Comments on: Culture Shock in Bangkok

By: Nora Dunn

Nora Dunn — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 14:45:18 +0000

In reply to Bangyuck.

Hi Bangyuck,
On many fronts, I can’t disagree with you. My first trip to Bangkok (written about here) was also coloured with a good dose of culture shock, as my first time backpacking in Asia and my first port of call. Although cities in general don’t do much for me, I’m curious to go back to see how I feel about it a second time….but only for a day or two before I go to a much more beautiful part of Thailand (of which there are many)….

By: Bangyuck

Bangyuck — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 21:29:07 +0000

Bangkok is a humongous stain of filth. It’s at least 100 times uglier than LA. Actually, it’s like a Mad Max LA. LA after doom. Unsightly urban landscape. Millions and millions of desperate people driving desperately all over the place. Appalling pollution. Predominant smell: stale, rotting water. Avoid it at all costs.

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 17:52:13 +0000

@Backpacker – Interesting about Vietnam. I could be there in September, so thanks for the head’s up. I think a certain dose of “street sense” is always required, but yes, when culture/language/lifestyle is so different, it requires additional vigilance.

By: Backpacker in Hostel

Backpacker in Hostel — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 08:35:50 +0000

@Nora: Well, actually you CAN find this in Cambodia & Laos as well in some places, just not to this extend. I never had the feeling it’s just about my money in both countries, whereas in Thailand it was very obvious. I remember having a real bad fight with a taxi driver in Bangkok who overcharged me (asked for more than his meter showed and helt my arm for MINUTES to make me pay). Also I was left behind carrying my 20kg luggage when a Songteo driver refused me because I wanted to pay the same 10 Baht as the locals – he just drove off. Another random Thai waiting on the street tried to lure me into something near a palace (“Palace is closed”), and he literally freaked out when I told him off straight away. So bad… Just a few examples of my journey through Thailand, I certainly could give you more of these.

But watch out in Vietnam as well, it can be even worse. Especially Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC,Saigon) can be a real dangerous place. Don’t do anything silly there and NEVER EVER follow someone to his house or another place. You might end up losing THOUSANDS of Dollars after you lost a Gambeling session they lured you into (“Oh, you have so nice shoes/earrings/whatever” or “My sister is working as a nurse in a hospital in “). This DID happen to people I knew. Many stories I heard and my own experiences… I was just lucky and was very alert all the time. Don’t trust anyone in Saigon, especially overfriendly English speaking locals or Philipinos. Just my advice for Vietnam.

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 00:40:06 +0000

@Backpacker – I’m sorry you feel so strongly about Thailand as a whole. I didn’t end up feeling as negatively about the rest of Thailand as I did about Bangkok, although yes – I did see a discrepancy in prices and I did have to watch out for hungry tuk-tuk drivers.

But that’s just it: they’re hungry. Somehow this helps me justify a discrepancy in prices between locals and tourists; tourists have more money than any local would, and for most of us the asking price is still a pittance in the grander scheme of things.

Did you not find the same price discrepancies and hunger for your business in Cambodia and Laos?

By: Backpacker

Backpacker — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 22:04:10 +0000

WAKE UP EVERYONE PLEASE!!! Thai people are just after your *MONEY*!!! They are dishonest liars and everything is just fake! When will you guys ever realize this??? Don’t be so naive! Don’t let the friendly, smiling “KAAAA” face blind you, use your common sense. They just see you as their prey and a form of income. Been travelling this country from South to North for 7 weeks, they annoyed the hell out of me, especially the damn Tuk Tuk drivers. Every few meters the next one asking… refused them felt 20-50 times a day. So annoying!!! And their 2 different prices (Local/Tourist) for Entrance fees (Temples, Palast), Cable Car, even a Restaurant etc. with the Thai price HIDDEN (written in Thai language) and only Tourist prices readable to foreigners. So disgusting!! I like people from Cambodia and Laos the best. Their friendliness and kindness is REAL and not fake, they are very honest and nice people.
But Thailand – Never again !!!!!!!!!!!

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:46:52 +0000

@Dave – I had heard that Bangkok was a capital city to get out of asap before I arrived. I just didn’t really understand what they meant until I got there!
But like I said in your own post about Bangkok, I’d like to think that a few years (and travel stripes to my credit) later, I could “survive” Bangkok – and maybe even find the brighter side of the place.

@Jeanne – Hopefully you’ll get a chance to see some other part of Thailand than just Bangkok, because I must say I quite enjoyed the country once I was outside of the big smoke. But I doubt it would ever compare to Bhutan! 🙂

By: Jeanne @soultravelers3

Jeanne @soultravelers3 — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 06:59:36 +0000

I have heard these kind of stories over and over, so made me..especially with a child, not very interested in Bangkok. You haven’t even mentioned the sex trade which I find so sad there.

This winter we had to do a visa run into Thailand and that didn’t help impressions either as it was much nicer in Penang and even on the Malaysia side of the border.

That said, we did fine in Bangkok and stayed at a decent place for little money near the airport. I wanted to avoid the whole Khao San road backpacking nightmare stuff.

We were in Bangkok on the way to Bhutan..a country who was very smart after seeing how tourism can destroy places like Thailand and Nepal.

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 06:55:36 +0000

They certainly know a sucker when they see one. haha!
Bangkok is a little bit like Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea.
Beautiful country but best to get out of the capital city as soon as possible. In my experience, travel elsewhere in Thailand first and then explore Bangkok later. I think it comes down to pre holiday research. Yes Thai people may be charged half of what your charged for goods and services. If you require transport, know which type is best and what the cost is before hand. Try and find a Thai person to help negotiate deals if necessary.

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:17:22 +0000

@Joe – I guess the song “One Night in Bangkok Can Make a Hard Man Crumble” wasn’t too far off the mark! (smiles)
I hear ya….!