Is Bangkok safe? Scams, the laws visitors break by accident, rain and the Cambodia border

💡 The Short Version: The UK Foreign Office says violent crime rarely involves tourists; the everyday risks are bag-snatchers on motorbikes, pickpockets, drink spiking, ATM skimming and scams. Vapes and e-cigarettes are illegal for everyone, criticising the monarchy is illegal, and cannabis needs a Thai prescription. Alcohol cannot be sold between midnight and 11:00, with exceptions for licensed hotels and entertainment venues. The rainy season runs May to October and brings flash floods. Stay away from the Cambodia border: land crossings are suspended and there are landmines. Dial 1155 for the Tourist Police, 191 for the police and 1669 for an ambulance. Check the official advice for your country: the UK Foreign Office, the Government of Canada and the US State Department.

Crime and scams

• Bags and pockets: carry valuables and cash securely, and beware of bag-snatchers, especially on motorbikes (UK Foreign Office).
• Open transport: take care in tuk-tuks, and avoid sleeping on buses and trains, where people have had items taken from bags. Drivers parked at the sights who offer a cheap tour end at commission shops; see the public transport guide and Grand Palace tickets for the touts who say the palace is closed.
• Taxis: disputes with taxi and tuk-tuk drivers have sometimes led to violence or intimidation, and the Government of Canada advises calling the local police if you feel threatened. Use licensed taxis, official stands or a ride-hailing app, and do not share a taxi with strangers.
• Gems and jewellery: carefully consider any purchase if you do not know gems; merchants may sell lower-quality items at inflated prices and your government cannot get you a refund (Government of Canada).
• Rentals: do not hand over your passport as a guarantee to a motorbike or jet-ski hire shop; they may keep it against claimed damage. Read the contract and photograph existing damage.
• Drinks: do not leave drinks unattended or accept drinks from strangers, and arrange your ride home so you do not take lifts in unlicensed vehicles. Methanol in alcoholic drinks has killed people in Thailand and cannot be detected by taste or smell.
• Cards: ATM skimming happens. Use an ATM inside a bank, do not lose sight of your card, and protect your PIN. Money in Bangkok has the ATM fees.
• Job offers: be wary of offers that appear too good to be true; people have been taken to neighbouring countries on the promise of high-paying work.

A tuk-tuk beside a roadside stall. Photo: Ossewa, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The Royal Thai Police Headquarters, Bangkok. Photo: Chainwit., Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.

The law

• Vapes and e-cigarettes: it is illegal to possess or use any vape, e-cigarette, pod, e-liquid or heat-not-burn device. Offences bring confiscation, fines typically of 5,000 to 30,000 THB, detention and court proceedings, and you may have to stay in Thailand until the case ends. There is no exception for tourists or for personal use (UK Foreign Office). The Government of Canada adds that jail terms of up to 10 years are possible.
• Smoking: illegal in public places, with a fine of up to 5,000 THB.
• The monarchy: criticising or insulting the king or the royal family is illegal, and the law covers past members too. People have been charged for sharing articles online. Do not post comments about the monarchy, the political situation or the army (UK Foreign Office, Government of Canada). Bangkok etiquette covers the rest of the customs.
• Alcohol: the drinking age is 20, and sales are restricted between midnight and 11:00, which does not apply to licensed hotels, international airport terminals or authorised entertainment venues. Posting photos of people drinking can be illegal for both the poster and the people shown.
• Drugs: penalties are severe, police run spot checks around entertainment venues and may ask for a urine sample. Cannabis is for medical use only, with a Thai prescription limited to a 30-day supply, and it is illegal to take out of Thailand.
• Your passport: police may ask to see it. If you do not have it with you, you may be asked to produce it within 24 hours at a police station, and a copy of the photo page is usually enough.
• New deportation rules: since 28 August 2026, foreign nationals can be deported without a criminal conviction if the authorities decide their conduct is contrary to public order or morals.
• Drones: an unregistered drone is illegal; register it with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) within 30 days of entering Thailand or buying it there, even if you do not fly it. The fine is 100,000 THB, five years in prison or both (UK Foreign Office).
• Playing cards: carrying more than 120 cards is illegal under the Playing Cards Act, and breaking it can mean prosecution, a fine or imprisonment (UK Foreign Office).

Weather, health and the border

• Rainy season: generally May to October. Heavy rain causes flash flooding and transport disruption; follow the Thai Meteorological Department’s warnings. Best time to visit Bangkok has the monthly picture.
• Air quality: levels in Bangkok can be high, and seasonal smoke haze can make them dangerous for people with asthma or sinus conditions (UK Foreign Office).
• Hospitals: private hospitals are of a high standard but can be expensive, and all hospitals require a guarantee of payment before they treat you. Take travel insurance that covers local treatment.
• The Cambodia border: the UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel within 20 km of the land border; the Government of Canada advises against travel within 50 km. Land crossings are suspended, tourist temples there are closed and landmines are present. Canada adds that martial law applies in several border districts and that a ceasefire has held since 27 December 2025. It does not affect Bangkok.
• The far south: the UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and parts of Songkhla Province.
• Protests: avoid protests, political gatherings, demonstrations and marches.
• Motorbikes: Thailand has a high number of road accidents, particularly on motorcycles. A helmet is compulsory, hire scooters are often unregistered and cannot legally be used on a public road, and riding without the right licence can invalidate your travel insurance.

Emergency numbers

The Tourist Police have an app, Thailand Tourist Police, for visitors without a Thai SIM card (UK Foreign Office). An eSIM for Thailand gives you data before you land.

Next

For the entry rules and the temple dress codes, see the Bangkok guide. Bangkok etiquette covers behaviour at temples, and money in Bangkok covers cards and ATMs.