Bangkok's red light district is deserted during national mourning days

Many bars and massage parlors in Bangkok's famous nightlife and red-light districts have fewer customers than usual due to restrictions on entertainment activities during the national mourning period.

When Zing.vn arrived at Patpong red light district on the night of October 15, the atmosphere here was significantly quieter than usual. The shops were still open, without flashing colorful signs, loud speakers or loud music.

Patpong is quiet, Khao San is less crowded

There are no longer men on the streets offering sex with signs bearing pictures of scantily clad girls. Most of the waitresses just sit inside - they don't go out to solicit customers. When reporter Hai An of Zing.vn went to talk at a massage parlor, a girl there said they still serve customers if requested.

When passing by the famous entertainment place where the gay community often gathers, about 800 meters from Patpong, most of the famous bars and massage parlors are closed.

A bar on Khao San Road is deserted on the day of national mourning. Photo: CT.

Khao San Night Street, likened to Ho Chi Minh City’s Bui Vien Street, is also sparsely populated on weekends. On weekdays, the street is packed with people, with bars full and even spilling out onto the streets. However, since the government declared a national mourning period, many shops and beer halls have been deserted. Business is still going on, but vendors are no longer eager to invite customers.

Richard, a Frenchman who has worked in Thailand for more than four years, told Zing.vn that he was surprised to witness the high level of respect that Thai people have for the king. “Therefore, I also want to show my respect for these feelings of my Thai friends. The king must be a very good leader to win people's hearts like that.”

However, Richard admitted that some of his French friends are reconsidering their travel plans to Thailand because of concerns that entertainment activities will be affected by the national mourning.

"Back in action soon"

Talking to Zing.vn, some Thai journalists said that the red light district will not be able to stay quiet forever. They all predicted that activities here will temporarily decrease for about a month.

Woody Lakkham, a journalist at Manager, said that Thailand has been in the peak tourist season since October. “The government has ordered a month-long shutdown of entertainment, but trust me, places like the red-light district will be back in business soon.”

Khao San Night Street has fewer visitors than usual, which is usually crowded. Photo: CT.

Tossapol Chaisamritpol, a reporter for the Spring News television channel, said the prostitution world in Thailand is not subject to any official law. “It is an underground world with many powerful people behind it. During a national mourning period, the girls may not be openly soliciting. But if the customer knows some of his ‘favorite’ bars, he can still ‘transact’ inside the bar, or ask for help finding some girls.”

Phuriphat Sangkhapat, a former Matichon newspaper reporter, said prostitutes are Thais too, and they have a lot of affection for the king. “During the national mourning period, to avoid trouble, they have to reduce their activities. If they show any disrespect, the whole of Thailand, which is in mourning, will turn around and punish them. But I believe the red-light districts will reopen soon.”

A female leader of the contingency monitoring and management unit of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said that TAT will cancel the famous Loy Krathong lantern festival in November.

Immediately after the first day of national mourning, TAT representatives had a meeting with the government and Bangkok authorities. “The general spirit is that we are all trying to ensure that tourism activities in the coming time can continue as normal. We only recommend that tourists coming to Thailand need to show respect for the national mourning period in my country. Tourists should not wear clothes that are too bright or too revealing in public places,” said a female TAT official.

According to Zing.vn