Safety and Security

On August 17, 2015, an explosion took place during the evening rush hour at the crowded Rachaprasong intersection in the central commercial district of Bangkok (near the Erawan Shrine, Central World mall, several major hotels, and the overhead bisection of the two Skytrain lines) killing at least twenty people and injuring more than 100.  In February 2015, two small improvised explosive devices detonated in close proximity to the Siam Paragon Shopping Mall BTS entrance, slightly injuring two people  Both areas are popular with tourists. On March 7, a hand grenade exploded in front of the Bangkok Criminal Court Building. No one was injured.

The State Department is concerned that there is a continued risk of terrorism in Southeast Asia, including in Thailand. In April 2014, Thai police arrested two individuals with suspected ties to Hezbollah. Additionally, in January 2012, Thai police discovered a large quantity of explosive materials linked to suspected Hezbollah operatives. In February 2012, individuals from Iran—who police believe were plotting a terrorist attack against foreign interests in Thailand—detonated explosive devices on a busy street in central Bangkok while they were trying to evade law enforcement officials.

While traveling in Thailand you should exercise caution, especially in locations where expatriates congregate, such as clubs, discos, bars, restaurants, hotels, places of worship, schools, outdoor recreation venues, tourist areas, beach resorts, and other places frequented by foreigners. You should remain vigilant with regard to your personal security and avoid crowds and demonstrations. For more information on terrorist threats against U.S. citizens worldwide and steps to take as a result of these threats, please see the Worldwide Caution.

The NCPO has banned political gatherings and placed restrictions on the media, freedom of speech, and freedom of assembly. Security forces have additional powers, including the right to control movement and search for weapons. U.S. citizens may encounter a heightened military presence throughout Thailand. Individuals—including foreigners—may be detained for publicly criticizing the National Council for Peace and Order or the monarchy. Security operations against possible demonstrations have led to disruptions to traffic as well as to some public transport services, and restricted access to some areas around major shopping and hotel districts in central Bangkok. Additional measures could be enforced at any time.

U.S. citizens are advised to stay alert, exercise caution, and monitor international and Thai media. Avoid areas where there are protest events, large gatherings, or security operations and follow any instructions and restrictions issued by the local authorities.

U. S. citizens are advised to avoid demonstrations and gatherings of five people or more. If a demonstration is expected to pass near the U.S. Embassy or Consulate facilities, Embassy and Consulate entrances and functions may be restricted. The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok’s website, Facebook, and Twitter sites and the Consulate General in Chiang Mai’s website, Facebook, and Twitter sites post information about particular demonstrations.

Violence in Southern Thailand - Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and Songkhla: The deep south of Thailand has experienced almost daily incidents of criminally and politically motivated violence for many years, including acts attributed to armed local separatist groups, resulting in more than 6,000 deaths since 2004. Most targeted attacks are directed at security officials and Thai government interests. Bombings have also struck public and commercial areas. On May 6, 2014, explosions in downtown Hat Yai in Songkhla Province targeted a police station and a 7-Eleven convenience store, injuring ten. On May 24, 2014, three people were killed and 73 injured in multiple bombing attacks in a busy part of Pattani, including at three 7-Eleven convenience stores. The July 25 bombing of a hotel in Betong, Yala—an area popular with Malaysian tourists—killed three people and wounded over 30. Past attacks include the almost simultaneous bombings in 2012 at one of Hat Yai’s largest hotels and a Yala commercial district, which together killed at least 13 people and injured hundreds, including a number of tourists from other parts of Southeast Asia. A separate car bomb attack on an upscale hotel in Pattani in July 2012 injured three people.

The U.S. Embassy prohibits its personnel from traveling to the far south of Thailand – specifically, Narathiwat, Pattani, and Yala provinces – without prior approval, and Embassy personnel may go there only on work-essential travel. U.S. Embassy and Consulate personnel must provide advance notification of travel to Songkhla province, and they are advised to use hotels outside Hat Yai’s central business district. The Department of State urges you to defer non-emergency travel to these areas. If you must travel to these areas, you should exercise special caution and remain vigilant with regard to your personal security. You should be aware that martial law has been in force in the far southern region since 2005, and Thai authorities have on occasion instituted special security measures in affected areas, such as curfews, military patrols, or random searches.

