Street vendors at Bangkok's Chatuchak and Ratchadamnoen areas to be moved out

[webfact]

Street vendors at Chatuchak and Ratchadamnoen areas to be moved out

BANGKOK, 11 July 2014 (NNT) - Bangkok authorities are set to clampdown on street vendors in front of Chatuchak Market and those along Ratchadamnoen Road after informing them they will not be allowed to occupy their existing space by July 31st.

Chief advisor to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Wallop Suwandi said that under the move, all vendors would be prohibited to set up their stands on pavements in front of the Government House to the front of Wat Phra Kaeo, or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. The measure will enable pedestrians to move around easier and reduce traffic congestion within the area.

Nonetheless, the BMA has designated two substitute locations for the vendors, one of which is in front of the Bon Marche Market, also in Chatuchak District. The other space is in front of the Ratburana District Office.

The vendors may at the initial stage, relocate their stands to Kamphaengphet Road just behind the police station or other footpath areas in order to prevent them from obstructing the traffic and crowding the sidewalks leading to a nearby BTS station.

The move is part of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)’s policy to regulate public transportation services and street vendors across Thailand.


-- NNT 2014-07-11

[UbonRatch]

There's going to be one well pissed off police officer around there!

[craigt3365]

Hopefully, they'll start clearing out all the vendors on lower Suk. What a mess...

[Local Drunk]

Hopefully, they'll start clearing out all the vendors on lower Suk. What a mess...

In Silom, Siam and JJs as well!

[Snig27]

The street vendors are something that many tourists seem to love. On one hand the nation is pleading, rather unsuccessfully to date, with tourists to come back, and on the other they're removing the sorts of things that make Bangkok so attractive to a large percentage of those that do come here.

[selftaopath]

Is this area and or Bangkok the starting point or end point of such "promised" enforcement?

Areas of Khon Kaen are as bad or worse than these targeted areas.

[jacky54]

Police don't look very happy do they- loss of income and some work to do as well.

[jacky54]

The street vendors are something that many tourists seem to love. On one hand the nation is pleading, rather unsuccessfully to date, with tourists to come back, and on the other they're removing the sorts of things that make Bangkok so attractive to a large percentage of those that do come here.

Tourist don't really come here for crappy market stalls, and even so there will still be plenty left

[dddave]

The street vendors are something that many tourists seem to love. On one hand the nation is pleading, rather unsuccessfully to date, with tourists to come back, and on the other they're removing the sorts of things that make Bangkok so attractive to a large percentage of those that do come here.

I agree...street vendors are a part of the culture and a definite attraction here..not just in tourist areas, but everywhere in Thailand and provide a huge number of people with a way to make a living.

Chinatown has been a maze of crowded sidewalks since long before Bangkok became a tourist destination.

It would not be a bad thing to enforce existing laws regarding placement and encroachment on sidewalks. Between their tables, stools and storage boxes, there is often less than a single lane for pedestrians to pass.

About 6 or 7 years ago,an attempt was made to delineate table areas along lower Sukhumvit; lines were drawn and spaces allocated. Unfortunately, enforcement was non-existent and it soon returned to the chaos it is today.

The problem of course is that the law enforcers are part of the problem: some added discipline in the police ranks has to be part of the solution.

Do you really want Bangkok to be like Singapore? Yes; clean and easy to navigate sidewalks but also sterile and boring. I hope a happy medium can be found.

Balance will be hard to achieve and even harder to maintain but I hope an effort is made to preserve what make Bangkok such a unique and interesting city.

[jacky54]

Do you really want Bangkok to be like Singapore?

er yes it's clean, safe and has very little corruption. I don't find the blocking of pavements with sometimes dangerous stalls (food cookers) at all attractive. large amounts of the crap on sale is illegal copies which does Thailand reputation no good at all. Get rid of all the stalls selling fakes and the problem of too many sellers would probably to solved. If tourists are that interested there are plenty of markets off the road.

