Bangkok dress code
 

What is appropriate to wear when walking around Bangkok and Ayutthaya? I am a man in my 20s. Are shorts and polo/t-shirt OK or would long pants be better? thanks for the advice.

Shorts / t-shirt are ok but do label you as a tourist. Thais don't really wear shorts, so long pants/jeans / polo would be better especially if you're going to "fancier" places.

Ha, I can already predict the responses here. My guess is the consensus will be shorts and polo shirt.

Tourists wear all sorts of outfits and, if you want a laugh, stroll down Khao San road. (I wear long pants and a polo shirt.)

You can't wear flip flops or shorts into the major sites. Check the dress code before you go.

well I guess its also how you look,

but this time I wore button down cotton shirts,
first they covered my beer belly better than "form fitting" T shirts ,
and they also breath better than T-shirts or Polos,

Its hot and humid there so where something thats easy to wash and confortable....

but I also wore shorts.....

Do not worry about looking like a tourist , you ARE a tourist and probably are never going to look Thai :)

Oh and I did have one flowery Hawaiian shirt just because.....

Rally

If you are in any type of a business situation...or are meeting with elderly people......do not wear shorts. A light colored button down and dark slacks (not jeans) are proper if you want to fit in at any level. If you are just a tourist hanging in tourist areas, do what you want......but some temples and other government offices frown on the shorts and singlet look.

Shorts and polo/t-shirt are OK to walk around to help you cope with the heat. There are however lots of must-see temples in Bangkok and the historic park in Ayutthaya consists of ruins of palaces and temples.

Thai Buddhist temples (Wats) are open to everyone. There are, however, several rules that you must observe. Modest clothing is required, which means for ladies: a skirt or dress that covers the knees and a top with sleeves that covers the shoulders and is not transparent. For men, modest clothing means long pants and a shirt that covers the shoulders. Shorts will not do!

This "dress code" is also applies to the Grand Palace, Vimanmek Mansion and other royal sites in Thailand.

http://www.tourismthailand.org/faq/faq-detail-14.html

Well that is the dress code, for Songkhran.:D

I also got a kick out of the “Thais don’t wear shorts” comment. The last 15 people (all Thai, moderately wealthy upper middle class; only BMWs, M-Bs and Minis) who just walked by my house in the last 3 minutes were all wearing shorts! And it's the cool, dry season! Maybe they meant to say, “Thais don’t wear shorts, to work”? :confused:

Some historical sites are quite strict; at Bang Pa In even women modestly dressed in long pants are required to wear a wrap, which are on loan.

Shorts in Bangkok
 

I am always amused by people who dress in beachwear in Bangkok. Sure, it's hot, but it's a national capital and almost everything is air conditioned.

I've had friends who should know better show up at a hotel dressed for the beach. Spaso's at the Hyatt refused him entry.

That's not uncommon for high end nightclubs.

Unfortunately, Sukhumvit Road isn't air conditioned. I always wear shorts, unless I'm headed out for a nice dinner or nightclub.

And I am amused by people wearing suits and are sweating to death on Sukhumvit.

Even at Hopf Restaurant in Pattaya they have T-Shirts at the entrance they borrow to ladies revealing too much.

Try Washington, DC, in the summer. The streets, parks, river/riverboats, tuktuks, SkyTrain platforms, and so on in Bangkok are not air conditioned. It's bloody hot for at least 10 months a year in Bangkok. People in shorts and sandals are being reasonable, given the climate. That is subject, of course, to wearing more modest attire in culturally significant places and private venues that have a dress code, such as nightclubs and certain restaurants.

Shorts may label me a tourist, but the white face hangs "farang" around my neck far more effectively.

Suits also label people wearing them as not "locals" since Thais don't generally wear suits except for very high level or very formal occasions.

My uncle, the President of an Insurance Company, rarely wears a suit to work.

:D

Maybe they were out walking for "exercise" around the neighborhood?

You see just about anything on the streets of Bangkok. Late at night, just pull up a seat at one of the cheap little sidewalk bars, probably just down from the Miami on Sukhumvit and just watch the circus go by!

You will be okay with a t-shirt and shorts. There are some tourists who wear suits - they look out of place! Short sleeve shirt or polo shirt and long pants are okay too.

If you want to wear suits or expensive shirts and pants you will end up paying more when you purchase something from the street vendors. They have a knack of being able to size up a person's worth by what they see and the price they ask for could be twice as much as the guy in the t-shirt and ratty shorts. I do see some businessmen walking around in suits - sure must be hot!

A t-shirt or a short sleeve shirt will be okay in Ayuthaya, if you are worried about what to put on then wear long pants. But ditch the suit! There is nothing you can wear or not wear that will make you look less like a Farang!

Enjoy your trip and don't worry about the small stuff!

It's my experience that you will not be allowed to visit certain temples if you're wearing shorts or sandals. I'm assuming that's what you're doing in Ayutthaya. If you are going to tour the ruins, you'll get a poor reception wearing shorts.

Same guidelines for the Grand Palace

Many 4 Star Hotels along the river in Bangkok have dress codes in the evening. The Shangri-La Hotel used to refuse access of all it's public areas to those wearing shorts (even to house guests). The Royal Orchid Sheraton has a 5pm dress code specifically mentioning shorts for it's lounge.

I wear long pants, socks and shoes every night in Thailand. The reason is misquito bites. Not an issue in many places, but it sucks when they're nibbling at your ankles.

I do the same. And in fact, when I have business meetings I, and my Thai business partners, are typically in a jacket and tie and most often cufflinks. The prospects we meet with are also typically in a jacket and tie. Of course as soon as I return to the hotel I'm back in a polo or short sleeved button-down shirt and dockers.

I spent two hours today seated in a shop at Fortune Town waiting for my desktop PC to get repaired (labor=100 baht; new graphics card=2,400 baht) and watched at least 500 Thai people walk by. I’d say 50% of the men wore shorts, while 75% of the women did, and 100% of the children. The few foreigners I saw all wore long pants. Go figure.

I too wear long pants, socks and shoes or sneakers almost all the time. Once you’ve been splashed with hot cooking oil you learn. The ankle bites are more likely from ticks and fleas, while the mosquitos work the upper torso and head. I usually only wear shorts around the house, or to Lumpini to run or play hoops.

I commute on the BTS every day and never see anyone with a jacket/suit jacket. I guess those that do drive, or take a taxi. It’s rare to see someone on the TV news wearing a jacket. It does suck to have to wear a suit jacket here, even in the coolish weather. We have a Royal visit this week at work and I have had to wear a suit for “practice” once. It seemed like everyone was staring at me on the BTS to/from work that day. Not looking forward to it this week.

I almost always wear shorts and a button down of light cotton. More important, be clean, neat, and polite. The rest will work itself out.

Cheers.