Thai-Cambodia Border: Because of border disputes between Thailand and Cambodia, we recommend caution if traveling near the Thai-Cambodian border in the area of the Preah Vihear temple and farther west in the Phanom Dong Rak district of Surin province. Between July 2008 and April 2012, soldiers from the two countries exchanged gunfire on several occasions. Some artillery fire reportedly struck several kilometers away from the border. Fighting has also extended some distance along the disputed border in both locations. In 2013, the World Court issued a ruling regarding the disposition of certain lands along the border areas in and around Preah Vihear, but the terms of the ruling have yet to be fully implemented, and residual local tensions remain. You should pay special attention to local conditions in these areas, since past military activity has occurred with little warning.

The Thai-Burma Border: The Thai/Burma border region remains a possible flashpoint for conflicts between the Burmese Army and armed ethnic opposition groups based in Thailand as well as clashes between Thai security forces and armed drug traffickers. Pirates, bandits, and drug traffickers operate in these border areas. It is possible that significant flare-ups of military activity on the Burmese side of the border could spill over into adjacent areas of northern Thailand. The Department of State recommends that you exercise caution when traveling in remote or rural areas of Thailand adjacent to the Burma border. If you travel off-road in undeveloped areas use local guides who are familiar with the area. Border closings and re-openings occur frequently, and if you are considering traveling into Burma from Thailand, you should be aware that in the event of a border closure, you may not be able to re-enter Thailand.

To stay connected:

• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program so we can keep you up to date with important safety and security announcements.
• Follow the Bureau of Consular Affairs on Twitter and Facebook.
• Bookmark the Bureau of Consular Affairs website, which contains the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts as well as the Worldwide Caution.
• Follow the U.S. Embassy and American Citizens Services in Thailand on Twitter and visit the Embassy’s website
• In the event of an emergency, contact us at 1-888-407-4747 toll-free within the United States and Canada, or via a regular toll line, 1-202-501-4444, from other countries.
• Take some time before traveling to consider your personal security and checking for useful tips for traveling safely abroad.

CRIME: Although the crime threat in Bangkok and other Thai cities remains lower than that in many U.S. cities, crimes of opportunity such as pick-pocketing, purse-snatching, and burglary are not unusual. You should be especially wary when walking in crowded markets, tourist sites, and bus or train stations. Many U.S. citizens have had passports, wallets, and other valuables stolen in Bangkok's Chatuchak Weekend Market, in the area of Khao San Road, and other tourist areas, usually by pickpockets and thieves who cut into purses or bags with a razor and remove items surreptitiously or who grab purses and bags while speeding past on motorbikes. Across Thailand, U.S. citizens have been robbed of their valuables and other possessions after soliciting the services of commercial sex workers. Thieves also victimize travelers on long-distance bus routes. Police may refuse to issue police reports for foreign victims of theft, requiring them instead to travel several miles to a central Tourist Police station. When requesting a police report, police officers may ask you to pay a small fee of approximately 50 baht.

Violent crimes against foreigners are relatively rare. However, murders, rapes, and assaults do occur. These crimes happen most often at night. Frequently, victims, both male and female, have been drinking and are often alone or separated from travelling companions. These crimes have occurred all over Thailand but are most common in Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, and tourist areas in southern Thailand, including Phuket, Koh Tao, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Krabi. If you are traveling alone, you should exercise caution, stay near other travelers and ensure that friends or family know how to contact you. Sexually motivated violent incidents, committed by both Thai citizens and visitors, are most likely to occur at parties at discos or beaches, such as the Full Moon party on Phangan Island. Some victims find that Thai authorities do not handle their cases with as much sensitivity or consideration for privacy as they would expect in the United States. You should maintain awareness of your surroundings and travel with trusted friends or relatives to reduce your chances of falling victim to crimes of this nature.

