Map and Updates on the Coup in Thailand
[Updated 14/June/2014] We went from Martial Law on Tuesday 20 May to a fully fledged military coup on Thursday 22 May. The takeover by the army is being called “bloodless” at the moment but this could change. The Red Shirts who support the government, originally said that they would rise up if the military attempted a coup. No sign of that so far. So, what does a coup mean for the average tourist and expat in Bangkok and Thailand? Well, the main hindrance for them was the nightly curfew. But this was dropped nationwide on 13th June 2014. Follow me on Twitter for latest information.
UPDATE: Curfew has now been dropped in Thailand.
SCROLL DOWN FOR LATEST UPDATES on TWITTER >>>
When people talk about a coup they imagine the streets to be flooded with tanks and soldiers and bloody street by street fighting. Not so here in Bangkok. At least, not so far. At the moment, all of the tourist attractions in Bangkok are open as normal as are the government offices like Immigration. All of the shopping malls and markets are also open as normal. The skytrain, subway and airport rail link operate as normal. The airport and all flights are also operating as normal.
CNN International: Richard Barrow, a full-time travel blogger based in Bangkok, is a top source for those seeking news about the protests as well as travel advice for tourists. He can be followed at Twitter.com/richardbarrow
For the latest news, always check my twitter feed. I am tweeting 24/7 at the moment. Literally.
Please read my latest tweets above before asking questions.
[cetsEmbedGmap src=https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=210550963008557722983.0004ea041241da07d86cb&msa=0&ll=13.759894,100.532455&spn=0.146226,0.222988 width=450 height=425 marginwidth=0 marginheight=0 frameborder=0 scrolling=no]
Purple markers are main tourist attractions. Baskets are shopping areas. Red markers are popular protest sites but are empty most of the time. Flags are possible protest sites. This map is updated as and when there is an incident.
TRAVEL ADVICE FROM THE UK GOVERNMENT: You should take extra care and avoid all protest sites, political gatherings, demonstrations and marches in Bangkok [MORE] TRAVEL ADVICE FROM THE US GOVERNMENT: U.S. citizens are advised to stay alert, exercise caution, and monitor media coverage. You are advised to avoid areas where there are protest events, large gatherings, or security operations and follow the instructions of Thai authorities [MORE]
Feel free to post your questions in the comments below. But, don’t ask me to predict the future. No-one knows what tomorrow will bring! I don’t get paid to help tourists on twitter. If you would like to buy me a beer or make a donation, please use the form in the top left. Also, if you book your hotel on agoda by using this link, I get a small commission. It doesn’t affect your price. Thanks.
Would you recommend some good places to visit in Phuket. I heard about the tiger place where people can take some photographs alongside a tiger and its cubs too. Is this true? and if yes which place?
Hi Richard, I am Indonesian
Me and my family will going there on this weekend
we are going to stay at pratunam area. This is my first time to bangkok so we are a little bit worried. Does it save to stay at pratunam area? Do all shopping malls opens normally on weekend?
Everything is safe and open at this moment in time. Keep up with the news and you will be fine.
Hey Richard,
Me and my wife planning to visit Bangkok on 25th June..this is going to be a honeymoon kind of visit for us and getting around different temples and the marine park and some good shopping places and some good thai Massages(foot massage etc) is what we have planned for as of now…and yeah some shopping too!
Phuket was as option but other than lying at the beach and some snorkelling I don’t find much places to visit in Phuket. I prefer a place where I have things to visit and go around, shop, eat hv fun and Bangkok has many I suppose. Correct me if am wrong with my info here.
I know it would be foolish to ask you for sure if things would be alright by 25th June. But what I would like to know is knowing the current situation in Bangkok right now, would you even speculate saying that things might be little better than it is now but again it is just a guess based on the current situation and I understand that.
Secondly would you help me with some good tourist destinations which are really worth visiting and good places to shop and eat in Bangkok which you have experienced so far.
Thanks in Advance.
Kaushek
All I can tell you really is that things are safer in Bangkok since the coup and that there has been no bloodshed. The protesters have also been non-violent. There are no rally sites and small groups of protesters have popped up at random places for brief periods of times. At this moment in time, everything is fine. But do keep up with news on Twitter as it might change.
Until now as far as I understand the main problem tourists have encountered in Bangkok are traffic problems due to road blocks, closed BTS-stations and the curfew. Is that a correct observation? I’m going to Bangkok end of this month for a few days in business and will mostly stay at the hotel. If it stays the same it doesn’t seem too difficult to avoid protests by keeping updated by for example your tweets about where to avoid. Is there anything else to keep in mind while in Bangkok?
