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

[Goonar]

I would rather see the authorities do something about the animal traders inside the market! The poor animals are diseased and kept in awful conditions , the last time I was there I saw a meercat and other exotic animals that should not be sold on a whim because people think their cute! The whole place needs to be licensed and policed properly! Where animals are concerned ! I love the market it's just a shame about the above!

[Trouble]

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.

Agree, the street vendors are and interesting part of being a tourist in Thailand. However in many areas now they are in front of shops and on both sides of the sidewalks making it impossible to move along the sidewalk. The vendors along Silom at night generally make it necessary to walk in the street. It is just that the sidewalk has become a place for any vendor to setup up shop (I suppose as long as someone is paid) no matter how it obstructs the flow of pedestrian traffic. Certainly some clean up is called for or next they will be in the streets.

[DeepInTheForest]

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.

very little corruption" -- very little visible corruption might be a better way of putting it.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?app=forums&module=post&section=post&do=reply_post&f=18&t=741878&qpid=8085259

[BKKdreaming]

these vendors are all over Bangkok , they are making a living , what will they do now ?

it might be a nice idea but why not regulate them some but save the jobs ,

easy for people with money to look down on these workers , and then go eat lunch and buy a shirt from them.....

There are 1000s of stalls , only a few sell porno etc , most sell food and clothes and trinkets , help them clean up their act , maybe have them all set up with same color stalls etc so it looks more organized ,

Education is the key , help them help themselves and make it look better

[johnlandy]

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.

So 'learned one' what's your answer.

Every city in the realm has the same problem. You visit one of these 'sidewalk obstacle' courses and you have seen the lot.

The only purpose that they serve is to give a semblance of 'employment' to people who would otherwise not have anything to do.

Has the penny not dropped as to the reasons that the realm has almost zero unemployment figures.

As for the tourists, do you really think that they go back home 'waxing lyrical' about these wonderful sidewalk minefields. I doubt it.

And compounding the problem in many areas is the presence of the 'whores' spaced every 5.0 metres offering their wares.

[chooka]

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

That was my 1st thought when I saw the pic.

[spidermike007]

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, but if that is true, the only reasonable explanation is that everything is being done right now, without any consideration for the tourist market. I believe the current leaders feel they are "above" commercial interests or considerations, and they are doing what they feel they need to do in order to right the ship, which admittedly has been listing for quite some time, and was close to sinking. You sort of have to admire the cajones that kind of thinking requires. Sort of.

[Crocks Rock]

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[jpeg]

<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!

Many Thai drivers, particularly motorcyclists, park on the pavements forcing people to walk in the roads where other Thai drivers are at liberty to run them down. Why don't they start there?

BTW They cleared all the street vendors from the lower part of Sathorn. Boring and soulless.

[Krataiboy]

I gather vendors usually have to pay somebody a clandestine fee to set up a stall anywhere other than markets and other allotted areas. So while many falangs will be pleased that the kerbs are being cleared, a lot of street sellers who face eviction are going to be upset - not to mention the the recipients of their "rent". Hardly a populist move, I would have thought, but further evidence that under the NCPO's watch, existing rules and regulations ignored for decades will be enforced - and everyone will just have to take the rough with the smooth.

[TheGhostWithin]

The area you are referring to is called a "sidewalk". Some cities keep these "zones" clear of all the hazards you mention. You should check one out some time. They are great.

And I find those same cities boring, uninteresting and sanitized nanny states. The clutter, street food and domestic free market attitude are what makes Thailand special for me in comparison to other places. I do not want to eat at food courts, or restaurants. I love "cart food", because it makes me feel free to eat what I want where I want. I appreciate your opinion and hope you can appreciate mine, as well as the huge numbers of tourists which I am sure have also appreciated the street stalls over the years. This is the time for organised market zones, but not the time to completely shut them down. This is not Paris, Sydney or Washington.

