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Being a tall black man in Bangkok?
My company here is sending me to Bangkok for a couple months next year. I am a 6'4" Jamaican-American in my late 20s that have lived my whole lives in the states and Canada. I am pretty excite… Hello,
My company here is sending me to Bangkok for a couple months next year. I am a 6'4" Jamaican-American in my late 20s that have lived my whole lives in the states and Canada. I am pretty excited about experiencing Thai/Bangkok culture, and have read a lot of stuff from blogs and Reddit from expats who have awesome things to say about their move to Bangkok, but the people are almost always white and Asian.
So, yeah, I'm aware that there aren't many of us but did wonder if black people are treated equally there? I mean when I walking by a stranger in majority Asian areas here, I notice a lot of Asian people will treat me as a threat and acted intimidated/scared of me when I stand near them or behind them..
The thing about Bangkok is that it's such a massive tourist hub that locals are pretty desensitized to all kinds of foreigners by now. You'll definitely get some stares in less central spots like around On Nut or further out near Bang Na, but it's more of a "haven't seen that before" look than a scared one. If you're in the tourist or expat zones like Thong Lo or Ekkamai, nobody will bat an eye at all, there are black guys from all over working in those areas. The main thing is just being tall, I'm 5'10 and still feel short on the BTS during rush hour, so at 6'4 you'll be spotting the exits from way above the crowd.
you'll get stared at for sure but not in a scary way, more like curiosity. thais are generally polite and won't treat you like a threat, they're just not used to seeing many tall black guys around sukhumvit or silom. a friend of mine from nigeria works at a bar near nana and he says the only real issue is people wanting photos with him, especially older thais and tourists from china. just keep your cool, smile a bit, and you'll be fine
honestly you'll probably stand out way more for being 6'4 than for being black. most thai guys are like 5'6 so you'll be towering over everyone regardless of your skin color. just be ready for random people to want selfies with you in touristy areas
best som tam in Bangkok? Krua Dok Mai Kao 2026
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.
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.
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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