Bangkok eliminating all street food vendors

[fedssocr]

I am frankly a bit shocked by this. Street food is a huge tourist draw to the city. How do they expect these vendors to get by? Many have set up every day in the same spots for years.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30312543

[Manforallseasons]

I am not shocked.....The Junta is focused on the upper tier of society.....They eat in fine restaurants....they shop at Paragon...drive BMW's & Mercedes.

[arsenal]

Street vendors just like the beach concessions and the bars pay the bib in order to continue trading. So, many of the decisions the junta makes are in fact thinly disguised attacks on the police.

[cdnmatt]

I really hope this turns out to be bullshit. I guess the junta doesn't realize that not all 67 million Thais are as rich as they are? Markets are a staple of Thai society.

I've had to explain to Leo (who's really exzcited about the chance of visiting Canada) that there are no markets in Canada. I said I guess we have food courts, but that was the best comparision I could come up with.

Thailand needs street markets the same as mosquitos need blood.

[justaguy]

Illegal streetvendors ? And this comes from the organization headed by an appointed governor, appointed by the illegal government of Thailand.

The only thing illegal are the clowns running the show, they should shove article 44 up their ass, reinstate the 1997 constitution and face justice.

[Manforallseasons]

Street vendors just like the beach concessions and the bars pay the bib in order to continue trading. So, many of the decisions the junta makes are in fact thinly disguised attacks on the police.

Not sure who is doing what.....but the night vendors have been gone for months now from Silom.

[cdnmatt]

Thinking about it, this story has to be bullshit. Either that, or the junta is filled with complete retards.

You can't just get rid of markets in Thailand. What's the point? To force everyone to go to Tesco, because they happen to have more money than the market vendors scratching out a living the best they can, or what?

[arsenal]

Also, like it or not Thailand is developing at quite a fast pace and as countries develop they tend to follow certain patterns. Anyone know of any unlicensed street food vendors in London, New York or Paris? No, that's because it's no longer allowed. There used to be hundreds. Thailand is following that well worn path. From police carrying out more drink driving breath tests to the tightening up of beach concessions and the installing of more traffic lights Thailand is aping the west. Oh shit.

[scottish-guy]

I know, it's fucking terrible - cars, buses, and motorbikes will be stopping at pedestrian crossings next

[arsenal]

Not me. Get.outta the fucking way Grandad.

[frequent]

... the junta is filled with complete retards.Surely not?

[Oliver]

The junta knows what it's doing; Sukhumvit 38- one of the most popular areas used by vendors- is being cleared for a new upper-class housing development. The wealthy will make more money and the poor will be cleansed. We call it gentrification in the west. The junta is merely paying back those who brought it to power.

[cdnmatt]

Surely not?

Ok, maybe not retards, but inhumane assholes I think it a pretty accurate description. If there's no longer a demand from the people of Thailand for street markets, then the markets will disappear on their own due to supply and demand.

For now though, everyone loves the markets. Where I live at least, the markets are packed every night with people getting dinner, and food for their kids.
n

[cdnmatt]

Actually, this still strikes a nerve with me. If it's just a street or two in Bangkok, then I really don't give a shit. However, if the junta thinks they're going to roll out this little policy change nationwide, then they're simply delusional. There's no way they havr the police power to do that.

I mean, on every corner on every street in every city in this country has someone selling some kind of food. Have fun getting rid of that.

[Surfcrest]

If you are following the story in the Bangkok Post and now the government's reaction to the story, the plan gets a bit more clear. It sounds as though, what they would like to see is for the street vendors to be in specific areas of the city and not spread out over every passable sidewalk. The country and the city yearns to modernize with the rest of the world and that includes getting rid of the stuff other countries or cities have long since disposed of.

Surfcrest

https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/979293-china-town-khao-san-road-areas-to-be-transformed-into-organised-street-food-areas/

[fedssocr]

Yes, they are claiming that the original story was a misinterpretation. They're just going to regulate the current free-for-all. It does make some more sense.

[justaguy]

That stretch is already gone for some time, and.. the government had nothing to do with it. The row of shophouses on the right was privatly owned and the landowner decided that an apartment building would earn more. Most of the vendors moved beneath the space right under Sutti Mansion II. As a consequence they now stop operating much earlier then before.


And no the Junta has absolutely no idea what it is doing, and it will end badly that much is certain.


Edit: forgot to quote, this in in reply to the Sukhumvit Soi 38 being cleared by the government nonsense.

[arsenal]

This is a pattern being repeated all over Asia, at least in the bits I've seen. 'Businesses' that just set up shop wherever there happens to be a space are being cleared away and legitimate rent paying ones are moving in. This unfortunately does get rid of your favourite pissed on the way home late night snack seller but it also means that the old woman can walk on the pavement and not have to step into the road.

