Common Tourist Scams in Silom, Bangkok (and How to Avoid Them)
Patpong — the ping-pong-show scam protocol
- The pattern: touts on Patpong Soi 1 and Soi 2 (men with photo-cards or small flyers) approach foreign tourists offering "ping-pong show, 100 baht entry." The venue is upstairs; the entry is indeed 100 baht.
- The trap: once seated, mandatory drinks at 500-1,500 baht each; the show is brief; the bill arrives at 5,000-15,000 baht with "service charge" and "VIP fee" additions. Refusal to pay results in intimidation, sometimes physical blocking of the exit.
- The rule: never follow a tout to any upstairs Patpong venue. The "ping-pong show" is a known global tourist trap with consistent rip-off pattern; UK FCDO and US State Department issue specific warnings.
- The Patpong night market itself: completely safe for shopping. Counterfeit watches, t-shirts, cheap souvenirs at posted prices (with bargaining 30-40% off). Open 19:00-01:00.
- The downstairs Patpong go-go bars: posted entry, posted drink prices, no significant rip-off pattern (different business model from upstairs shows). Still uncomfortable for most travellers.
- If trapped: refuse to pay obviously inflated amounts; ask for itemised bill; demand to call Tourist Police (1155). Touts and venues usually back down rather than face police. Recovery via embassy intervention difficult after the fact.
FAQ
- What's the Patpong ping-pong show scam?
- Touts on Patpong Soi 1 and Soi 2 approach with 'ping-pong show, 100 baht entry' offers; the venue is upstairs. Once seated, mandatory drinks at 500-1,500 baht each, the show is brief, the bill arrives at 5,000-15,000 baht with 'service charge' and 'VIP fee' additions. Refusal to pay results in intimidation and sometimes physical blocking of the exit. The rule is absolute: never follow a tout to any upstairs Patpong venue. UK FCDO and US State Department issue specific warnings. If trapped, demand to call Tourist Police (1155).
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