Street vendors in Bangkok say long hours and falling returns are straining livelihoods, as tighter city regulations and a weak economy reshape life on the pavement. Interviews published on 28 February 2026 highlight reduced sales, relocation pressures and rising costs affecting small traders across the capital. Many report that profits have not recovered since the Covid-19 pandemic and remain unpredictable.

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For decades, vendors have supplied affordable food to office workers, labourers and tourists, forming a recognised part of Bangkok’s street culture. However, under a Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) programme begun in 2017 to clear pedestrian walkways and enforce sanitary rules, more than 250 vending zones along routes such as Silom, Sarasin and Witthayu roads have been removed. Authorities have promoted Singapore-model hawker centres as alternatives.

Sivarod, 42, second-generation owner of Hia Hui Soy Milk in Khlong Toey, said his shop was moved about 450 metres from Ratchadaphisek Road to an inner market area with less than a month’s notice. “Authorities didn’t give us enough time to inform our customers about the relocation. They just did it right away,” he said. He added that sales were stronger during a recent government co-payment stimulus scheme but have since declined.

Koi, 53, from Ubon Ratchathani, who sells Isaan sausages in the Luk Luang area of Dusit district, said rising goods prices and steady profits have reduced earnings. She recalled that New Year and Songkran once brought strong tourist sales, but “now it depends on luck”. She also alleged that illegal foreign workers take over market spaces and that officials sometimes accept money before ceasing inspections.

On Yaowarat Road, Anne, 59, who has sold mango sticky rice with her husband for more than 20 years, said profits have been unstable since Covid. “Before Covid, we could predict daily profits, but they have declined and have never been stable since then,” she said. She linked economic conditions to politics and corruption, saying she believed the economy would be better without such problems.

A 71-year-old vendor selling Thang Thong on Lan Luang Road said daily profits have fallen from 800–1,000 baht in the past to 200–300 baht now. She said she was too old to change jobs and would continue selling as long as she could.

Street vendors are among more than 20 million informal workers in Thailand. While they can enrol in Social Security under Section 40, benefits remain limited compared with the formal system. The Federation of Street Vendors in Bangkok and the Federation of Informal Workers (Thailand) are calling for recognition of street vending as a legitimate occupation, fair selling spaces and stronger occupational security.

The Bangkokpost reported that how authorities respond to these calls, and whether economic conditions improve in 2026, will shape the outlook for vendors seeking stability in the capital.

Pictures courtesy of Bangkok Post

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Bangkokpost 1 Mar 2026

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Regulation doesn’t usually benefit small business. This comes with the modernization that Thailand pushed for. Mom and pop stores and businesses get pushed out as bigger companies take over.

In time most of these business will be gone replaced by faceless corporations.

40 minutes ago, blaze master said:

Regulation doesn’t usually benefit small business. This comes with the modernization that Thailand pushed for. Mom and pop stores and businesses get pushed out as bigger companies take over.

In time most of these business will be gone replaced by faceless corporations.

What you've described is done at the behest of big business as a way to create monopolies by erecting barriers to entry for most competitors. Economy of scale (big business) doesn't mitigate their high overhead and requirement to pay shareholders, so they buy politicians and shut the competition down.

Street vendors block pavements and even can obstruct traffic.. Many Thais stop on their motorcycle in front of the shop to order and take it home.On the pavement we all know that chairs and tables are always making walking on the pavement difficult or impossible. Even parking spaces are being blocked by these vendors. That for decades nothing has been done, doesn't mean it was okay, it was tolerated. Now they complain that they have to move to an area that clears the pavements and maybe is difficult to reach by motorcycle, but the traffic has changed and more security is needed for pedestrians

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

Street vendors block pavements and even can obstruct traffic.. Many Thais stop on their motorcycle in front of the shop to order and take it home.On the pavement we all know that chairs and tables are always making walking on the pavement difficult or impossible. Even parking spaces are being blocked by these vendors. That for decades nothing has been done, doesn't mean it was okay, it was tolerated. Now they complain that they have to move to an area that clears the pavements and maybe is difficult to reach by motorcycle, but the traffic has changed and more security is needed for pedestrians

Sounds like you should be packing your bags and moving to Singapore......To live in a sterile, lifeless hell hole...

