Heading to Bangkok and want to know what the hookup scene is like?
Thailand’s capital is a popular hub for international visitors and is jampacked full of great places to socialize and meet new people. From bars, clubs and shopping malls to parks, train stations and discos, the city offers a fantastic selection of locals, students and tourists to get a casual encounter with.
In this feature we take a closer look at how and where to hookup in Bangkok. From the best spots to hit in the daytime, the evening game in the clubs and bars to the best apps to use, we’ll guide you through picking up in Thailand’s capital.
What Are Bangkok Girls Like?
With a population of eight million people and more than 22 million tourists passing through each year, Thailand’s capital city is a vibrant and busy place.
Loud, colorful and foreigner friendly, it has a reputation for being one of the best places in South East Asia for westerners to pick up girls but what are the women in Bangkok actually like?
Just like any bustling city, Bangkok is home to a diverse mix of people from all kinds of backgrounds but Thai girls are known for their petite frames, femininity and exotic beauty.
In common with a lot of Asian countries, Thai women don’t enjoy the same kind of gender equality as their sisters in the West. And although the social tide is beginning to turn following the last few years of pro-democracy protests, a woman’s role in Thailand is still a very traditional one.
Society’s view is that Thai women are expected to be mothers, wives and housekeepers but don’t be mistaken into thinking that this makes them subservient! Far from it. Thai women may take a lot of time over their appearance and behave politely but they are generally confident and assertive.
Well educated Thai girls from middle class and wealthy families speak English well and Bangkok is also bustling with independent young professionals who earn a very decent wage. Just like in London, New York or Sydney, these women work hard but also want to party hard too.
Whatever their background, most women in the city offer a pretty warm welcome to visitors as many work in the tourist or service industry.
The Thai people, generally, are very friendly to foreigners and unlike in countries like Japan there aren’t many places where international visitors aren’t welcome.
Don’t forget, of course, there is also an active sex industry here so it’s important to know when you’re getting played for a punter and when you’ve made a real connection.
Bangkok is also full of immigrants and visitors so the city is a great place to meet European, Australian and North American travellers as well as women from across Asia.
In fact, Thailand is a popular country for cross-border immigration from Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and Myanmar.
Overall, the city offers up a huge diversity for hookups with lots of different types of women of all ages to choose from.
See more: Dating culture in Thailand
Finding a Hookup in Bangkok
So, Bangkok has ripe pickings for some hot women but where do you go to find them?
Like many other cities, Bangkok offers three main opportunities for hookups:
- Day Game
- Night Game
- Digital Hookups
Day Game in Bangkok
One of the best places to find single women during the day in Bangkok is at one of the city’s many shopping malls.
Thai women tend to gather in groups but you don’t need to be cautious approaching them if you see a lady you like the look of.
As long as you’re polite, friendly and give her your best charm offensive then it’s pretty easy to get a phone number.
In fact, most people in Thailand use LINE or WeChat (sort of like WhatsApp) so it’s best to have these apps downloaded on your phone before you head out.
If you want to hookup with a higher class of woman then it’s best to head for the luxury malls:
- Central Embassy Shopping Mall, 1031 Phloen Chit Rd, Pathum Wan District
- Siam Paragon, 991 Rama I Rd, Pathum Wan
- EmQuartier, Sukhumvit Rd, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana
These malls also tend to attract a lot of wealthy expats and tourists but it can be much harder to make your opening gambit.
Far easier are the mega malls where more locals will shop for their everyday items:
- MBK Center, 444 Phayathai Rd, Wang Mai, Pathum Wan District
- Pantip Plaza, 3 Phetchaburi Rd, Pratunam
- Platinum Fashion Mall, 221B, Phetchaburi Rd, Pratunam
- Seacon Square, Srinakarin Road, Nongbon
- Siam Center, 989 Phayathai Rd, Pathum Wan
- Terminal 21, Sukhumvit Road
Just remember that any women you pick up shopping during the day are wealthy enough not to be working or not working at all or could have some kind of night job!
Other places to head during the day where you can find single women in Bangkok include:
- Coffee shops
- Bookstores
- Parks
- MRT (subway) Stations
Another good place to do some day gaming is to hit up the university areas. There are a couple of dozen university campuses in Bangkok and plenty of Thai women in their 20s can be found here every day of the week. Often using the local stores and coffee shops, you might have some luck if you have the right kind of patter for those academic types.
Night Game in Bangkok
By far the easiest way to hookup in Bangkok is by heading to the city during the evening.
Like many capitals, Bangkok comes alive after dark and its many bars and clubs are crawling with singles looking for a hookup.