What road blocks? There are hardly any in Bangkok. Only a few BTS stations were closed and only for a few hours. And the curfew is midnight. I don’t think you will have a problem. Just keep up with the news and you will be fine.
Hi Richard,
Thank you for providing the updates via Twitter. I am going to Bangkok on 11 June, and plan to visit Maeklong Railway Market, which I understand that I can take a minivan at Victory Monument. I see there were protests at Victory Monument for the past week, do you think I can proceed with the plan?
They were only protesting there for a short period of time. The last few days they didn’t go there. Even during the recent occupation of Victory Monument which dragged on for more than a month, van continued but from one of the side streets. Life goes on here.
Thank you very much Richard!
Hi Richard,
Thanks for the wonderful job. How is the situation in Pattaya? Do you have some news.Heading there in July.
Everything as normal though some bars close early because of midnight curfew. But that might end by the time you get here.
And lastly is it safe to travel by bus going to the border in cambodia? During junta..
I cannot see why not.
Hi!
We will be traveling to bangkok on june 4, 2014. Is it safe to travel? I‘ve read that there was a protest happening there today. And its a bloody one my friend saw it when she was in platinum area.. Is this a sign for us not to travel? that risky?
Bloody one? where did you get that from. The protesters have been non-violent and the soldiers haven’t fired a shot at them. But of course, it could change in the future.
My friend saw it richard. A bloody battle there in platinum area..:( that what she describe, when i ask her. That‘s why i gather enough information regarding this matter. And i know that you are one of the few that i can rely on some updates there in bangkok. Thank you so much for answering me.
I have seen no reports of “bloody battles” in Bangkok since the coup began. Ask your friend again for source.
Hi Mr Richard,
I follow your Twitter updates for BKK everyday. I have a trip on 17 June to BKK and am specially concerned about the safety there. Just wondering will it go to a extend of bombing?
Do you think generally it’s still safe as me and my girlfriend we are simply just planning to do shopping at Platinum mall Siam etc and not planning to stay out too late.
Please advise thanks a lot!
Sorry, there is no way I can predict the next move for the protesters! I’m not their PR agency! But so far the anti-coup protesters have been non-violent. There has also been no nightly bombings/shootings like in the past. Speaking personally, I feel safe shopping in Bangkok.
Hi Richard
Thank you for your continued updates on twitter.
I am due to be catching the overnight bus from Bangkoks Southern Bus Terminal leaving at 7.30pm to travel down to Ko Phangan. Will the buses still be running or have they been cancelled due to the curfew?
I am travelling on June 9th will there be any possibility the curfew would have been lifted altogether by then?
Thanks
Ollie
All buses and trains are operating normally. As long as you leave before curfew you starts you will have no problem.
Hi Richard, Are taxis safe in Bangkok? Are they metered and is there a chance of getting ripped off? Thanks!
I think there is always a chance of getting ripped off by taxis around the world if you catch one in a tourist destination. My tip is to hail one that is driving along the road or has just dropped someone off. Don’t take taxis waiting in front of malls and hotels.
Hi Richard,
Good morning and thanks for all your updates. It is very much helpful..
We are a group of 5 people and we have already booked a flight to Bangkok on June 20. We plan to visit the Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Wat Pho and Khao San Road. I believe all of those places are free from protest and are all open and safe? (as you have indicated on the protest site map above).
Also, it is safe to travel by land and cross the border to Siem Reap from Bangkok? We plan to buy a ticket via ThaiTicket Major and travel from Mo Chit Terminal to Siem Reap. Or it is better to book a flight from Don Mueang Airport to Siem Reap?
Thanks and appreciate hearing from you.
Gev Mallari – Philippines
Yes, there are no longer any protest sites in Bangkok because gatherings of five people or more are illegal. But mini protests have been popping up around the city for brief periods of time. But all has been relatively non-violent so far. If you can afford to fly to Siem reap then go for it. That is what I did. But I cannot see any problem with a land crossing.
Thank you very much for your reply.
All the best! 😀
When you arrived CR, the reason you didn’t see the Army is because they are posted at the entrance to the airport..not at departure or the exit. Hope you enjoyed CR. I live here and I love it. Other than at the airport, I haven’t see any extra security around.
I didn’t see them at the entrance to the airport either when I arrived. Just the regular security for an airport.