Edited July 11, 2014 by jacky54

[Sunderland]

At least there is more pavement to walk along on Ratchadamnoen. On Phaholyothin near Major Ratchayothin it is a struggle to walk through the mass of vendors at night who have piles of the same crap all over the pavement. Takes patience not to stand on it or kick some of it into the road.

[chaiyapoon]

No danger in our life time of Bangkok ever being like Singapore.

[Alwyn]

The street vendors are something that many tourists seem to love. On one hand the nation is pleading, rather unsuccessfully to date, with tourists to come back, and on the other they're removing the sorts of things that make Bangkok so attractive to a large percentage of those that do come here.

Tourist don't really come here for crappy market stalls, and even so there will still be plenty left

Actually, a lot do come for the crap stalls and knock of crap.

[Alwyn]

Street food and the knock off stalls are a bit of an attraction for a lot of tourists. I remember one person berating me when she had told me she "loved street food" and asked me where was best. I told her I never go to the botulism barrows and she had a right old go at me! Thais seem to rather emjoy the cheap food of the street vendors too. I wonder what they will do for lunch on a budget now?

On another note; Complain as people do there is another thing to think about. The street vendors selling their foods etc; This is their livelihood. Their is no dole money or jobseekers allowance here. These people buy their little barrows, buy their stock and go to work. Is the Junta going to help them with some kind of education plan? Maybe "new start" grant so they can open a real shop or restaurant? Nope, they'll be happy for these people to starve. Mind you, they can always join in the fun and look in vain at the other street vendors at the Thailand happiness street festival.2 nurses and 3 police murdered by insurgents in the south and street vendors take priority. Nice.

[csroland]

The street vendors are something that many tourists seem to love. On one hand the nation is pleading, rather unsuccessfully to date, with tourists to come back, and on the other they're removing the sorts of things that make Bangkok so attractive to a large percentage of those that do come here.

I agree...street vendors are a part of the culture and a definite attraction here..not just in tourist areas, but everywhere in Thailand and provide a huge number of people with a way to make a living.

Chinatown has been a maze of crowded sidewalks since long before Bangkok became a tourist destination.

It would not be a bad thing to enforce existing laws regarding placement and encroachment on sidewalks. Between their tables, stools and storage boxes, there is often less than a single lane for pedestrians to pass.

About 6 or 7 years ago,an attempt was made to delineate table areas along lower Sukhumvit; lines were drawn and spaces allocated. Unfortunately, enforcement was non-existent and it soon returned to the chaos it is today.

The problem of course is that the law enforcers are part of the problem: some added discipline in the police ranks has to be part of the solution.

Do you really want Bangkok to be like Singapore? Yes; clean and easy to navigate sidewalks but also sterile and boring. I hope a happy medium can be found.

Balance will be hard to achieve and even harder to maintain but I hope an effort is made to preserve what make Bangkok such a unique and interesting city.

agree, the first I loved in Bangkok is the "mess" which is not as bad as it sounds. besides, if you compare it to Manila, Bangkok is a lot better organized. I do not want Bangkok to become Singapore...cities like that are "industrialized" but boring for the money the average person earns.

[belg]

oh no, police will have to do actually work, instead of collecting extras from drivers

[TheGhostWithin]

Do you really want Bangkok to be like Singapore?

er yes it's clean, safe and has very little corruption. I don't find the blocking of pavements with sometimes dangerous stalls (food cookers) at all attractive. large amounts of the crap on sale is illegal copies which does Thailand reputation no good at all. Get rid of all the stalls selling fakes and the problem of too many sellers would probably to solved. If tourists are that interested there are plenty of markets off the road.

And it is 3x the price in almost every aspect, difficult to have good fun on a night out due to heavy rules and penalties, and you never get a smile until you pay.

I love Thailand, because I can be Thai, or I can be that stupid Farang, and as long as I am friendly, and kind and approachable I will always get a smile even if I am not paying for a Taxi ride, hand bag for my lady, or a pair of shoes. And yes, even from those Suk street vendors. For those of you about to criticize me for saying I can be Thai, if you really understand the culture you understand that it is the soul and not the skin color which allows you to become a part tuk tee, tuk khon, tuk waan (everywhere, everyone, every time).

