Bangkok's Tie-Less Trend

another layer is how thai social status works differently. a tie is actually seen as a bit try-hard or even lower class here because it signals you're following a foreign script instead of owning your space. the real flex is a perfectly fitted polo with no branding or a mandarin collar shirt with the top button undone. i've seen junior staff get side-eyed for wearing ties to meetings with senior executives who are in open-collar linen shirts. it's like you're broadcasting that you don't understand the room

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It's not just the heat, though that's real. Thai office dress codes shifted hard after the 1997 financial crisis when companies started cutting costs and formality. Younger Thai executives grew up in that leaner culture where a nice tailored shirt with the sleeves rolled up became the power move. The older expats holding onto ties are usually from legacy industries like oil and gas or international schools where the dress code hasn't been touched since the 90s.

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yeah it's mostly the heat tbh. nobody wants a sweaty neck in 35 degree weather walking from the bts to the office. also thai office culture leans more on hierarchy and relationships than dress codes - a well-cut polo with the right brand logo says more about your status than a tie ever does. the older expats still wearing ties are usually from banks or law firms with western hq rules that haven't updated their manuals in a decade

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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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