Edited July 12, 2014 by TheGhostWithin

[lovetotravel]

I gather vendors usually have to pay somebody a clandestine fee to set up a stall anywhere other than markets and other allotted areas. So while many falangs will be pleased that the kerbs are being cleared, a lot of street sellers who face eviction are going to be upset - not to mention the the recipients of their "rent". Hardly a populist move, I would have thought, but further evidence that under the NCPO's watch, existing rules and regulations ignored for decades will be enforced - and everyone will just have to take the rough with the smooth.

That somebody would be the police. The vendors knew what they were doing was illegal. Thus the payments to the police. The junta is trying to stop corruption first and foremost. The ones being hurt here the most are the police. Which is fantastic. The vendors will be hurt also. Hopefully, they'll find some areas off the main sidewalks for them to continue their business. Plenty of places for them to relocate.

Sidewalks are meant for pedestrians. Not sidewalk restaurants that don't wash dishes properly nor store food properly. Not for motorcycles. Not for selling knock off products.

Walking through this maze a few weeks ago, in another part of town, I didn't see one tourist eating at these places. Only Thais. But did see quite a few tourists trying to get through the maze, bumping into others, dodging the staff serving/clearing tables, etc. No fun. And all around these restaurants it was a mess. Including the side alleys that are used for trash bins and toilets.

The police are suppose to enforce the laws, not break them so they can make money.

[GAZZPA]

I lived in Paris for 25 years and saw the few 'free-lance' street vendors there gradually disappear, to be 'replaced' by various City Hall-controlled temporary events such as 'Christmas markets' or 'neigborhood junksales', which are usually fun and authentic the first 2 times and then taken over by bigger guys (disguised as smaller guys of course) who know how to use the existing laws to sell their Made in China crap.

I distinctly remember, on my first trip to Asia (Indonesia-1982), being totally astounded by the millions of street vendors there, and realizing that in our beautiful Euro capitals we had slowly but surely got rid of all that 'messy' stuff, always in the name of beauty of course, 'protecting the patrimony' (especially in Paris) and also health issues. How sincere was that, and what was the real agenda ?

Anyway, now it's done, our cities look impeccable... and sterilized.

It also raises a social issue : here people can start a business starting from almost nothing, such as a good recipe for 'noodle soup moo deng', a lot of courage, time, luck and good humor, but in Europe now it seems that most young people would rather work in some big corporation or civil service, because starting your own business is such a headache and an obstacle course that it's totally discouraging. I can't help but think about George Orwell and his 1984...

To all the Westerners living here and constantly advocating 'western-like' practices (especially here this forum), I ask : what brought you here ? are you sure that you can have your cake (or your papaya pok pok) and eat it ?

The lack of respect for regulations in Thailand sometimes drives me nuts too, I admit it of course, but at the same time, when I see how Thais resist (for example) the obligation of wearing a helmet on their motorbikes, no matter how often they get caught and have to pay the 200 fine, there's a part of me that has to laugh and say 'Hey, that's what I like about this country!!'

Good post, I posted a similar view earlier but you hit a good point about tolerance of Thai people resisting regulations. Perhaps you are right, the freedom that appears to exist here may be dependent on the local people ignoring rules and just getting on with it as they please. Never really thought of it like like and it's quite interesting to think of it in that way.

For the bleaching of the cities in the EU I do agree, 100%,, as I posted earlier the UK are trying to promote supporting local businesses to bring some of the trading back and to support the existing businesses.

The only problem I see is the big companies understand this so what do they do? They jump on the bandwagon again,, for example Macdonalds now publicize that they are buying their beef from the local farms around where they trade, KFC is doing the same with chickens. So, trying to masquerade as a "local" business that just happens to be a global franchise.. Sad thing is people fall for it..

I think the street traders in europe really are a thing of the past,, it will need to be something new that replaces that lost tradition,,, maybe independent shopping centers that are not full of the same shops as every other shopping centre in the world,, I mean how many Starbucks do we really need?

[Local Drunk]

I lived in Paris for 25 years and saw the few 'free-lance' street vendors there gradually disappear, to be 'replaced' by various City Hall-controlled temporary events such as 'Christmas markets' or 'neigborhood junksales', which are usually fun and authentic the first 2 times and then taken over by bigger guys (disguised as smaller guys of course) who know how to use the existing laws to sell their Made in China crap.