I want to visit Bangkok and Pattaya but really dont knot about the real situation about tourist i just listened Ratchaprasong Intersection and Skywalk to be closed by military from 9:00 am, Sunday, June 1 i dont think freedom for tourist in this situation
We are living under a junta. It’s not going to be perfect. But Pattaya is more relaxed than Bangkok
Hi, I should travel to Bangkok before 25th June, otherwise my visa will be expired. I’m from Islamabad – Pakistan, I would like to visit all major tourist destinations within Thailand, due to ThaiCoup I’m very confused should I travel or not, should I be worried? Can u please recommend me few areas of Bangkok & pattaya where I can search guest house / hotels online. Waiting…
You really have to decide for your self whether Thailand is a good place for a holiday. But plenty of tourists here at the moment. I also personally feel safe.
Saw your zipline pic over the tea plantation in Chiang Rai.Does that mean that everything up in CM and CR is quiet? I heard it is a THaksin area. WE still plan on arriving up there June 11 and making our way over by bus to Laos.Do you think we should do that ? or look for a flight from Chiang Mai to Laos which is much more expensive of course.
I haven’t seen any troops in Chiang Rai but I’ve heard there are more visible in Chiang Mai. But no violence so far. Just a few protests.
Hi I am due to arrive in Thailand beginning if July. We are planning to stay and travel down to koh samui and then fly back to Bangkok at the end of the holiday. We have not yet bought our internal flight tickets. Would you advise buying them before out trip or once we arrive in Thailand? Do you think the price might decrease in the near future due to the coup? Thanks
If I was you, I would be as flexible as possible. Yes, booking in advance is cheaper, but you might need to make last minute changes.
Hi Richard.
I am due to start a volunteer placement in Chiang Rai on the first of July. I will be traveling alone to get to the foundation which I will be working with. I was wondering if you had any knowledge on the safety situation in Chiang Rai itself. I have yet to book flights but my plan was originally to fly from London to Bangkok and get a taxi to another airport and then from there fly to Chiang Rai. Would it be best to fly into a different city now?
Regards,
Rachael
I’m flying there this morning! Follow me on Twitter.
Hi Richard,
First off, thanks for all of your updates.
I have a trip to Bangkok scheduled for June 4th. I have not yet booked a hotel because I wanted to be sure I was going before I did. Can you recommend an area or hotel to stay in at this point that would be most ideal considering the situation? Or do you recommend skipping Bangkok completely and going to Phuket instead. Or should I cancel this trip (I’m going for Awesomeness Fest in Phuket) ?
Thanks!
Protests are illegal and so they move around. Phuket is a safe option.
Dear Richard
I have booked tickets to Koh Samui in three weeks time. Any idea what is the situation there？ I am going with two young kids and wondering whether I should cancel the trip. Is it safe there？
Cheers
Kenny
No problem in Samui at all.
First, thank you very much for your continuing work to disseminate information about what’s happening in Thailand. Especially thank you for putting together the map of protest sites etc… It’s fantastic, and greatly appreciated!
My daughter will be traveling this weekend to Bangkok with a group of middle school students to study as an exchange student over the next month or so. The school itself appears to be away from any protest sites, but the route she’ll most likely take to get there passes near the Victory Monument. Have there been traffic disruptions or other related problems in the areas around protest sites that she (and her host family) should be aware of?
Victory is a major hub and it was closed by the police for several hours last night. But no protesters turned up. it is likely they will now choose other areas around Bangkok.
Hi Richard,
We will be arriving in Bangkok on june 17 and will be staying at the Pratunam area. Is it safe to stay there? We plan to also go to Central world and Siam Paragon. Is the skywalk free of protesters?
Many thanks for your help!
I cannot guarantee that any area will be free of protesters at any given time. They come and go but not that often as it is illegal to protest
Hi Richard, I’ll be heading to Bangkok on 14 June. Is it safe in the Pratunam area? Will be staying at Baiyoke sky. Thanks!
All areas of Bangkok are the same and so no point in asking about specific destinations. There are no protest sites any more.
Hi Richard….great job!!! Bangkok and Chiang Mai are safe? Koh Samui and Koh Phangan? Thank you
Islands and beach resorts are all safe and far from worries. Chiang Mai has troops but not as many as in Bangkok.
Hi Richard, I’ll be going to Bangkok during the 2nd week of June and would be staying at the Pratunam area. Would it be safe? Thanks!
There are no rally sites in Bangkok and so any place is as “safe” as the next.
Dear Richard,
I’m disappointed that Mark Kent ambassador of the United Kingdom has canceled the party for Queen Elizabeth II birthday. Hope he will reconsider as not every expat agrees with him.
Judith Clark
Last One, Thanks Richard
Is the ban on groups of 5 or more directed towards protesters only? I’m traveling with a group of 20, will we need to split up into small groups in order to cooperate with this?
