Street food at a night market in Pai, Thailand | Photo via Andrey

 

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has announced the development of the Lumphini Hawker Centre, set to formalise Bangkok's vibrant street food scene. Slated for completion in early 2026, the centre is part of a broader initiative to improve public safety and sidewalk accessibility. Located on Ratchadamri Road next to Lumphini Park, the project began construction in June 2025.

 

This open-air facility is designed to accommodate 88 vendors per shift, operating in two rotations from 5am to 4pm and 4pm to midnight. Aekvarunyoo Amrapala, a BMA spokesperson, emphasized the centre's role in supporting low-income earners and enhancing food safety standards. The BMA will prioritize vendors previously displaced from Sarasin Road, with stalls reserved for Thai nationals earning less than 180,000 baht annually or those with a State Welfare Card.

 

The initiative comes amid mixed public opinion on street vending. A recent Nida Poll found that over 92% of Bangkok residents buy from street vendors due to convenience and affordability. However, 59% of those surveyed believe vending should only occur on wide sidewalks, illustrating ongoing public space conflicts.

 

A similar attempt to clear vendors from public spaces occurred in 2016 under former Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra, displacing over 10,000 vendors across 23 districts. The BMA aims to balance regulation with the hawker centre model, inspired by Singapore's successful approach, to maintain space for pedestrians while providing designated areas for vendors.

 

Moving forward, BMA officials will enforce stricter vending regulations in other city parts, limiting street vending to designated areas to ensure unobstructed pedestrian pathways. The Lumphini Hawker Centre is expected to be a strategic step in managing Bangkok’s bustling street food culture, offering regulated, safe, and accessible dining options.

 

Key Takeaways

• BMA aims to enhance safety and accessibility with the new hawker centre.
• Vendors prioritized include low-income Thai nationals displaced from Sarasin Road.
• Public opinion on street vending is divided, balancing space and convenience.

 

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Bangkok Clears Street Food Vendors for a Cleaner Khlong Toei Market

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-10-13

 

 

Let's see if BMA cn really make this happen. And if the food is better than the lacklustre street food in the rest of the capital.