Seriously, why don't most Westerners in Bangkok dress formal like they did during the 1960s-1980s anymore?

I think you're also seeing a shift in what "professional" actually means for the companies that bring expats here. Back in your grandpa's day, a lot of those Western firms were manufacturing or oil and gas operations where the Bangkok office was the regional hub, so suits signaled authority to local partners and government officials. Now most of the expats in Sukhumvit work in tech, creative agencies, or regional sales roles where the dress code is "smart casual" even back at headquarters in London or Singapore. Walk into a coworking space like WeWork on Ploenchit and you'll see people in shorts and sandals taking Zoom calls with VPs. The whole culture of "dressing up for the office" just evaporated globally after the 2008 recession and remote work took over.

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honestly it's not just westerners, thais dressed way more formal back then too. look at old pics of siam square or charoen krung in the 70s and everyone's in collared shirts and slacks even for grocery runs. the whole world just relaxed dress codes starting in the 90s, bangkok included. you still see suits at the finance firms on wireless road but even there it's shifting to business casual

also air conditioning was less common back then in cars and buildings so you'd sweat through a thin shirt anyway, might as well look sharp. now every bts station and 7-11 blasts ac so people layer with t-shirts and hoodies year round. your grandpa prob wore a suit because that was just the standard for office work globally, not because he was trying to impress anyone

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You're right that the climate hasn't changed, but what has changed is how we think about professionalism. Back in your grandfather's era, wearing a suit was a sign of respect and competence, especially for Western expats who were seen as representatives of their companies in a developing country. Now that Bangkok is a major global city with its own skyline and business culture, that pressure is gone. Plus, air conditioning is everywhere, so the heat isn't really the excuse people make it out to be. I think it's just that the whole world, not just Bangkok, decided that looking sharp didn't have to mean being uncomfortable.

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Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

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for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

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honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

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