The system needs to be better regulated, with small payments given in exchange for permits to occupy, and that money used to maintain the pavement and Police the tourist areas of beggars, pickpockets, ladyboys and fake Police officers/Security staff.

There is an avenue for improvement, but keeping the integrity of that special side of the Kingdom is much more important to me and according to other posters them also.

Edited July 11, 2014 by TheGhostWithin

[Lancelot]

Hopefully, they'll start clearing out all the vendors on lower Suk. What a mess...

+1 On Lower Sukumvit I usually walked on the street to avoid the single file side walk "gauntlet."

During the day the vendors sell tacky trinkets, ED drugs. mace and brass knuckles. At night the Nigerian drug dealers infest the area, also cluttered with after hour beer bars.

Decent Thais must surely shutter during early morning commutes to work as they observe drunken tourists/expats brawling with ladyboys...

[technologybytes]

Its at least good that the vendors are being given an alternative pitch.

I like street vendors, its part of making Thailand what it is.. but in some places they can be obstructive.

[GAZZPA]

Bangkok and Thailand should not be in too much of a rush to abandon these street vendors. Ok they are saying this is part of traffic control but if you take away the hot spots where they make money its as good as shutting them down.

I remember in London when I was a boy there were many stalls and markets, I particularly remember Wembley market, there were hundred of stalls, selling all kinds of stuff,, it also used to be a great place to buy leather jackets. Now sadly all gone, street vendors and these entrepreneurial families are now a thing of the past. Instead they have been replaced by the big retailers selling everything nowadays and because they have so much monopoly there is little room for small business people to survive,,

I also remember Hertford market, a market that thrived for hundreds of years, now gone (near enough). There is now a farmers market twice a month which is an effort to bring back local people buying local produce but for sure its not what it once was.

Add to this the huge rise in internet shopping and its easy to see why many UK high streets that were once buzzing are now decimated.

Thailand at present has thousands of independent stores, market stalls, food sellers etc,, I think they should preserve them and give families the ability to trade for themselves. It is only now that the UK realize the effect of removing these people that they now campaign to support local businesses and bring them back.

No need for Thailand to go down that road. Tesco and Big C are already here, as is 7 Eleven and Family Mart..

[Lancelot]

I love Thailand, because I can be Thai, or I can be that stupid Farang, and as long as I am friendly, and kind and approachable I

Have you looked in a mirror lately?

Only people with Thai blood are Thai. That leaves out 99.999% of visitors/expats here.

[TheGhostWithin]

Hopefully, they'll start clearing out all the vendors on lower Suk. What a mess...

+1 On Lower Sukumvit I usually walked on the street to avoid the single file side walk "gauntlet."

During the day the vendors sell tacky trinkets, ED drugs. mace and brass knuckles. At night the Nigerian drug dealers infest the area, also cluttered with after hour beer bars.

Decent Thais must surely shutter during early morning commutes to work as they observe drunken tourists/expats brawling with ladyboys...

Lancelot agree with you on this one - I also normally always walk on the road also - but I know the stalls are there when I spill dinner on my shirt, need shorts to wear when I swim, or have a craving for som tam (yes, it is something special to me and great for my body).

I would really love to see them put a "stall free" zone behind the stalls on the road (fenced off if necessary from traffic) where people can walk free of pickpockets, beggars and be able to flag down taxis after an blast of a night out. It is about compromise, don't you think?

[spermwhale]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

The street vendors are something that many tourists seem to love. On one hand the nation is pleading, rather unsuccessfully to date, with tourists to come back, and on the other they're removing the sorts of things that make Bangkok so attractive to a large percentage of those that do come here.

Yes they are a novelty, but a dangerous one at that. They force people to walk on the street since there's no room on the sidewalk and since Thai drivers have no regard for pedestrians you put your life at risk everytime you're forced to walk on the street. It's about time!

[TheGhostWithin]

Have you looked in a mirror lately?

Only people with Thai blood are Thai. That leaves out 99.999% of visitors/expats here.

