Is Bangkok dangerous for women visitors?
Bangkok, aka, Krung Thep, meaning The city of angels, is one of the most visited places in Southeast Asia and one of the main stops when travelling Thailand.
Just like the rest of Thailand, Bangkok is known for being “The land of smiles” and that’s the main reason why travellers all around the world go there to relax, visit and enjoy the cheaper prices that this paradise country offers.
Bangkok has this “don’t worry”, “mai pen rai”, attitude towards life and definitely it is needed in such a city where the massive traffic, busy day to day and high population, experience.
Thanks to the media sensationalism, Bangkok has grown a dodgy reputation over the years mixed with the fear of the unknown that most travellers feel when thinking of going to this incredible city.
Most fo the times people think of Bangkok as the land of drug trafficking, prostitutes and all sorts of gang activities.
Whilst the aforementioned are true, those events towards visitors are rare and not the norm. Bangkok is an awesome city, in fact one of my favourites and first ones I travelled to as a solo female, when I first quitted my job about 10 years ago.
Thailand in general and Bangkok in particular is quite solo female traveller friendly. There is absolutely no doubt that there are dangers and warnings that women should know about before and during their solo trip around Bangkok, it is generally safe to explore and relax.
Unfortunately, it is a fact that, travelling as a solo female entails more safety warnings than going on a trip with a travel companion. As women, we are on the spot for rape, sexual harassment, unwanted male (mainly) attention, as well as, being an easy prey for scams, physical violence and robbery.
Whilst there are a few safety warnings that solo female travellers should be aware of how to minimise risks, I must say that “bad luck” (meaning being at the wrong time, in the wrong place, coming across with the wrong people) is unfortunately a part of these assaults, as violence and sexual violence towards women, is a real epidemic and ready problem, not only, in Bangkok, but everywhere else.
Violent crimes against foreign women are rare, though, sexual harassment, sexual remarks and petty theft are not unusual, in Bangkok. There are also some cultural aspects of conservative tone towards females, especially, foreign women.
Although we will go through in details later in this article, it should be quickly mentioned that as a tourist in a foreign country, you should dress according to their laws and codes and avoiding the ones that violate those laws, such as, beer label tank-tops, bathing suits that barely cover the body, see-through clothes, very short skirts or dresses and so on.
This becomes particularly serious around the religious temples and areas where you can actually end up in jail and with a big fine in your hand.
Generally speaking though, Bangkok is a pretty safe city and easy place for females to travel alone.
When sharing my solo travel around Thailand and specifically around Bangkok, I always get asked” is Bangkok safe for female travellers? Is Bangkok dangerous for women?
Yes. Bangkok is safe for solo female travellers. Whilst, rape and murder are rare events, pickpocketing, bag snatching, drink spiking and minor scams are not uncommon. These are the areas where solo female tourists should pay attention to. Never trust strangers, book your accomodation in safe areas, avoid dark alleys and do not confront locals. You can optimise safety by carrying a safety whistle and installing a safety lock in your accommodation’s door. Lastly, avoid overnight public transport rides, red light districts and off limits dangerous areas. Keeping in mind all those warnings, Bangkok can be a delightful place to travel for solo female foreigners
After visiting Bangkok 5 times and spending a meaningful amount of time is this awesome city, I can confidently state, that Bangkok is a great place to enjoy your Thai holidays as a solo female traveller.
Of course, we will explain a bit more in detail in this post, all the points of concern to be considered when in Bangkok and how to minimise those risks.
Bangkok safety warnings for solo female travellers
What neighbourhoods should be avoided by solo females visitors in Bangkok?
Kahosan Road
This the travel budget area by definition in Bangkok. Do yourself a favour, and don’t stay at Khaosan Road as a solo female traveller. This is not only quite unsafe in all possible ways but also it is so filthy. You can get a cheap accomodation outside this area. Also, even if you are only visiting this area, watch out for thieves targeting women.
