Is UPI payment available across bangkok?

yeah the news was technically true but it's super limited. you'll find it works at some 7-elevens and big chain stores like central world but even then it's not every register. i'd say maybe 10% of places actually take it consistently and you'll waste time trying to figure out which ones do. just use promptpay with a thai bank app if you can or stick to cash for 90% of things here

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You'll have a much smoother time if you just get the Rabbit card for the BTS and keep a wad of 100 baht notes for everything else. I live near Ari and even the fancier cafes there still do cash only half the time, let alone the actual street vendors. The UPI thing is real at places like CentralWorld and some 7-Elevens but you'll be standing there awkwardly while the cashier tried three different terminals. Save yourself the headache and hit an ATM at Suvarnabhumi when you land, the SuperRich booths there give decent rates for cash.

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look, the news was mostly hype for the bilateral agreement signing, not a practical thing for tourists. i live near thong lo and the only time i've seen upi work reliably is at the gourmet market inside emporium, and even then it's the specific counter near the wine section, not all registers. your best bet is to just use a card that has no foreign transaction fees at 7-eleven or big c for bigger purchases and keep cash for literally everything else, especially if you're going to chatuchak market where the vendors barely take card let alone foreign qr codes

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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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