For those of you who have lived in Bangkok a long time, which decade would you say had the right balance of fun, people, eclectic venues, old versus new, and the general ease of enjoying a good life in the city?

I think various aspects of the best of all that have been lost for at least 20 years, but I do not want to turn this into a negative topic, so let us move on from that before I start sounding like a whiny old expat.

I often find that people say it was whatever decade they arrived. I came in the early 90s and, in my opinion, the early 80s through the late 90s were the best years. Even though I was not here in the 80s, I assume things were already really rocking by then.

When the Asian financial crisis hit in 97, that was probably an inflection point where things began drifting in the wrong direction, and where Bangkok began trying so hard to modernize and catch up that it started losing a big piece of its soul.

There will probably be some who say the mid 60s and 70s were the best, but that was also during the Vietnam War era, with plenty of uncertainty and heavy fears of communism. On top of that, it was not that much of a developed city at the time, so things were likely more limited and unpredictable in terms of services and availability of goods, not enough of an international flavor and how overly local everything felt. No skytrains, taxis without air-conditioning, more canals, and less roads. Of course, some people might have liked that raw edge. I am guessing that by the mid 80s, Bangkok had reached a sweet spot, a bustling Asian city that still felt manageable, with enough of everything to keep most people happy, but still without feeling overcooked.

This is obviously a very subjective topic, so there is no right or wrong answer. A lot probably comes down to the people you met and the experiences you had over those years, and how those experiences shaped your perspectives. Timing really is everything.

If I had to do it all over again, I wish I could have arrived five to seven years earlier. Still, I feel lucky that I got to experience a good stretch of the Bangkok heydays before things began to shift too far and Krungthep started losing a bit of its Southeast Asian charm and appeal.

So what do you reckon? Everyone’s two satang is more than welcome.

It's not a decade per se, but I thought from 1997 through to late 2001 were about as good as it got, but the reason for it is kind of sad. The economy had been smashed, the baht had plummeted and many Thai people were out of work and desperate for money. As such, many people were super nice to foreigners through that period and that made Thailand a really nice place to live and work. I was new to Thailand at the time and had no experience of the country prior to 1997. But for a few years from 1997, Bangkok was a fantastic place to be. Best years of my life.

1 hour ago, RSD1 said:

For those of you who have lived in Bangkok a long time, which decade would you say had the right balance of fun, people, eclectic venues, old versus new, and the general ease of enjoying a good life in the city?

I think various aspects of the best of all that have been lost for at least 20 years, but I do not want to turn this into a negative topic, so let us move on from that before I start sounding like a whiny old expat.

I often find that people say it was whatever decade they arrived. I came in the early 90s and, in my opinion, the early 80s through the late 90s were the best years. Even though I was not here in the 80s, I assume things were already really rocking by then.

When the Asian financial crisis hit in 97, that was probably an inflection point where things began drifting in the wrong direction, and where Bangkok began trying so hard to modernize and catch up that it started losing a big piece of its soul.

There will probably be some who say the mid 60s and 70s were the best, but that was also during the Vietnam War era, with plenty of uncertainty and heavy fears of communism. On top of that, it was not that much of a developed city at the time, so things were likely more limited and unpredictable in terms of services and availability of goods, not enough of an international flavor and how overly local everything felt. No skytrains, taxis without air-conditioning, more canals, and less roads. Of course, some people might have liked that raw edge. I am guessing that by the mid 80s, Bangkok had reached a sweet spot, a bustling Asian city that still felt manageable, with enough of everything to keep most people happy, but still without feeling overcooked.

This is obviously a very subjective topic, so there is no right or wrong answer. A lot probably comes down to the people you met and the experiences you had over those years, and how those experiences shaped your perspectives. Timing really is everything.

If I had to do it all over again, I wish I could have arrived five to seven years earlier. Still, I feel lucky that I got to experience a good stretch of the Bangkok heydays before things began to shift too far and Krungthep started losing a bit of its Southeast Asian charm and appeal.

So what do you reckon? Everyone’s two satang is more than welcome.

Like you say I think for everyone it is the decade when they arrived - Bangkok has always been downhill ever since.

I arrived in 1995 as a 21 year old and came here because of work. I was working in Hong Kong prior and the company asked me to move and I hated it - smelly, dirty, chaotic, noisy. This was pre-BTS, pre-Emporium, pre-most things. But within a month I loved it and you couldn't have paid me to go back to HK. The people sealed it for me; sounds like a cliche but it's true.

I was never in to the girly bar scene but I was in to the party scene and it was wild back then - anything goes. I was young, had money, and the life was beyond what anyone in England could imagine.