Nana’s plaza and Patpong areas
These are the red light districts. Definitely, not a safe place at night for solo female travellers. Despite coming across with friendly people, do not tryst their intentions. I would avoid going out in this area, unless you go with a group of friends. Always paying attention to your surroundings and applying the precautions regarding drink spiking, engaging with Thai locals and all of those warnings described through this post.
Lastly, here is a list of streets and areas that have been deemed, as dangerous and should be avoided by tourists, particularly, female tourists, by the Thai government. These areas are infamous and they are gang/mafia powered.
- Soi Lat Phrao 101
- Soi Lat Phrao 107
- Soi Sukhumvit 105
- Soi Phaholyothin 52
- Soi Suphaphong
- Soi On Nut
- Soi Chalermprakiat 14
- Victory Monument
- Sanam Luang 1
- Ramintra Market
Cultural warnings for solo female travellers
Especially, as a solo female foreigner, it is important to remember and understand the local cultural rules. Thailand is still a pretty conservative country around some areas. Breaking those norms can actually put you in travel.
Clothing as a solo female traveller in Bangkok
The clothing you wear, especially, as a women, is a big deal in Bangkok and Thailand in general. They consider, short skirts, uncovered shoulders, transparent shirts and dresses, inappropriate, as they are Buddhist.
Although, there is acceptance towards the club girls and prostitutes, it is not so much the case for the day to day citizens and foreigners in particular.
One fo the things you shouldn’t do as a female traveller is to go out without a bra. You hear correctly, women in Bangkok tell me all the time how shock the are about Western women going out with tight shirts and without a bra. In fact, in Thailand, it’s illegal to leave the house without your underwear on.
Also, as a safety tip for female travellers, avoid doing this to help getting unwanted attention from men. Unfortunately, in Bangkok, local men still consider ‘good time girl’, women dressing this way.
Very importantly, female travellers, should never visit temples and royal buildings with shoulders, elbows knees and uncovered cleavages. Just bring a sarong in your bag, otherwise, if they catch you without one, they can arrest you, or fine you. Removing your shoes and socks is also important when in a temple.
Dating Thai men in Bangkok as a solo female traveller
Another cultural punctualization to ensure that you have a safe trip around Bangkok, is to watch out for your interaction with Thai men in the city.
If you are not interested in pursuing a romance, do not engage in a flirt with a local men. False sense of attraction can get these men in a really bad state of anger as their honour is hurt. Simply be friendly.
Be aware of the concerns around displaying public attention in Bangkok. Kissing your partner or a guy in public is looked down upon, even holding hands can get you bad looks or remarks from the most conservative people.
I will also make the point that whilst Bangkok is very gay and trans friendly, especially, around the nightlife. For gay women, though, it is still a little bit not taken that seriously as gay men.
Laws
Lastly, you should be aware of another couple of rules (in fact, laws) that, as a solo traveller can help you out being out of trouble.
- It’s a crime to step on any Thai currency
- It is forbidden to throw chewing gum on the pavement
- It is forbidden to drive a car shirtless
- Under no circumstance, mention the royal Thai family
- It is forbidden for a female to touch or give anything directly to a monk. This includes not sitting next to monks on public transport. If you see a monk on the street, let him pass by you first.
Breaking these laws can land you in prison.
Safety warnings and dangers at night for solo females travellers in Bangkok
As stated above, Thailand ( some of the islands) and also Bangkok, have an issue with foreign females being victims of assault. These assaults are not the norm but they do happen, especially in the darker hours of the day.
Assaults and rape
I have a friend who was staying in Khao San Road for New Year’s Eve, she was by herself and made a couple of friends there. She was partying outside on the street with her friends, to celebrate the new year, when suddenly she hit the ground unexpectedly and got unconscious.