Minor and major incidents of crimes involving taxis or "tuk-tuks" (three-wheeled taxis) can occur, especially in some tourist areas. Drivers may attempt to charge excessive fares at airports and near major tourist attractions. When frequenting bars late at night, you should ensure that you are not alone, as you might be particularly vulnerable to unscrupulous taxi drivers. Before entering a for-hire vehicle, you should either request that the driver use the meter or reach an agreement on the fare for your trip. Taxis in Bangkok and other major cities have meters, and their drivers usually use them. Taxis in tourist areas often do not have meters; negotiate the fare before you get into these taxis. Taxi drivers often refuse fares, especially during rush hour or to places they do not know well. You should be aware that raising your voice and using aggressive body language could be seen as a threat to the driver. Do not hesitate to ask to be let out of a taxi immediately if the driver is acting suspiciously or driving erratically. Registered taxicab drivers have a yellow placard with their name in English and their photograph on the passenger’s side dashboard of the vehicle. If this photograph does not match the driver, you should be wary of entering the vehicle. Police will seldom intervene in incidents involving taxi drivers. Many visitors have used smartphone-based for hire vehicle services such as the international firm Uber, although such services are under legal review.

In Phuket, despite recent efforts by local officials to reduce overcharges to tourists, drivers routinely charge fares that are much higher than those in Bangkok for comparable distances. Threats of violence may accompany excessive charges. Tuk-tuk and taxi drivers in Phuket are frequently described in media reports as being a “mafia.” Local government officials in Phuket have attempted to crack down on these practices and introduced standard fares, with limited success. Drivers have organized against attempts to provide alternative services. For instance, they have blockaded van and bus services during U.S. Navy ship visits. (See also the Special Circumstances and Safety and Road Conditions sections.) To lodge a complaint about an encounter with a taxicab driver, call 1584 (within Thailand).

When arriving at a Thai airport, you should use only public transportation from the airport's official pick-up and drop-off area, cars from the airport limousine counters, or airport buses. Most major hotels can also arrange to have a car and driver meet incoming flights. It is uncommon for Thai taxis to pick up additional passengers. You should be wary of drivers seeking to do so, and you should never enter a cab that has someone besides the driver in it.

You should be aware of a common scam that involves the rental of motorbikes, jet skis, and sometimes cars. Many rental companies require your passport as a deposit or collateral. If there is damage to the rental vehicle, the company often holds the passport until you pay for the damage. The Embassy receives many reports of renters having been charged exorbitant amounts for damage to jet skis or motorbikes, even in instances where the renter had caused no visible damage. A variation of this scam occurs when the motorbike is “stolen,” and the rental agency demands that the renter pay two or three times the price of the motorbike to replace it. For this reason, you should be cautious about rental arrangements and not use your passport as a deposit or collateral. You should be certain to examine the vehicle and note any pre-existing damage before operating the vehicle. If possible, document the vehicle’s condition with before and after photos. If you purchase insurance from the rental shop, be sure you know what the insurance policy covers, and get a receipt showing you paid for insurance. If you find yourself a victim of one of these scams, you will need to make an attempt to recover your passport by involving the local Royal Thai Police and Tourist Police and documenting the situation with a police report. Note that the Embassy cannot intervene in personal financial disputes; however, you can apply for a new passport at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General if you have not recovered your passport.

Scams involving gems, city tours, entertainment venues, and credit cards are common, especially in areas heavily visited by tourists. Taxi and tuk-tuk drivers, among others, commonly tout gem stores, entertainment venues, or alternate tours. These touts receive kickbacks or commissions that drive up the prices of the goods or services, and you should not accept tours or other offers from them. You should consider exiting the vehicle to seek a different means of transportation if you feel uncomfortable. You should use credit cards only in reputable, established businesses, and you should check the amount you have been charged for accuracy.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) receives over a thousand complaints each year from visitors who have been cheated on gem purchases. Scams usually follow a predictable pattern. Someone approaches you outside of a well-known tourist attraction such as the Grand Palace and says that the attraction is closed. The friendly stranger gains your confidence and suggests a visit to a temple that is supposedly open only one day per year; the stranger then mentions in passing that a special once-a-year government-sponsored gem sale is going on and directs you to a waiting tuk-tuk. At the temple, another stranger -- sometimes a foreigner-- engages you in conversation and also mentions the "special" gem sale. You agree to go look at the gem shop and are soon convinced to buy thousands of dollars’ worth of jewels that you can supposedly sell in the United States for a 100 percent profit. In fact, the gems turn out to be of much less value than you paid for them, and the shop does not honor its money-back guarantee. No matter what a tout may say, no jewelry stores are owned, operated, or sponsored by the Thai government or by the Thai royal family. You can find detailed information on gem scams on numerous websites. If you fall victim to a gem scam, you should contact the local branch of the Tourist Police or call their toll-free number: 1155.