I also feel Bangkok had more character back then. Elephants on the streets, all night clubs, 24 hour everything, it was just mental for a young man.

Now, 30 years later I still love this city deeply. It is different, but it is still magnificent. And although less wild, for people coming here for the first time as a 21 year old today it is still amazing and crazy and different and vibrant and they love it as much as I did when I was their age. The grumps of this forum who hate Thailand hate it because of themselves and their situations. It is still a magical place.

So for me, the late 90s early 2000s were best. For people who came before no doubt the 80s were best. For people who came after I am sure the 2010s were best.

1 hour ago, josephbloggs said:

Like you say I think for everyone it is the decade when they arrived - Bangkok has always been downhill ever since.

I arrived in 1995 as a 21 year old and came here because of work. I was working in Hong Kong prior and the company asked me to move and I hated it - smelly, dirty, chaotic, noisy. This was pre-BTS, pre-Emporium, pre-most things. But within a month I loved it and you couldn't have paid me to go back to HK. The people sealed it for me; sounds like a cliche but it's true.

I was never in to the girly bar scene but I was in to the party scene and it was wild back then - anything goes. I was young, had money, and the life was beyond what anyone in England could imagine.

I also feel Bangkok had more character back then. Elephants on the streets, all night clubs, 24 hour everything, it was just mental for a young man.

Now, 30 years later I still love this city deeply. It is different, but it is still magnificent. And although less wild, for people coming here for the first time as a 21 year old today it is still amazing and crazy and different and vibrant and they love it as much as I did when I was their age. The grumps of this forum who hate Thailand hate it because of themselves and their situations. It is still a magical place.

So for me, the late 90s early 2000s were best. For people who came before no doubt the 80s were best. For people who came after I am sure the 2010s were best.

Thanks for your feedback. And, I know you did not mean anything untoward when you mentioned the elephants, but those were very sad times. They were put under incredibly stressful circumstances. As you said, all the heat, the noise, the chaos, and then for them the claustrophobia of the towering buildings and narrow sois, having to walk for hours on concrete streets rather than soft jungle ground. It was an abomination. I will not get into the details of why it went on for as long as it did, but it took a lot of political will to finally put an end to it and thankfully it came to pass. Anyway, I digress.

I am not sure I would really categorize it as a magical place though. I see it more as a very functional city, generally safe, much easier to get around now, and life here can be very convenient and fulfilling. There is no real general lack of anything you could possibly want. Everything is right within reach, except perhaps a few hundred thousand more trees. At the same time, the city has an extremely commercial feel. Very different from many European cities, for example, where life tends to revolve more around living itself rather than materialism and superficiality.

When I think of a magical city, I picture a place that was intentionally shaped around human enjoyment and beauty. A city with lots of civic space, a place that's much more breathable, where you don't spend so much time indoors, where you can enjoy being outdoors without having to leave the city. There are some like that. A few in Asia, quite a few in Europe and other parts of the world like Canada and Australia.

But it is all relative. It depends on what you are looking for. If you still find it magnificent and magical, that is great. Nothing wrong with that at all.

I lived in Bang Bon early in the turn of the century and really enjoyed how the BTS would get me around. What I miss the most were those impromptu sidewalk bars along Sukhumvit that set up just after sundown. I met many really nice folks there.

Late 90s for me.

2000s more things to do

All previous decades were heavenly. The current decade has become hell unfortunately and it seems to pursue the path.

Seemed more exotic in the mid eighties. More thai. But then I was a new traveller. Now it is all modern and convenient and I imagine easier to live in but if you are not thrilled by shopping then with the heat and pollution three days is enough.

I hang out in a Thai area. Gave Suk away.

3 hours ago, Fat is a type of crazy said:

Seemed more exotic in the mid eighties. More thai. But then I was a new traveller. Now it is all modern and convenient and I imagine easier to live in but if you are not thrilled by shopping then with the heat and pollution three days is enough.

I hang out at an outdoor market with great coffee and nice food. Street food is nice nearby.

9 hours ago, RSD1 said:

Thanks for your feedback. And, I know you did not mean anything untoward when you mentioned the elephants, but those were very sad times. They were put under incredibly stressful circumstances. As you said, all the heat, the noise, the chaos, and then for them the claustrophobia of the towering buildings and narrow sois, having to walk for hours on concrete streets rather than soft jungle ground. It was an abomination. I will not get into the details of why it went on for as long as it did, but it took a lot of political will to finally put an end to it and thankfully it came to pass. Anyway, I digress.