[justaguy]

If you are following the story in the Bangkok Post and now the government's reaction to the story, the plan gets a bit more clear. It sounds as though, what they would like to see is for the street vendors to be in specific areas of the city and not spread out over every passable sidewalk. The country and the city yearns to modernize with the rest of the world and that includes getting rid of the stuff other countries or cities have long since disposed of.

Surfcrest

https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/979293-china-town-khao-san-road-areas-to-be-transformed-into-organised-street-food-areas/

Thai political bullshit, and people are buying it ? These food vendors aren't some tourist attraction but a main source of food for the people that live in the area they serve. How does moving them to another location help these people ?

Do I now need to take a 60 baht taxi ride x2 just to get Tam Lao, Khai Yang and 2 khao niow worth 40 baht ?

[frequent]

Thai political bullshit, and people are buying it ?

You mean there's political bullshit somewhere in the world that people don't buy?

[cdnmatt]

If you are following the story in the Bangkok Post and now the government's reaction to the story, the plan gets a bit more clear. It sounds as though, what they would like to see is for the street vendors to be in specific areas of the city and not spread out over every passable sidewalk. The country and the city yearns to modernize with the rest of the world and that includes getting rid of the stuff other countries or cities have long since disposed of.

Surfcrest

https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/979293-china-town-khao-san-road-areas-to-be-transformed-into-organised-street-food-areas/


That's still not much better. I guess for a street or two in Bangkok at some of the popular street markets this is possible, but again, the junta is delusional if they think they're rolling this out nationwide. What about the lady around the corner who says "moo-bing"? Or the other lady who sells grilled fish? Or the pork vendor down the street? Or the vegetable lady? Or the other lady who gets her ass out of bed every morning, and puts out a spread of fruits and veggies every morning on the sidewalk in front of her house? Or the guy who drives around in a truck all day full of watermelons and a loud speaker trying to sell them?

Does the junta really think they're going to put all these people out of work? Not fucken likely. Hell, Leo is thinking of selling prok here, because he's an excellent cook, and he wants to make his own money instead of using mine all the time, which is understandable. Want to know where he's planning to setup shop? About 10 feet from te house on the corner of the street, because there's loads of foot traffic including many school children. He doesn't need to get a government issued license just to cook some food for some kids.

Things are just fine the way they are. Again, we don't need government interference on this one, and instead, let people choose for themselves. If people decide they want to go to Tesco everytime they want some oranges, then that's what will happen, and the lady around the corner will be shit out of luck. However, for now everyone likes her fruit and veggies, including me, so leave her alone and let her scratch out a living.

[Surfcrest]

I remember as a kid sitting unbuckled in the back seat, opening up bottles of beer for my ``old man`` (That was the cool thing to call Dad behind his back...way, way back...LOL) who was driving. We had bread delivery back then...and milk...and the newspaper, twice a day. There was a truck that used to come around playing music box music, selling ice cream to kids and there was a shoe shine stand outside the Mall...where we parked for FREE.

Back home, escorts used to stand in certain streets after a certain hour...now they have ads in the Yellow Pages and in the back of our community newspaper.

Things change...and I think the current government has done a good job at cutting through the red tape that prevented previous governments from doing anything in Thailand, to the point where they are making great progress towards modernization. It`s not all good, it`s not all bad. I hope the stands in the Ari area survive! There`s some good ones there.

There`s still a hell of a lot of people in Thailand with only so much disposable income, so while street food may change...there will always be alternatives from the Thai`s ingenuity.

Surfcrest

[justaguy]

That's still not much better. I guess for a street or two in Bangkok at some of the popular street markets this is possible, but again, the junta is delusional if they think they're rolling this out nationwide. What about the lady around the corner who says "moo-bing"? Or the other lady who sells grilled fish? Or the pork vendor down the street? Or the vegetable lady? Or the other lady who gets her ass out of bed every morning, and puts out a spread of fruits and veggies every morning on the sidewalk in front of her house? Or the guy who drives around in a truck all day full of watermelons and a loud speaker trying to sell them?

Does the junta really think they're going to put all these people out of work? Not fucken likely. Hell, Leo is thinking of selling prok here, because he's an excellent cook, and he wants to make his own money instead of using mine all the time, which is understandable. Want to know where he's planning to setup shop? About 10 feet from te house on the corner of the street, because there's loads of foot traffic including many school children. He doesn't need to get a government issued license just to cook some food for some kids.