We are entitled to our opinions, and most would share yours. I have mine and it has served me well. Try mine some time, smile, share kindness, compassion and happiness with those that show it to you and see if it makes your day better and if you can find a sense of belonging. I live part of my year in the south of Thailand in one of the three southern provinces, probably the last place you would expect to feel part of anything.

I have learnt some Yawi and speak Thai reasonably well as a sign of respect that it is my duty to fit in here, not the duty of Thai people to fit in with me. I am not a great fan of what my home country (New Zealand) is turning into anyhow. Thailand suits my needs and wants much better

Edited July 11, 2014 by TheGhostWithin

[Lancelot]

I love Thailand, because I can be Thai, or I can be that stupid Farang, and as long as I am friendly, and kind and approachable I

Have you looked in a mirror lately?

Only people with Thai blood are Thai. That leaves out 99.999% of visitors/expats here.

We are entitled to our opinions, and most would share yours. I have mine and it has served me well. Try mine some time, smile, share kindness, compassion and happiness with those that show it to you and see if it makes your day better and if you can find a sense of belonging.

Fair enough. If we ever meet I'll buy (the first) beer

Yes, its their country and I make it my business to get along and to observe local customs.

But at the end of the day, I know I'm only tolerated, never fully accepted.

[wilcopops]

Areas of strong redshirt support?

[Jimmu]

Get rid of all of them! Pavements/sidewalks should be for pedestrians! Crap food mostly, dirty, noisy and sometimes downright dangerous. Singapore Boring, don't be ridiculous!

Edited July 11, 2014 by Jimmu

[gchurch259]

There is a need for some of the vendors, but no blocking the sidewalks and leaving their oil,dirty crap on the sidewalks. I believe they should be set-up in the empty lots and creata bazzars or night markets for them.

Next get the beggars and motorcycles off the sidewalks.

[Lancelot]

Hopefully, they'll start clearing out all the vendors on lower Suk. What a mess...

+1 On Lower Sukumvit I usually walked on the street to avoid the single file side walk "gauntlet."

During the day the vendors sell tacky trinkets, ED drugs. mace and brass knuckles. At night the Nigerian drug dealers infest the area, also cluttered with after hour beer bars.

Decent Thais must surely shutter during early morning commutes to work as they observe drunken tourists/expats brawling with ladyboys...

Lancelot agree with you on this one - I also normally always walk on the road also - but I know the stalls are there when I spill dinner on my shirt, need shorts to wear when I swim, or have a craving for som tam (yes, it is something special to me and great for my body).

I would really love to see them put a "stall free" zone behind the stalls on the road (fenced off if necessary from traffic) where people can walk free of pickpockets, beggars and be able to flag down taxis after an blast of a night out. It is about compromise, don't you think?

I admire the street vendors for trying to make a living. I only wish they would respect my wish to walk unimpeded on the side walk.

In Thailand, I see that consideration for others is often lacking. But yeah, its their country and as long as I'm here I must abide by their rules.

Just sayin

[oztaurus]

The street vendors are something that many tourists seem to love. On one hand the nation is pleading, rather unsuccessfully to date, with tourists to come back, and on the other they're removing the sorts of things that make Bangkok so attractive to a large percentage of those that do come here.

I agree...street vendors are a part of the culture and a definite attraction here..not just in tourist areas, but everywhere in Thailand and provide a huge number of people with a way to make a living.

Chinatown has been a maze of crowded sidewalks since long before Bangkok became a tourist destination.

About 6 or 7 years ago,an attempt was made to delineate table areas along lower Sukhumvit; lines were drawn and spaces allocated. Unfortunately, enforcement was non-existent and it soon returned to the chaos it is today.

Do you really want Bangkok to be like Singapore? Yes; clean and easy to navigate sidewalks but also sterile and boring. I hope a happy medium can be found.

Around that same time when Bangkok was trying to project the image that it was just as clean and efficient as Singapore, that island city was running a campaign promoting its nightlife and convince tourists that it was just as interesting and fun as Bangkok.