An elderly shop owner in Phuket is facing significant criticism after a video showing her making racist gestures towards a Chinese tourist went viral on the Douyin platform. The footage captures the shop owner engaging in a heated exchange with the tourist, where she is seen making offensive gestures including sticking her tongue out and mimicking single eyelids in an apparent attempt to mock the visitor. The incident has sparked outrage among social media users both in China and Thailand.

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The conflict reportedly began when the shop owner, dressed in a red dress, talked with an Indian couple outside her store when they asked about the tourist's nationality. Responding with a pig nose gesture, she identified the tourist as Chinese, which the tourist found inappropriate. Despite not intending to enter the shop, the tourist decided to record and share the incident after the situation escalated, with the shop owner allegedly saying, “Why can’t I do this. Chinese people are ugly!”

The video quickly gained traction across Chinese and Thai social media platforms and was also covered by local media. The shop, located in Phuket Old Town, is reportedly known for charging a 40 baht entry fee to tourists who do not make a purchase, leading to similar confrontations in the past. The video has prompted many Thai users to criticize the owner, with accusations that her discriminatory behavior has persisted for years without intervention from authorities.

This incident has raised concerns about its potential impact on tourism, particularly as visitor numbers from China have already been in decline. Commenters noted that other businesses in the area also impose entry fees, creating an environment of unease among tourists. Going forward, there may be increased scrutiny of how shop owners engage with foreign visitors, potentially leading to policy changes to protect tourists from discriminatory practices.

Key Takeaways

• Viral video shows Phuket shop owner making racist gestures at a Chinese tourist.

• Incident highlights ongoing issues with tourist discrimination in the area.

• Potential impact on tourism as concerns over foreign visitor treatment rise.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Thaiger · 16 Feb 2026

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“...The video has prompted many Thai users to criticize the owner, with accusations that her discriminatory behavior has persisted for years without intervention from authorities...”

It’s clear from this that Thai people themselves are speaking out strongly against the shop owner’s actions.

The matter is already being addressed within Thailand, both on social media and in local coverage.

Given that, there’s really no need for outsiders to pile on further criticism. The Thai public has the issue in hand, and their voices are the ones that will carry weight in shaping how authorities respond.

funny thing in thailand is that you're not supposed to take someone's picture or film them without their consent. Good on the chinese guy. Glad he is going against the "law".

Chinese isn't a race. So the gesture made by the Thai woman couldn't have been racist.

Such racist or extreme reactions occur, when people just are fed up. And obviously fed up they are here in Thailand with how the chinese can tend to behave unfortunately. Like many others of course.

Looking at the picture, I would guess that this lady probably has Chinese roots herself, if you go back a generation or 3. Phuket, and especially Phuket Town, has a large Sino-Thai community.

Racism is everywhere.

I wasted my time reading this one-sided entire story and nowhere did it actually say what upset the Thai women. She's probably sick and tired of loud rude Chinese tourists and finally lost her temper. So what?

Also sad to see Thailand adopt this idea of racism from white countries which are currently imploding over this very issue.

Red dress, pig-nosed gesture?

Stopped there.🙃🙃

Oh that's odd. No ragebaiting video?

15 hours ago, Jim Waldron said:

“...The video has prompted many Thai users to criticize the owner, with accusations that her discriminatory behavior has persisted for years without intervention from authorities...”

It’s clear from this that Thai people themselves are speaking out strongly against the shop owner’s actions.

The matter is already being addressed within Thailand, both on social media and in local coverage.

Given that, there’s really no need for outsiders to pile on further criticism. The Thai public has the issue in hand, and their voices are the ones that will carry weight in shaping how authorities respond.

Exactly right, sir! Outsiders are, well, outside and that's where they belong, talking amongst themselves about their own issues. This doesn't affect them and their thoughts about such things are generally meaningless and useless, and often reflect their own ignorance more than anything else.

My conclusion over many years, having come from racist America and knowing it when I see it, is that Thai people are among the least racist cultures in the world. That said, in the context of overall human nature, sure, this is going to happen, just as any behavior will statistically appear from time to time. I'm still quite happy with the status quo, this lady is maybe one out of thousands who happens to have a bad attitude.

4 minutes ago, Jonathan Swift said:

My conclusion over many years, having come from racist America and knowing it when I see it,

So.... you know a lot of Democrats ???

All about misunderstanding of viewers. Nothing to do with racism🤔 IMO she is just a lady with bad experiences.

Racist? ...annoying how people are easily throwing this word at any sauce

1 minute ago, rumeaug said:

Racist? ...annoying how people are easily throwing this word at any sauce

Well brown sauce is probably racist, but for me tomato sauce gets a free pass

2 hours ago, Jonathan Swift said:

My conclusion over many years, having come from racist America and knowing it when I see it, is that Thai people are among the least racist cultures in the world. That said, in the context of overall human nature, sure, this is going to happen, just as any behavior will statistically appear from time to time. I'm still quite happy with the status quo, this lady is maybe one out of thousands who happens to have a bad attitude.

That's because they haven't experienced outside cultures until very recently and it's happened fast too. The idea that racism is a prejudice is one of the biggest lies. It's in fact a POSTjudice which is learned from experience. Just like Thai people never much opinion of Israelis until they got to meet them face to face and NOW they're developing negative opinions based on lived experiences. It's all very natural and normal behavior.

Even so, I have absolutely heard so-called racist remarks from Thai people against Chinese, Burmese and Indians in particular so I'm not even sure what you're talking about in the first place.

The only Thais that I have seen being rude is in response to a very rude westerner.

4 minutes ago, Purdey said:

The only Thais that I have seen being rude is in response to a very rude westerner.

Never taken a taxi in Bangkok?

Anyway I cannot believe this story. Only white people are racist.

Greedy old b....

Thais are basically yellow skinned mongoloids.

It’s a joke they are racist towards the Chinese who are their own kind historically

C,mon, she's a bit dotty, turning away customers like that!

3 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

That's because they haven't experienced outside cultures until very recently and it's happened fast too. The idea that racism is a prejudice is one of the biggest lies. It's in fact a POSTjudice which is learned from experience. Just like Thai people never much opinion of Israelis until they got to meet them face to face and NOW they're developing negative opinions based on lived experiences. It's all very natural and normal behavior.

Even so, I have absolutely heard so-called racist remarks from Thai people against Chinese, Burmese and Indians in particular so I'm not even sure what you're talking about in the first place.

Hm, Cambodians, Lao and even dark-skinned Thais. And often White foreigners.