Dear Richard,
You’ve been living in Thailand a long time, is this coup similar to others? Aren’t the reasons for a coup to stop more violence and deaths occurring? Freedom of speech maybe limited but is it not to prevent civil war? Nobody has died since the coup making the streets safe again. Is not the safety of Thai and foreign visitors priority in times of crisis?
Judith Clark
The junta said they stepped in to prevent a civil war. Other than that I will not comment. This blog is only for travel related questions. Thanks.
If there was a window for a person with other countries government contacts, and a request was made to make sure the internet in Thailand remained open so the world could watch development. Would you be able to advise a lobbyist what to ask their government to support people in Thailand, so there is less of a chance of things going horrible wrong and the world can monitor all actions by Facebook or Twitter or line ?
Sorry, is this a travel related question?
Hi Mr Richard, I’m travelling to Bkk next week and would like to find out if bY any chance, I’ll be able to visit Talad Rot Fai? Not sure if it’ll be opened for business. Thank you!
Everything is open as normal, though some places may need to close early for the curfew which starts at midnight.
Hi Richard,
Do you know if the sleeper trains from Surat Thani to Bangkok are running?
Many thanks,
John
Yes, but no trains arrive during curfew hours which are presently midnight to 4 a.m.
am an old net security geek and op with infrastructure in the states, though i live in japan. have worked and taught in bkk.
if there is anything we can do from outside, please email. pgp is good, key on public ring.
i understand why you have to do tourist support. your bravery is commendable.
Hi Richard?
1) Has there been any deaths from protest, or violent protests in the last month?
2) Do the night buses still operate during curfew?
Since the coup started, the almost nightly bombings/shootings have stopped. Any protest we have had so far in Bangkok have been mainly peaceful. But that situation could change.
Buses in Bangkok run until midnight. Inter provincial night buses are running as long as they leave before the midnight curfew.
Hi Richard
Im heading to Thailand on the 24th of June. Do you reckon the situation will improve by then? will the curfew soon be lifted? We are staying 2 nights in BKK and then going to vietnam for 12 days. We will be heading down to the Gulf then for the full moon.
It’s impossible to answer questions like that. Only the junta can answer how long the curfew will last. Sorry.
What will be the implications for ASEAN as a result of the military coup? Any thoughts?
Cheers,
Adam
Sorry, I am only answering travel related questions.
With all due respect in trying to help your friends in Thailand by giving out the hola.org extension, this can be blocked as well. Hola.org is not a VPN – it’s a proxy. Proxies are very simply blocked while VPN’s are more complicated but not impossible to block. Hola.org will go first with a simple URL block once this comes into effect. They’ll be alerted of it on your Twitter logs.
Thank you for your updates. I heard from local the bombing terror happend in Chiang Mai on 26th May. But I can’t find articles about that. So I can’t believe it. Have you heard it?
None of my friends in Chiang Mai reported that. What is your source. And don’t say you heard from a friend of a friend or read on Facebook 🙂
My sourse is just netizen in Korean community site. He said “I live in Chiang Mai. The bombing terror happend here!”. But I don’t trust him. So I asked you. I was relieved at your reply. Thank you so much!!!!
Hi Mr Richard Barrow
Thanks for your updates- they are really helpful. I’m travelling to Bangkok in less then 2 weeks from now for studies in Bangkok near virtory monument for a whole month. I have not experience nor seen a coup before. I have seen some footages of a coup previously and it was scary but no coverages this time that appear similar like that yet. Would it be advisable for me to continue my trip?
best regards
There are no tanks on the streets. There are no people being gunned down. Just some peaceful protests so far.
Hi Richard,
I have tweeted you once before, before the coup. We will be traveling to Bangkok for 20 days in June. Do you think we need to reschedule our trip? Everyone we talk to say its safe and it’s just a bunch of protesting as of right now. What do you think?
Most tourists have been saying that they haven’t been affected that much. Certainly the ones outside of Bangkok.
Hi Richard,
Thanks for your updates- they are really helpful. I’m travelling to Thailand in 4 weeks to get married. I have no concerns about travelling during coup and I’ve been to Thailand before and love it! My biggest concern is that we have to do 3 days of legal work in Bangkok with consulates and courts- do you envisage the consulates and courts being affected and possibly not available to process our paperwork?
Vicky
Congratulations. Don’t worry, everything is open as normal.
Heard that theres a bombing incident in chidlom area which is quite serious. The video is spreading around in facebook. Is it true?