Although most bars and entertainment venues operate honestly, some, especially in red light districts and some other areas frequented by tourists, try to charge exorbitant prices for drinks or unadvertised cover charges and then threaten violence if the charges are not paid. If you are victimized in this fashion, you should not attempt to resolve the problem yourself but should instead pay the price demanded and then seek out a nearby Tourist Police officer for help in getting restitution. If no officer is nearby, you can phone the Tourist Police at 1155.

Prostitution is illegal in Thailand. Bars and other entertainment venues may offer fees to take a “bar girl” or “bar boy” out for the evening. Many of the women, men, and children in the commercialized vice industry are themselves victims of trafficking rings. You should be aware that not only is prostitution illegal, but there are serious consequences for those choosing to pay for these illicit services, including criminal conviction and imprisonment, particularly in the case of child prostitution.

We have received reports of sex workers, as well as bar patrons or bar workers, drugging people with sedatives, including the powerful sedative scopolamine, in order to rob them. Tourists have also been victimized by drugged food and drink, usually offered by a friendly stranger who is sometimes posing as a fellow traveler on an overnight bus or train. In addition, casual acquaintances you meet in a bar or on the street may pose a threat. You should not leave drinks or food unattended and should avoid going alone to unfamiliar venues.

Criminals have victimized some foreigners by presenting themselves as police, sometimes wearing police uniforms. After a conspirator lures the foreigner into doing something illegal, the “police officer” appears and threatens to arrest the foreigner unless he or she pays a “bribe” -- which the conspirator helps to negotiate. To protect yourself from such scams, do not engage in activities that would put you in a vulnerable position, such as soliciting sex or purchasing or using illegal drugs.

A variation commonly reported in Bangkok’s Khao San Road area involves “mistakenly” purchasing “prescription” drugs from a pharmacy. If someone claiming to be a police officer demands fine payments from you, request to pay at the police station. Police may impose fines up to 1,000 baht per violation at the police station and should provide receipts for any fines. The Thai Criminal Code does not provide police authority to impose a fine over 1,000 baht. Only a court can impose a larger fine. We receive several reports a year of police attempting to collect fines of tens of thousands of baht without opening a court case. While these schemes can happen anywhere in Thailand, they are most often reported in Bangkok, Phuket, and Pattaya.

Local police are reluctant to become involved in domestic issues. They expect that the involved parties will resolve the matter on their own. The Royal Thai government’s Ministry of Social Development and Human Security does maintain an English-language website, and you can contact them for assistance. In most cases, you will need legal representation to protect your interests effectively.

On September 5, 2013, Thailand inaugurated its first “Tourist Court” in Pattaya to mediate civil disputes, including those related to criminal and non-criminal cases. Since then, five more have opened in Pathum Municipal Court and Dusit Municipal Court in Bangkok, Koh Samui, Phuket, and Chiang Mai. Tourist police officers are able to provide further information to tourists who may require this service.

VICTIMS OF CRIME: If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime abroad, you should contact the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. We can:

• Replace a stolen passport.
• Help you find appropriate medical care if you are the victim of violent crimes such as assault or rape.
• Put you in contact with the appropriate police authorities, and if you want us to, contact family members or friends.
• Help you understand the local criminal justice process and direct you to local attorneys, although it is important to remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting the crime.

The local equivalent to the “911” emergency line in Thailand is 191. For fire emergencies, the numbers is 199. The Tourist Police can be reached at 1155. All of these numbers are in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week. .

Please see our information for victims of crime, including possible victim compensation programs in the United States.