature has been removed.

[shackleton]

Sound advice for new arrivals to Thailand 

Plus read Thai visa for more information 

Enjoy your stay in the land of  Smiles ???? 

[Doctor Tom]

3 hours ago, ezzra said:

Every now and then you get someone who feels compel to share his views on Thailand and its other places with the world and the op is the current one, does he say something we didn't already knew? No, but if it's made him happy to vent, so be it.

I agree.  Some are common sense, unless you are a naive dullard, some are plain wrong, (walking is a great way to see places and things you won't see from a scam ridden taxi) and I am happy to hold hands and kiss my Thai g/f in public.  If I didn't she would soon be on my case.  The whole point of visiting new countries and new cities is that you discover things you didn't know, but keep your wits about you. A normal travel guide is a good start.  

[Doctor Tom]

37 minutes ago, Older and Wiser said:

Not just what he left out but what he put in. Would you recommend a tourist to take a tuk tuk if you'd stayed in Bangkok more than a few days even, he does.

Never, or a motorbike taxi  

[Doctor Tom]

1 hour ago, Blue Muton said:

Lots of nonsense in this article as many have already observed.

 

starting with the dangerously misleading statement that Thais are welcoming and friendly. Should have said ‘many’, or even ‘most’. Then goes on to scams ‘Bangkok's most famous scam is when a local lies to a tourist....’ doesn’t sound too friendly?

Then the bit about ‘jai yen’ which was given the literal translation of ‘cool heart’, which is quite different from it’s real meaning in the context which was to keep a cool head. He then really ought to have warned of the potential consequences of getting loud and angry.

 

Lots more missing and nonsensical as previous replies state.

The OP has clearly never been to a Spanish city, or a Mexican city, or a Russian or Chinese City, or a ..................  I could go on. 

[Kwasaki]

[Bangkok Barry]

3 hours ago, Srikcir said:

3 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

I stopped at tip 1. Walking is a great way to experience Bangkok, the same as it is when you're any place in the world.

With air quality forecast today in Bangkok at 151 (unhealthy), not the same as any place in the world.

Beijing 91

Seoul 55

Paris 33

Los Angeles 44

Well, air quality varies day by day, week by week, month by month.

[Liverpool Lou]

11 minutes ago, Doctor Tom said:

The OP has clearly never been to a Spanish city, or a Mexican city, or a Russian or Chinese City, or a ..................  I could go on. 

Thank God, you didn't, the OP is about Thailand, not Spain, Mexico, Russia or China.

[markclover]

A decade in Thailand and he relies on paying a forum to promote his articles.

[Liverpool Lou]

6 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

Who? What? Where? Why?

[Doctor Tom]

2 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Thank God, you didn't, the OP is about Thailand, not Spain, Mexico, Russia or China.

I was making the comparison , as we all should when discussing any subjective assessment made by someone else.  I should have added Liverpool of course, silly me.