2 hours ago, redwood1 said:

Sounds like you should be packing your bags and moving to Singapore......To live in a sterile, lifeless hell hole...

Your comment shows your way of thinking... we don't live in 60's of last century anymore..as you can't see the amount of people on the pavement and the stalls that are blocking it, you are blind...It wen out of control by lack of enforcement of rules and regulations and common sense... but that is Thailand, they can't see except what is important or normal

Anybody who doesn't have compassion for street vendors and delivery riders has no heart.

They do jobs none of us could. Up at 3am to prepare the day's food, on the pavement by 6am, commuter rush finished y 9am, getting hot now. Small trade till evening rush hour...until all the food is gone.

They stand on the busy, filthy streets, screaming noise, breathing in air pollution. The drivers do the same, roasting slowly inside long-sleeved jackets & pants, brains cooking like a soft-boiled egg inside a heavy helmet.

Be grateful they're there. And give them B20 every time they come. They deserve your kindness.

On 3/1/2026 at 6:32 AM, ikke1959 said:

Street vendors block pavements and even can obstruct traffic.. Many Thais stop on their motorcycle in front of the shop to order and take it home.On the pavement we all know that chairs and tables are always making walking on the pavement difficult or impossible. Even parking spaces are being blocked by these vendors. That for decades nothing has been done, doesn't mean it was okay, it was tolerated. Now they complain that they have to move to an area that clears the pavements and maybe is difficult to reach by motorcycle, but the traffic has changed and more security is needed for pedestrians

You make some valid points but the effect on some vendors in Pra Nakorn, Banglamphu and the Thewet areas has been devastating.

We returned in November after 6 months away and the (negative) effects I.e. . reduced number of vendors, was immediately apparent. Having spoken to a few locals, it is clear that not all vendors have been offered relocation, and many (most?) of those that have cannot afford the increased rent.

This initiative has been poorly implemented and it is pushing even more people into poverty. I would also suggest that 'street life' is an integral part of Bangkok's culture and the city will be poorer for the loss of it.

As an aside, pedestrian security would be greatly enhanced if groups of (mainly) tourists gave some thought to their fellow pavement users, didn't block the way and learnt to queue in a line rather than swarm.

18 minutes ago, RayC said:

You make some valid points but the effect on some vendors in Pra Nakorn, Banglamphu and the Thewet areas has been devastating.

We returned in November after 6 months away and the (negative) effects I.e. . reduced number of vendors, was immediately apparent. Having spoken to a few locals, it is clear that not all vendors have been offered relocation, and many (most?) of those that have cannot afford the increased rent.

This initiative has been poorly implemented and it is pushing even more people into poverty. I would also suggest that 'street life' is an integral part of Bangkok's culture and the city will be poorer for the loss of it.

As an aside, pedestrian security would be greatly enhanced if groups of (mainly) tourists gave some thought to their fellow pavement users, didn't block the way and learnt to queue in a line rather than swarm.

18 minutes ago, RayC said:

As an aside, pedestrian security would be greatly enhanced if groups of (mainly) tourists gave some thought to their fellow pavement users, didn't block the way and learnt to queue in a line rather than swarm.

I agree but blocking is also a part of the Thai culture.. In big C markets everywhere people like to stand in the middle of the way with or without the shopping chart and blocking everything. It is not a problem of Bangkok only.. In my province there is at the hospital also a long row of people on the pavements with their shops. It is impossible to park you car in front of them and the pavement is fully occupied with tables and chairs and blocked on the street with motorcycles... Common sense is not available in Thailand, There is no thought that pavements are no shopping areas but that it must be used for the safety of the pedestrians. The always lack of enforcement of the laws, has made it out of control. People can say there is more poverty because of this, but safety of people is counting too...