Lucky for her, there were a couple of big guys in her group of friends who could help her out and took her to the hospital. What had happened was, a man had seen her a couple of minutes before the assault, he was following her and when she was a couple of steps away from her friends, he had decided to run into her and started to drag her to the adjacent dark alley.
Her friends confronted the man who eventually left.
Whilst this is not the daily song, unfortunately, this things do happen. Whether he was intending to rape her or snatch her things, is unclear.
Another friend, got beaten up by two Thai men when she refused to pay double the price for the entry fee in a very popular touristic spot in Bangkok at sunset time. They also robbed her things and left her injured.
Avoid Tuk Tuks
I don’t want to sound harsh here but the truth is that many taxi and Tuk Tuk drivers are actually criminals, ex prisoners and scam artists.
As a solo female traveller ( and any kind of traveller really) I would stay away from these scammers. Firs of all they will try to rip you off. When they spot a solo female tourists, they see two things, a walking ATM machine and a vulnerable, easy prey.
They will convince you to take you on a city tour, where in conjunction with the local gangs, will take you to “ one in a lifetime sale” factory gems, clothing shops, etc. On top of that, they will over charge you, violating the pre-arranged priced and of course not using a taximeter.
In more serious cases, and these tend to happen at nighttime, when women get a bit drunk, or simply when they are just by themselves. There have been increasing cases of solo female foreigners taking Tuk Tuks to get back to their accomodation, and being drugged in a subtle way with some narcotic powder that the driver would throw in their faces. Juts like that.
The women would become dizzy and disoriented and the drivers would take advantage of this to rape them, rob them and other kind of crimes.
It is not worth the risk, not to mention, how un protected those vehicles are, how fast the drive and how crazy the traffic is in Bangkok. Simply avoid this hassle.
During the day, get the BTS Skytrain to travel around Bangkok and during the night call an Uber. If you are not in a budget, maybe get the hotel driving service, knowing of course, that they will over charge you. But sometimes it is worth spending a bit more for safety.
Bus and trains at night
Whilst the public transport is safe in Bangkok, I would avoid the overnight commutes. There are not recommendable people taking those busses or trains at those late hours. If you must take the bus or train at night, follow the following advises:
-Do not fall asleep. This is obviously the easiest way to get mugged.
-Secure your belongings and lock your bags.
-Put them underneath your sit with your legs in front of them , instead of allocating them on top of the bus hold or train overhead rack. This way you lose control over who takes your bags. Those public transports are crowded.
- Don’t misplace or lose your ticket. Sometimes they use these tricks to scam you to pay again. Because they don’t speak english well or pretend they don’t understand you, they will start getting angry when confronted and that can lead to bad situations. Simply keep your ticket with you and if things escalate, pay again.
General warnings at night
As you have probably heard multiple times, there are common small crimes happening in Bangkok and really, in most of Asian countries. These are:
-Pickpocketing: Ensure you bag or backpack have zippers with locks and put them on front of you, rather than in the back. Never put the guar down and leave your belongings unattended.
-Keep your valuables in the accomodation: Only take with you the right amount of cash or card (provided you have a backup one in the room, in case of an emergency, loss or theft). Keep your important documents in the room locked up. Carry a copy of your ID and/or passport instead
-Bag snatching: Be aware of ride-by bag snatching in Bangkok. This tactic is very common. Especially, being a solo female traveller, you will be a hotspot prey for these skimming process. Be aware of motorbikes driving pass you very quickly, as they will grab your bag pulling super hard from your shoulder. Sometimes they can get very violent and there have been cases of tourists being dragged a couple of meters.
-Drink Spiking: This stratagem is common around the nightlife of Bangkok. It is used against foreigners to rob them and sexually abuse them. Do not share drinks with anyone, even if they are friendly. Do not drink anything that doesn’t come from a new bottle. Of course never leave your drink unattended.
What are some specific safety tips for solo female travellers in Bangkok?