Things are just fine the way they are. Again, we don't need government interference on this one, and instead, let people choose for themselves. If people decide they want to go to Tesco everytime they want some oranges, then that's what will happen, and the lady around the corner will be shit out of luck. However, for now everyone likes her fruit and veggies, including me, so leave her alone and let her scratch out a living.
Not sure why you seem to think this would be ok for Bangkok, because that what this is about, the BMA does not have any jurisdiction outside of the Bangkok city limits. And it most certainly isn't ok for Bangkok.

[frequent]

Things change...and I think the current government has done a good job at cutting through the red tape that prevented previous governments from doing anything in Thailand, to the point where they are making great progress towards modernization. It`s not all good, it`s not all bad. I hope the stands in the Ari area survive! There`s some good ones there.

They can always emulate the Singapore solution - hawker centres (http://www.thebestsingapore.com/eat-and-drink/the-best-5-hawker-centres-in-singapore/)

[justaguy]

I remember as a kid sitting unbuckled in the back seat, opening up bottles of beer for my ``old man`` (That was the cool thing to call Dad behind his back...way, way back...LOL) who was driving. We had bread delivery back then...and milk...and the newspaper, twice a day. There was a truck that used to come around playing music box music, selling ice cream to kids and there was a shoe shine stand outside the Mall...where we parked for FREE.

Back home, escorts used to stand in certain streets after a certain hour...now they have ads in the Yellow Pages and in the back of our community newspaper.

Things change...and I think the current government has done a good job at cutting through the red tape that prevented previous governments from doing anything in Thailand, to the point where they are making great progress towards modernization. It`s not all good, it`s not all bad. I hope the stands in the Ari area survive! There`s some good ones there.

There`s still a hell of a lot of people in Thailand with only so much disposable income, so while street food may change...there will always be alternatives from the Thai`s ingenuity.

Surfcrest

Let's just say that I strongly disagree with your notion that the junta has done good things. Precious little examples exists of things that changed for the better. Of course with article 44 superpowers, judicial and legislative procedures can be circumvented. Charter they operate under was self written. Thailand IS a dictatorship with the NCPO running the show with no oversight, no accountability, no transparancy and human rights being seriously curtailed.

Meanwhile Thailand's economy is in decline, the house hold debt up and the current government is going to end up with a deficit that will make Yingluck's rice scheme look like child's play.

Anyway, this is the BMA, but of course the Junta replaced the democratically elected Sukhumband with someome they control, article 44...

So even this little gem is being excecuted by someone with no electoral mandate whatsoever..

I don't think any democratically elected governor would do this because it would be political suicide. And rightly so.

[Surfcrest]

Well, I think it's fair to say the current political situation has not stimulated a lot of real investment into Thailand and for that reason, Thailand's economy has not reached it's potential. But things are happening, investment is being made by the government into well needed infrastructure projects, which is stimulating real estate investment...if nothing else and is setting Bangkok up well for the future, when democracy returns and the economy shifts gears.

I`d like to think the current government has taken a good bite out of the corruption that existed rampantly and at all levels and that things are getting done more efficiently now, as a result.

Surfcrest

[Manforallseasons]

I`d like to think the current government has taken a good bite out of the corruption that existed rampantly and at all levels and that things are getting done more efficiently now, as a result.

Surfcrest

You are naive!

[frequent]

You are naive!

Those who aren't following closely see the odd story about corrupt policemen being locked up and think "At last, they're cracking down on corruption". A friend who follows Loony Expat Central (aka. Thaivisa) tells me that was a common reaction when those stories first started to break. The reaction was more muted when it emerged that the only corrupt policemen being locked up just - and this is a pure coincidence you understand - happen to be close relatives of the about-to-be-divorced 3rd wife of someone whom Surfcrest would prefer us not to name

As for every other corrupt policeman, army officer or bureaucrat - it's Business As Usual

[justaguy]

Well, I think it's fair to say the current political situation has not stimulated a lot of real investment into Thailand and for that reason, Thailand's economy has not reached it's potential. But things are happening, investment is being made by the government into well needed infrastructure projects, which is stimulating real estate investment...if nothing else and is setting Bangkok up well for the future, when democracy returns and the economy shifts gears.

I`d like to think the current government has taken a good bite out of the corruption that existed rampantly and at all levels and that things are getting done more efficiently now, as a result.

Surfcrest

Oh my, the army is the most corrupt institution in the country and the Corruption index has worsened. The only corruption they have dealt with is alleged corruption lf their political enemies. By the way Thailand will not return to democracy. The 'approved' constitution has given 250 appointed senators the power to send any government the electorate elects packing. Funny to see you indeed are buying the propaganda and lies of the current government. By the way many of the infrastructure projects were initiated by previous governments. There is precious little this one deserves credit for, and a lot of ills they introduced into this society.