Hi Richard, I’m planning on travelling to Thailand in August, obviously you wont know what the story will be at that stage, so lets say i was going for the month of june. I am 19 and plan on obviously seeing the nice places etc but obviously enjoying the nightlife as well. Would you suggest cancelling and re-arranging maybe for next year? or do you think it would be okay? And do you know if the Full Moon Parties are still going on through out the night? Or is there a military presence on Koh Phangan? Hope you can help me out here, cheers.
Curfew is now midnight to 4am. Not sure yet if the next full moon party will go ahead. Might be cancelled. But then again, they might drop the curfew next week. We just don’t know. If you don’t like the uncertainty then try again next year.
Hey Richard
Thanks for your regular updates mate, really appreciate it!
I’m due to reach Thailand on 31st May for 9 days for a holiday with my fiancée and Im sure you’ve been asked a million times if it is safe to come still. But what I want to ask is slightly different, My plan was to spend the first night at BKK in the “Wang Mai, Pathumwan” area and then Chiang Mai for 2 nights followed by Koh Samet for 3 nights and then back to BKK to the same hotel for the remainder of the trip.
My question is do you recommend that I cut the last leg of my stay in BKK shorter and stay at Samet longer? or should I not be worried too venture into BKK and spend those days there?
Also with the Curfew, what happens if there is an emergency? like im very violently allergic to seafood, would they allow me to head to a pharmacy or a clinic or hospital in case that happens (between 10PM-5AM)?
Cheers
Varun
To add on, we fly back to BKK from Chiang Mai and reach BKK around 1400 hrs, would we be fine with the ferry and everyting for Koh Samet?
How long would it take to reach Ban Phe with the checkpoints and traffic jams now? We also have to catch the ferry otherwise speedboat is it?
There aren’t really any checkpoints. Not regular ones anyway. Sorry, cannot predict something like that.
Probably best to stay away from Bangkok as much as you can but I feel safe there and so do millions of other people. Koh Samet is a nice place. About curfew, It has just been changed to midnight-4am. Yes, you are allowed to go to hospital during curfew.
Do you think the protest/thai coup will be over in july? thanks a lot!
The coup or military rule will go on for at least a year or so
This is a very long estimate. Is that how it went on for last time? Thanks!
The signs at the moment is that it will be a long time before we get free and fair elections. Most likely more than a year if they plan reforms first.
I’m going to Phuket with my family (2 adults and 2 kids) on 5 June. Is it safe?
Phuket is safe.
Hi Richard. We are planning to travel to Thailand next week, but due to the situation we are rethinkig our trip. We heard today that the curfew is only going on in BKK and that in the islands an the tourstic towns it is going all fine. Can you confirm that information?
Thanks!
Not true. Curfew is nationwide. But it has just been relaxed to midnight-4am
Hi Richard, I will be travelling to Phuket on June 22nd, should i be worried? i assume the islands are safe
No, you shouldn’t be worried about Phuket.
Hi Richard,
I am a US student expecting to study abroad in Thailand at the end of June. What is your opinion on students trying to study there at the moment? Is it safe or should I possibly choose another location to study?
Thanks,
Jessica
Study where in Thailand? In Bangkok?
In Chiang Mai at Chiang Mai University
Hi Jessica, I am a student too. I am studying in US and now I am in Chiang Mai following study abroad program. We are in a large group with several US students, including our professor. In my opinion, Chiang Mai is quite far away from Bangkok and I saw only a few army in some street corners. Even in the airport, there are not too many army.
Chiang Mai is relatively safe and the people here very polite and friendly. Don’t worry to visit Chiang Mai.
Thanks
Hi Richard,
A big thank you for your continued updates… Am a frequent traveller to Thailand and this time we are big gang of people planning to visit BKK & Pattaya this mid July. Am sure that you cannot predict much at this stage, we are fine with the coup as the tourists will be always safe but just want to know if the curfew will be in place for so long untill Mid July?
It has already been shiftet to a midnight start and could be dropped by the time you get here.
Hi Richard,
Thanks for all your work keeping us up to date, its really helped me keep a calm head about the situation! I know you can’t predict the future, but what is your assessment of whether there will be protests/problems in Surat Thani (have to pass through the town a few times in upcoming holiday)? As far as I can gather its a more anti-thaksin administration place so should be happy now? But that is a naive assesment after a quick google. . . .
There has been no reports of protests in Surath Thani.
Hi Richard,
Just curious as I was browsing through your twitter and you tweeted that transportation and shopping all start at 2pm. So, what are the tourists able to do before that?
That was one shopping mall that decided to open at 2pm that one day instead of 11am. But in the end no protesters turned up and they opened at 1pm. If you didn’t know, there are hundreds of malls and shops in Bangkok on that same road!