Research the place and know where to go
Before you land in Bangkok, ensure you have done your research about the city, read and read articles from other solo female travellers who might have different experiences to know the various possible scenarios.
Make sure you read the official sites for the government of Thailand ( in the case of travelling to Bangkok), read the official site of the government of your country and as a rule of thumb, I always check the US government travel advisory site.
Watch out for the media, as they tend to dramatise events and only get objective information.
On another note, never ever drift around the streets in Bangkok, especially at night and by yourself.Know where you are going at all times. Also, know where your embassy is and always stay connected with a phone number and pin the emergency number for Bangkok.
Learn basic self defense
When I first started travelling as a solo female when I was 19, I took a couple of classes of self defense in case I needed a quick reaction in an emergency situation. I never had to use it, luckily, but definitely makes a difference to your overall confidence. Knowing the basics punches and push aways can help tremendously in an emergency situation.
Don’t get drunk and never put the guard down
Watch out for those drinks, don’t get hammered, as they are organised groups preying on wasted women to rob them, assault them and even rape them. Never put the guar down, never get a drink from anyone and do not share drinks. That is my total advise here. The more sober you are the more aware you are too.
Safe accommodation
When it comes to accomodation, picking an area and an accomodation in a safe, well lit area, is crucial for solo female travellers. Accommodations around BTS train stations in downtown Bangkok can be a good idea. Also, I understand than when doing a solo trip, being on a budget can be tempting a in many ways is possible, however, I would advise to spend a little bit more money for an accomodation that might have 24h surveillance, lock on the door, clean linen and well located in the city, rather than, sharing a dorm in a budget backpacker area. You will feel safer, much more comfortable and will sleep tight at night.
“Must have” items for solo female travellers in Bangkok
Portable Door Lock
When travelling as a solo female, you need to have the feeling that you are protected, particularly, when you are back in your accomodation and sleep in your room in the dark. Honestly, even in more upscale hotels, I always take one of these with me and it makes the whole difference. It takes a few seconds to install and it makes it impossible for the door the be opened from the outside.
Whistle
This might sound stupid, but again, in an emergency situation, do not hesitate to whistle hard and shout as loud as you can.
Carry one of those with a high pitch around your neck and you will also feel safer. It is also a confidence booster.
Travel Insurance
Having travel/health insurance is so important when travelling by yourself. I can’t emphasise this enough. Hospital covers, emergency rooms and in worse cases, surgeries, can be so expensive when out of your country.
Accidents and unexpected events do happen and you want to be protected if it happens. You don’t want to pay a huge bill out of pocket on top of having the bad luck of getting super sick, or a traffic accident, etc. There are many out there that offer really good rates and great coverages.
Taxis at night and Hitchhiking
Avoiding overnight bus rides back to your accomodation and takin taxis alone at night can be potentially dangerous in Bangkok.
As a solo female traveller you need to extreme precautions, especially at night, so I would recommend not to take public transport at night, neither taxis, I would Uber or Grab.
Whilst, taking an official taxi during the day time is no problem, during the night, things can get a bit different. I have heard stories of young female travellers who got assaulted by taxi drivers when getting back to their accomodation at night. Either by being taken somewhere else or being chased up to their rooms and then assaulted.
If you see yourself taking a taxi, make sure, you don’t argue with the driver, do not confront, get out as soon as you can and get an Uber ride.
Having a platform to be tracked can be reassuring, as well as, notifying someone of where you are.
Of course, under no circumstance, you should hitchhike. This might be common in the Western world for backpackers or in a budget travellers. Not in Thailand. If you do this in Bangkok as a solo female traveller, you are most likely to be picked up by a not recommendable driver. This can only bring issues. Avoid doing this.
There you go! Now you know all the safety warnings that you should be aware of as a solo female traveller when tripping around Bangkok. Enjoy your trip and don’t let all these concerns put you off. Bangkok is an awesome city, very rich in culture and history. Extreme the precautions described in this article and you’ll be fine!