Something totally different.. I heard that people complained about a fine of 2000 THB for not wearing a helmet,, The poor could not afford it, was the reason. I told them if they buy and wear a helmet thy don't need to pay anything. It is seems that the poor are above every law, and that is what should change...Same now with the selling on the pavements.. The poor will earn less.. Indeed sadly for them, but the law is for everybody. It is not 1960 anymore.. Many more people, a lot more traffic, nowadays , makes it necessary to change regulations

25 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

It is not 1960 anymore.. Many more people, a lot more traffic, nowadays , makes it necessary to change regulations

I look at "Bangkok in the 60s" videos and it looks much more livable and fun. I don't understand why we can't go back to that time.

Why not have a second Bangkok? I don't get why we have all these too-crowded cities.

7 minutes ago, davb said:

I look at "Bangkok in the 60s" videos and it looks much more livable and fun. I don't understand why we can't go back to that time.

Why not have a second Bangkok? I don't get why we have all these too-crowded cities.

Perhaps because there were 2.3 million people living in Bangkok as opposed to the 10,000,000 now. Sorry that is hard for you to figure out.

2 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

I agree but blocking is also a part of the Thai culture.. In big C markets everywhere people like to stand in the middle of the way with or without the shopping chart and blocking everything. It is not a problem of Bangkok only.. In my province there is at the hospital also a long row of people on the pavements with their shops. It is impossible to park you car in front of them and the pavement is fully occupied with tables and chairs and blocked on the street with motorcycles... Common sense is not available in Thailand, There is no thought that pavements are no shopping areas but that it must be used for the safety of the pedestrians. The always lack of enforcement of the laws, has made it out of control. People can say there is more poverty because of this, but safety of people is counting too...

Something totally different.. I heard that people complained about a fine of 2000 THB for not wearing a helmet,, The poor could not afford it, was the reason. I told them if they buy and wear a helmet thy don't need to pay anything. It is seems that the poor are above every law, and that is what should change...Same now with the selling on the pavements.. The poor will earn less.. Indeed sadly for them, but the law is for everybody. It is not 1960 anymore.. Many more people, a lot more traffic, nowadays , makes it necessary to change regulations

Common sense seems to be in short supply (period).

I am all in favour of increased pedestrian safety and understand and (broadly) support enforcing regulations governing it. However, 'common sense' - that phrase again - should have prevailed when implementing this increased enforcement.

An example: A father and son duo had been selling food in the evening on Phra Athit Road for as long as I can remember. They placed 5 tables on the pavement curb side. It reduced pavement walking space from 1.5 'lanes' to 1 (there is a lamp post and other obstacles to negotiate). No one was forced to walk dangerously i.e. in the road due to their presence but the duo were 'closed down'. The result is that it is now marginal quicker to negotiate that stretch of pavement but pedestrian safety has not been greatly enhanced. The father and son couldn't find anywhere else in the area to set up and the main effect of this enforcement of regulation is that two people have lost their income. I could point to many other similar examples.

Incidentally, slightly further down the road from this stretch of pavement is a small shop which apparently appeared in a South Korean soap opera. It is a magnet for those who must have an Instagram moment. There is zero 'crowd control'. Here the pedestrian has three choices: 1) wait patiently for a member of the Instagram crowd to wave you through (likely outcome: death due to starvation or dehydration) 2) push through the throng (likely outcome: confrontation) 3) walk in the road with its' obvious dangers. This situation is much more dangerous than that the presence of a low-key Dad and Son food stall. Rant over.

1 hour ago, davb said:

I look at "Bangkok in the 60s" videos and it looks much more livable and fun. I don't understand why we can't go back to that time.

Why not have a second Bangkok? I don't get why we have all these too-crowded cities.

I

ndee

1 hour ago, davb said:

I look at "Bangkok in the 60s" videos and it looks much more livable and fun. I don't understand why we can't go back to that time.

Why not have a second Bangkok? I don't get why we have all these too-crowded cities.

indeed. The overcrowded city needs other regulations. 3million is easiet to handle than 10 million.