The only problem with gaming in Bangkok at night is that, just like you, there are a lot of professional women looking for hookups at night too!
It can sometimes be difficult to tell pros apart from the real deal but if you aren’t looking to pay for your hookup then definitely stay clear of any girly bars.
Best Nightclubs and Bars for Hooking Up
Obviously if you want to avoid being picked up yourself by one of the many professional women who work at night in Bangkok then you should steer clear of places like Soi Cowboy, Nana Plaza, Soi Twilight and Patpong.
If you hit a club or bar in any of these areas then you are pretty much advertising that you want to PAY for sex.
Instead, you should be looking to hit the Thonglor or Royal City Avenue (RCA) area of the city.
Both well known for their nightlife, there are plenty of clubs in both of these districts.
RCA is particularly well known for clubbing and attracts a lot of locals and tourists in their 20s looking for a good time. The clubs here are energetic and attract a lot of international DJs or live bands.
Venues here are always busy, even during the weekdays, so it’s an ideal place to head for the best chances of picking up.
The most popular club is Onyx; a Mecca for EDM fans and this huge club is often the last place to close in the city.
Route 66 is right next door to Onyx and enjoys an equally great reputation for being a party zone.
RCA has dozens of other great clubs and all have good opportunities for hooking up, including:
- 808
- Baroque Club
- Dude Nightclub
- Ezze
- Flix
- Hobb
- Inch
- JazzIt
- Live RCA
- Love Boat Club
- Nospace
- Slim
- TDC Club
- The Overtone Music Cave
If you fancy trying your luck somewhere a little less loud then there are a couple of good (and quieter) beer bars in RCA.
Taksura is popular with a student crowd and is more like a country pub. With vintage décor and acoustic bands you can try out more of your chat here than in the clubs.
Alternatively, try Tha Beat Lounge; a trendy hip-hop club which is low-key and friendly, guests can bring along their own record collections and take a turn as a DJ. It’s got a really nice atmosphere and the drinks are really well-priced but it’s definitely the chilled out, fashionable women that will keep you here.
Over in Thonglor you can head to Beam or Demo, two clubs with an equally impressive mix of night revellers and always stuffed full of single twenty-somethings.
Just like RCA, this whole area has plenty of great bars that are all open late.
Another part of Bangkok which has some great night game opportunities is Sukhumvit Soi 11. There are two big clubs here which are both worth checking out; Levels and Sugar.
Other Night Game Opportunities
Of course, the clubs and bars aren’t the only places to do some hooking up in Bangkok at night and the city also has some busy street markets of an evening.
Perhaps the most popular of these is the Proud Market. Also located in the RCA area, it is open Thursday to Tuesday until 1am and locals, clubbers and tourists can be found her enjoying the atmosphere, shopping and snacking.
It’s a more leisurely way to do some late evening cruising but not the easiest place to pick up.
Another night market worth checking out is the Ratchada Night Bazaar on Ratchadaphisek Road. Stuffed with the usual snack shacks, curios stalls and gaudy stands it’s a busy part of the city with a great atmosphere.
All around the market are smaller whisky bars and live music pubs which are a great place to do some people watching. However, this is much more of a locals scene so just be aware that there will be far fewer tourists here.
Instead, if you do fancy your chances hooking up with a tourist then the Khao San Road in central Bangkok is also a decent area to head. Known for its budget hotels and hostels, it’s a part of the city which attracts a lot of backpackers. As a result, the bars around here are crawling with gap-year students as well as locals.
One club on Khao San Road, simple called The Club is pretty popular with European and North American backpackers.
Best Hookup Apps to Use in Bangkok
Smartphone usage in Thailand has been growing rapidly over the last decade and recent reports suggest that around 72% of the population has access.
And a lot of people in Thailand use smartphones in the same way as people in the West; to open hookup apps!
Here in Bangkok, Tinder is just as popular as anywhere else in the world and remains the number one hookup app. However, most of the profiles (around 75%) that you will find on Tinder when in Bangkok are those of international visitors.
Other popular international apps which have a good coverage in Bangkok are:
- OkCupid
- Happn
- Bumble
- Coffee Meets Bagel
- Badoo
All good options if you are looking for fellow tourists or ex-pats in the city but not brilliant for locals. Plus, a lot of people who use these are looking for more than just a hookup.
Another great option, particularly if you are looking for local Thai ladies is Thai Friendly.
One of the largest dating sites in the country and very popular with young single women in their 20s, Thai Friendly specializes in matching local women with farang guys.
See our full Thai Friendly review.