I distinctly remember, on my first trip to Asia (Indonesia-1982), being totally astounded by the millions of street vendors there, and realizing that in our beautiful Euro capitals we had slowly but surely got rid of all that 'messy' stuff, always in the name of beauty of course, 'protecting the patrimony' (especially in Paris) and also health issues. How sincere was that, and what was the real agenda ?

Anyway, now it's done, our cities look impeccable... and sterilized.

It also raises a social issue : here people can start a business starting from almost nothing, such as a good recipe for 'noodle soup moo deng', a lot of courage, time, luck and good humor, but in Europe now it seems that most young people would rather work in some big corporation or civil service, because starting your own business is such a headache and an obstacle course that it's totally discouraging. I can't help but think about George Orwell and his 1984...

To all the Westerners living here and constantly advocating 'western-like' practices (especially here this forum), I ask : what brought you here ? are you sure that you can have your cake (or your papaya pok pok) and eat it ?

The lack of respect for regulations in Thailand sometimes drives me nuts too, I admit it of course, but at the same time, when I see how Thais resist (for example) the obligation of wearing a helmet on their motorbikes, no matter how often they get caught and have to pay the 200 fine, there's a part of me that has to laugh and say 'Hey, that's what I like about this country!!'

Good post, I posted a similar view earlier but you hit a good point about tolerance of Thai people resisting regulations. Perhaps you are right, the freedom that appears to exist here may be dependent on the local people ignoring rules and just getting on with it as they please. Never really thought of it like like and it's quite interesting to think of it in that way.

For the bleaching of the cities in the EU I do agree, 100%,, as I posted earlier the UK are trying to promote supporting local businesses to bring some of the trading back and to support the existing businesses.

The only problem I see is the big companies understand this so what do they do? They jump on the bandwagon again,, for example Macdonalds now publicize that they are buying their beef from the local farms around where they trade, KFC is doing the same with chickens. So, trying to masquerade as a "local" business that just happens to be a global franchise.. Sad thing is people fall for it..

I think the street traders in europe really are a thing of the past,, it will need to be something new that replaces that lost tradition,,, maybe independent shopping centers that are not full of the same shops as every other shopping centre in the world,, I mean how many Starbucks do we really need?

"maybe independent shopping centers that are not full of the same shops as every other shopping centre in the world,, I mean how many Starbucks do we really need?"

You got that right! Tesco Lotus is the first example that comes to mind.

[tomyummer]

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!

I just wish all sidewalks in Bangkok were double in depth to have vendors but also safe sidewalks. Where I am there are no sidewalks at all. Even worse.

[ChokDeeMak]

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.

This is a perfect example of congested sidewalks and pavements. JJ and Silom are just as bad, People just think that every empty space is a place to be claimed. I have heard people talking about this is my spot and what not. Maybe if people had to buy permits to place their towel on the ground and sell fake meat and cheap sandals. That is what Markets are for not the sidewalks. Not to mention selling the exact stuff the person next to you is selling wont help you make a living.

[techboy]

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.

Well it is. The thing is, it is also 3 or 4 times more expensive.

You gotta be kidding? Yeah they got a decent strip with clubs but not a chance when it comes to intrigue, variety and excitement. BKK is da' town!!!

[Friendly Stranger]

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

I think it's at the point of walking sideways through odd soi section. Ppl give the dirtiest looks to those that stop at the vendors.

[Snig27]

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

Do you really want Bangkok to be like Singapore?

er yes it's clean, safe and has very little corruption.

It's also almost universally regarded as one of the most boring places on earth.

Edit: it also has its own version of corruption. Have a hunt around the net for stories of the taxi licenses and exactly who controls them.

Edited July 14, 2014 by Snig27

[lovetotravel]

Depends on what you are looking for. The wife and I really enjoyed our stay there. Never bored.

There's corruption in the taxi business in every major city in the world. Bar none. Unfortunately.