This bunch has ensured Thailand will be run by select few elites whilst still calling it democracy. Precious few are buying the nonsense..

[cdnmatt]

Modernization of Bangkok? It's a military dictatorship who refuses to relinquish power back to the people, so unsure how modern that is. Besides, isn't Bangkok expected to be under water in about 20 years? I thought they were moving the capital to Chiang Mai.

[dab69]

http://www.foodandwine.com/news/bangkok-announces-street-food-festival-days-after-announcing-street-food-ban


Yesterday, the National News Bureau of Thailand reported that the country’s capital would host the Bangkok Street Food Festival this June. On its surface, the announcement makes sense: Both food publications like this one and Major news organizations have repeatedly named Bangkok as one of the best street food cities in the world. But the announcement comes with a seriously bizarre caveat: Media outlets recently reported that Bangkok had banned street food vendors entirely—literally just days ago.

Earlier this week Wanlop Suwandee, chief adviser to Bangkok’s governor, appeared to be very clear about a planned street food ban. “The [Bangkok Metropolitan Administration] is now working to get rid of the street vendors from all 50 districts of Bangkok and return the pavements to the pedestrians,” Wanlop was quoted as saying. As if that wasn’t unequivocal enough, he continued, “The street vendors have seized the pavement space for too long and we already provide them with space to sell food and other products legally in the market, so there will be no let-up in this operation. Every street vendor will have to move out.”




Wanlop’s stance would appear to fly directly in the face of the National News Bureau’s report that the forthcoming Bangkok Street Food Festival would be held in just two months’ time thanks to the work of The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and—get this—the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the TAT, reportedly suggested that, though details were still up in the air, the event would offer up street food on major tourist streets throughout the city.

So where does Bangkok stand on street food? Well, by yesterday afternoon, The Nation had changed its tune, suggesting that the BMA was backing away from its previous stance and offering up a fresh contradictory quote from Wanlop. “Street food and street vendors are still allowed in the zoned areas, as we are trying to make the areas tidy and clean, but sellers must comply with the law,” he said this time around. Furthermore, the BMA reportedly made a formal acknowledgement that, yes, street food is an important part of the city’s culture.




Meanwhile, the National News Bureau of Thailand also presented a follow up article. “Govt does not ban street food, only seeks to keep orderliness,” today’s headline stated. In this report, a new character emerged: Government Spokesman Lt Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd. “[Sansern] dismissed news reports by some foreign media that the government is banning the sales of street food,” the NNBT wrote. “He said the government had received complaints from the general public and tourists regarding the disorderliness of pavements due to the placement of street food carts, thus the government is calling for cooperation among vendors to keep the area orderly, and to ensure food hygiene practices.” This government spokesman then also reportedly took an opportunity to hammer home just how important street food is to Thailand’s identity.

In the end, it would appear that, no, street food is not entirely banned, which means, yes, a Bangkok Street Food Festival could actually take place in June. You might just want to wait a few days before you buy your tickets. The government still sounds a little confused about what exactly it wants to do.

[MiniMee]

Besides, isn't Bangkok expected to be under water in about 20 years?


That was one of the favorite theories that Boygenius used to repeatedly quote on this forum about 10 years ago. If he was correct then, the water should be at least around our ankles by now, shouldn't it?

[justaguy]

That was one of the favorite theories that Boygenius used to repeatedly quote on this forum about 10 years ago. If he was correct then, the water should be at least around our ankles by now, shouldn't it?

Actually the idea to move the capital up north was uttered by someone in I believe the Samak administration. Whilst ludicrous, the notion that BKK is indeed sinking is not untrue.

[frequent]

That was one of the favorite theories that Boygenius used to repeatedly quote on this forum about 10 years ago. If he was correct then, the water should be at least around our ankles by now, shouldn't it?

Only if you assume ceteris paribus

[MiniMee]

More a case of mutatis mutandis I think.

[latintopxxx]

dont know what all the fuss is about. Soi convent is still full of food stalls creating an unholy stinking mess....and as for soi silom...the situation is now much more pleasant, instead of having stalls on both sides of the footpath creating a very narrow slow moving alley way, they are now only on the store side...so much easier to browse the crap on sale and so much easier to make my way from dusit to telephone bar.....and yes I know I could walk on the opposite footpath but Im simply being pedantic

[frequent]

I always take the skywalk above Silom from the Dusit to Thaniya - also saves having to cross the road. Looking down yesterday afternoon there were still small stallholders trying to flog the usual tat (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=tat)