Adult Friend Finder is also a useful app to have in your arsenal particularly if you are happy to hookup with international tourists, backpackers and swingers. The site is well known among kinky couples who want to enjoy group sex, threesomes or cuckolding and there are a lot of local members registered on the site.
Tips for Picking Up in Bangkok
Hooking up in Bangkok is pretty easy for foreigners and the locals are all very familiar with the steady stream of Westerners looking to try a bit of Thai.
Yes, Thai girls are all too aware of the attraction that farang guys have for them and many know that there is good money to be made from ‘dating’ a foreigner. Even if they aren’t looking for money, hooking up with a farang might come with plenty of benefits including gifts and nights out.
So, you always need to be aware that any kind of hookup with a local girl can come at a cost.
Hookups with a Catch?
Bar girls are pretty good at finding themselves a temporary boyfriend who can lavish them with gifts and money. They even use dating apps like Thai Friendly and Tinder to specifically find a hookup.
And women who aren’t a part of the adult industry may still be looking for something more than just a one-night stand. Potentially, some of these women may be looking for a more permanent hookup and may be looking for a green card to emigrate.
Don’t Fall for the Routine
Foreign men have a reputation in Thailand for just being sex tourists and a lot of locals are very wary of hooking up with farangs.
Yet many will do so in the hope that they can catch a foreign boyfriend.
Some women make a healthy living this way, courting many men at the same time. Each of them may have been a hookup or holiday romance at some point who then return home with the promise of returning.
It’s then pretty easy for a Thai woman to keep writing to her ‘boyfriend’ on the internet and professing love to keep the flame alive.
Over a period of time, these gold diggers are pretty good at extorting money from their foreign lovers and the scenarios are all pretty similar:
- You made her pregnant and she needs money for an abortion.
- She needs money to study so she can give up the bar girl job.
- She wants to open a business.
- Someone in her family is sick or has had an accident.
- She wants to come and visit you and needs money for a flight.
You get the picture.
And whilst there are a lot of genuine Thai women looking for love, you just need to be cautious after you’ve hooked up not to fall for any begging stories.
Perseverance is Key
Whilst Thai women are very friendly and approachable, it can be harder to get a hookup during the day but don’t get disillusioned if your charm offensive proves ineffective. Just be patient, polite and persistent; there are plenty of women in Bangkok looking for a hookup.
However, we do think that the night game in the city is much better so if you have a fruitless afternoon then definitely hit up the bars and clubs in the evening.
Make The Effort
It should go without saying that whenever you’re on the lookout for a hookup, you should be ready to make a good first impression.
No woman, no matter where in the world they’re from, wants to meet up with a guy who is scruffy, unclean and ill-mannered.
So, put your best foot forward, be showered, dressed to thrill and have your killer charm in high-gear.
Casual clothing is fine but if you are looking to bag yourself a high-class Thai cougar then make sure you’re looking sharp.
Check Their Age
A lot of Thai women look young for their age and Westerners can be very surprised to find that the woman they thought was in their 20s turns out to be nearly 40! They just seem to age well as a population but this does make it hard to know how old your hookup is by looking at them.
In Thailand, the legal age of sexual consent is 15 (18 for prostitutes) and if you’re hooking up with a Thai girl then it is essential that you ask to see their ID. Don’t worry all Thai nationals are required to carry an identity card with them.
The penalty for sex with minors in Thailand is severe and even though it seems pretty cautious, you will thank us for telling you before instead of after.
Money Talks
As we mentioned already, even Thai girls who aren’t sex workers are still looking for a man who can show them a good time.
Which basically means that you need to look as though you can afford to pay for any dates and treat them well.
Whilst most Thai people believe that all Westerners are rich (and by comparison, most are), it helps if you are generous with your money. You should offer to pay for drinks, meals and dates but don’t be surprised if your hookup insists that she pays.
Remember that whilst Thailand is, technically speaking, still a developing nation, there are a lot of wealthy families in the capital region. So wealthy in fact that they can make your fat wallet look emaciated!
Stay Protected
And finally, it should go without saying that if you are hooking up in Thailand then you should always use protection.
HIV is a real risk in Thailand particularly within the sex industry but there are also dozens of other STDs in circulation.
Another risk is of making someone pregnant and although you might have plans to disappear the morning after, if you put a bun in a Thai girl’s oven you’d better believe us when we say you don’t want to deal with the consequences.
The bottom line is that any woman who is prepared to have sex with a stranger without protection may have done so before and this means you’re in very real danger of contracting an STD. So, make it clear; no glove, no love.
Featured image via Wikimedia Commons.