FWIW I agree totally. It was a sad sight and I was glad when they finally got rid of them for good (they disappeared once then came back). But it just added to the "what the f***" feeling when you first arrive.

The 1860s, according to Yul Brynner.

Keep it on topic, stop trolling other members. When I get tired of removing posts I'll consider removing members.
Stay on topic. Thank you.
@Harrisfan @BilllyGOAT @Terrance8812

Soi Cowboy was fun and novel. Every expat guy should go at least once in their lifetime. I was living there in the mid-2000s. I'd just walk, and walk, and walk. Enjoy the sights, the sounds, the sensuality of it all. It was fun. But then I was a much younger man. Now is the time to kick back and enjoy life in the rural Thai slow-lane of life.
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."
-Ecclesiastes

47 minutes ago, connda said:

Soi Cowboy was fun and novel. Every expat guy should go at least once in their lifetime. I was living there in the mid-2000s. I'd just walk, and walk, and walk. Enjoy the sights, the sounds, the sensuality of it all. It was fun. But then I was a much younger man. Now is the time to kick back and enjoy life in the rural Thai slow-lane of life.
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."
-Ecclesiastes

I went there last year. Was boring. Maybe have to be drunk to enjoy it.

6 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

I went there last year. Was boring. Maybe have to be drunk to enjoy it.

Bangkok is a place where you generally need a decent sum of money to have a good time. Nothing is free, and very little is inexpensive anymore in terms of dining or nightlife. If you try opening your wallet, you might enjoy it a bit more.

For me the early 2000s were the best!

3 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

I hang out in a Thai area. Gave Suk away.

But that's your prerogative, a word I just learnt recently actually

I love it , I love the parks such as lumpini

4 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

But that's your prerogative, a word I just learnt recently actually

I assume English is not your first language?

4 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

I love it , I love the parks such as lumpini

Railroad park is much bigger and even better. And recently they added another extension to it as well.

On 12/14/2025 at 6:45 PM, Hummin said:

 

This is pretty accurate for me, so try and see what you get. 

 

Based on my age, weight and activity leave suggest I 

need 2800 calories to maintain weight suggests a 

Moderately Active to Active lifestyle; your body requires significant energy beyond basic functions, possibly due to regular exercise or physically demanding work, aligning well with guidelines for active men in this age group. Using formulas, your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) is around 1800-1900 kcal, meaning your activity level multiplies this to reach 2800 kcal, confirming you burn a good amount of energy daily for your size and age

 

for reference I try to stay below 2800 and most days I eat only 2300 kalories at most. 

 

https://www.calculator.net/calorie-calculator.html

 

 

49 minutes ago, Terrance8812 said:

Railroad park is much bigger and even better. And recently they added another extension to it as well.

Oh I must check out this Railroad park

I only know Lumpini and the one near it...Benja

10 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

Oh I must check out this Railroad park

It's next to the Chatuchak weekend market. Lots of monitor lizards in there too.

First decade, almost, that I got here, 2001-2009, less tourist (<15M a year), and less traffic congestion. It was easy to get around, taxi, BTS just started, all the new malls for comfy AC food court seating, serving up clean good 'street food' plus.

defineatly the 1980,s

Every decade before was great. The point here would be that since the past say 5 years, prices in Bangkok or popular beach towns, for instance have highly increased. Not to mention many malls or international restaurants now are close to similar prices to higher, compared to western prices (not speaking for the ladies or the booze !!). In fact you find many sunny areas in Europe like Spain or Malta, Portugal, where you can get housing and cost of living that can be same to many upper end areas of Thailand...if not less.

The 90s until "Tom Yum Goong" crisis. Then it all went sideways.

Best time was when you were young. I arrived in the 90's and my pay doubled overnight during the 97 crisis. That I am still alive is astonishing.

On 2/13/2026 at 1:46 PM, connda said:

Soi Cowboy was fun and novel. Every expat guy should go at least once in their lifetime. I was living there in the mid-2000s. I'd just walk, and walk, and walk. Enjoy the sights, the sounds, the sensuality of it all. It was fun. But then I was a much younger man. Now is the time to kick back and enjoy life in the rural Thai slow-lane of life.
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."
-Ecclesiastes

I think early 90,s Patpong Pantip plaza and platinum was the place every tourist had to go to. Then Americanization started and took over. When I was here in97 There was no such thing as xl for ladies.

Thailand let the camel (westernization) in and it screwed everything up.

The late 1960s, 1970s, early 1980s. Never been as good since.

Late 80s and the nineties - hands down!