Health and Safety in Thailand

When a trip to Thailand goes wrong, the cause is usually familiar: a motorbike crash, a contaminated drink, a mosquito-borne fever, or a hospital that asks for a guarantee of payment before treatment. This guide covers how to prepare, the main risks, medical care and the numbers to save. The facts were checked in September 2026 against advice from the CDC, the UK government, the Government of Canada and the Thai government.

Before You Travel

Vaccines

See a doctor or travel clinic well before your trip. This is the advice of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for Thailand, on its page reviewed on 25 August 2026:

• Malaria: the CDC recommends preventive tablets only for the provinces that border Myanmar, Cambodia and Malaysia, and none for other areas.
• Yellow fever: the vaccine is not recommended for Thailand itself, but you must show a yellow fever certificate if you arrive from a country with yellow fever.

Medicines

• Carry your regular medicines in their original packaging with a letter from your doctor, and check with the Thai embassy before you travel: the legal status of some medicines in Thailand differs from your home country.
• Do not buy medicines on the street. The UK government warns that they may be fake or stolen.
• Pack insect repellent, sunscreen, oral rehydration salts and basic pain relief.

Travel Insurance

Buy travel insurance that covers your whole itinerary, your planned activities (for example diving or riding a motorbike) and emergency medical costs. Cover can be refused or invalid if you ride without a valid licence or travel against your government's advice. Save your insurer's 24-hour number and your policy number, because hospitals ask for a guarantee of payment before treatment.

Common Health Risks

Mosquitoes: Dengue, Zika, Malaria and Japanese Encephalitis

The UK government names dengue, malaria, Zika and rabies as health risks in Thailand, and the Government of Canada adds Japanese encephalitis. All except rabies are spread by mosquitoes, so avoid bites: use repellent, wear long sleeves and long trousers, and sleep in an air-conditioned or screened room. If you get a fever during the trip or after you return, see a doctor and say that you have been in Thailand.

Rabies and Animal Bites

Rabies is present in Thailand. Do not touch or feed stray dogs, cats or monkeys. If an animal bites or scratches you, wash the wound with soap and water and get medical care straight away.

Drinks and Methanol

People have died after drinking alcohol contaminated with methanol, and even a small amount can kill. Choose sealed, branded bottles, be careful with cheap spirits, and get medical help at once if you or a friend feels unusually ill after drinking.

Air Pollution

Bangkok and Chiang Mai have high levels of air pollution and seasonal smoke haze from crop burning. At its worst the haze reaches dangerous levels and makes asthma, sinus and bronchial conditions worse. If you have one of these conditions, check the air quality daily and bring your medication.

Heat, Food and Water

Drink plenty of sealed bottled water, wear a hat and rest in the shade in the middle of the day. Choose busy stalls where food is cooked fresh. For diarrhoea, drink fluids with oral rehydration salts, and see a doctor if you have a high fever or symptoms that do not improve.

Hospitals and Pharmacies

Private hospitals in Thailand are of a high standard but can be expensive. According to the UK government, public hospitals do not always meet UK standards, especially outside Bangkok. The Government of Canada describes healthcare in major cities as excellent, but says that quality varies in rural areas. Every hospital asks for a guarantee of payment or proof of insurance before treatment, so give your insurer's details straight away.

Private international hospitals in Bangkok include:

Outside Bangkok, ask your hotel or your insurer which hospital to use. For minor problems, go to a pharmacy in a shop, not a street stall.

Staying Safe on the Road

The World Health Organization ranks Thailand among the deadliest countries in the world for motorcycle deaths. If you plan to ride a motorbike (including a scooter) or drive a car:

• You need a valid licence for the vehicle (a motorcycle licence for a motorbike) and an International Driving Permit. Riding without a valid licence can make your travel insurance invalid.
• Riders and passengers must wear a helmet. Since 1 June 2025 police enforce this with fines of up to 2,000 THB, doubled to 4,000 THB when neither the rider nor the passenger wears one.
• Drink-driving is strictly enforced, especially at New Year and Songkran.
• Never leave your passport with a rental business as a deposit. Some motorbike and jet-ski rental firms keep passports and demand money for damage they say you caused.

As a pedestrian, do not assume that vehicles will stop at crossings.

Getting Around Without Driving

Smile Taxi Service runs private transfers with local drivers at fixed fares, per vehicle (not per person), one way, with expressway tolls included and no meter. Before the trip you receive the driver's name, car and plate number.

For example, a transfer from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok costs 600 THB by sedan (up to 3 passengers), 800 THB by SUV (up to 5) and 1100 THB by van (up to 7):

• Book a sedan from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok
• Book an SUV from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok
• Book a van from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok

Airport pickups include 60 minutes of free waiting from the actual landing time. A child seat costs 100 THB extra on request, and an English-speaking driver can be requested when booking, subject to availability. You pay the driver in cash (THB) at the end of the trip; if you can only pay by card, message the team for a PayPal payment link (a 5% fee is added). Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup. See all routes and fares, or read How to Get from Bangkok to Pattaya for every option on that route.

Staying Safe in the Water

Boat accidents have killed travellers in Thailand. The risks are overloading, poor maintenance and rough seas, worst in the monsoon season: do not board an overcrowded boat, and ask for a life jacket. On beaches, follow the warning flags, do not swim alone and do not swim after drinking.

Nightlife, Scams and Areas to Avoid

• Never leave a drink unattended and do not accept drinks from strangers. Drink spiking followed by robbery or assault has been reported, and assaults are most common at full moon parties and near bars.
• Taxi fare disputes can turn into threats. Before the taxi sets off, agree the fare or check that the meter is switched on, and call the Tourist Police on 1155 if the dispute becomes threatening.
• Carry a copy of your passport photo page and keep the passport in the hotel safe. Police can ask to see your passport and may give you 24 hours to show it; a copy is usually enough.
• In its advice updated on 18 September 2026, the UK government advises against travel within 20 km of the land border with Cambodia, and against all but essential travel to Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat provinces and four districts of Songkhla province (Chana, Thepa, Na Thawi and Saba Yoi). Your insurance may not cover trips against your government's advice.

Emergency Numbers

Save these numbers before you land:

You can also call 191 and ask for an ambulance. The "Thailand Tourist Police" app works without a Thai SIM card and sends alerts about safety concerns and natural disasters nearby. After a crime, ask the Tourist Police for a police report for your insurer.

Embassies in Bangkok

For any other country, save your embassy's number from its official website before you travel.

Useful Thai Words for Health

At a small clinic, a pharmacy or in a taxi, these words can help. You can also show the Thai text on your phone.

FAQ

What are the emergency numbers in Thailand? Police 191, ambulance 1669, fire 199 and Tourist Police 1155 (24 hours, English-speaking operators).

Which vaccines do I need for Thailand? The CDC advises routine vaccines, including measles, plus hepatitis A and typhoid for most travellers. Hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis and rabies depend on your age, the length of your stay and your activities.

Are dengue and rabies found in Thailand? Yes, both are listed as health risks. Avoid mosquito bites and get medical care straight away after any animal bite or scratch.

Which hospitals in Bangkok treat foreigners? Private international hospitals such as Bumrungrad (+66 2 066 8888), BNH (+66 2 022 0700) and Samitivej (+66 2 022 2222).

Can I drink the local cocktails safely? Choose drinks made from sealed, branded bottles and never leave a drink unattended. Drinks contaminated with methanol have killed travellers in Thailand.

To travel from the airport or between cities without driving yourself, use the Smile Taxi Service booking page or message the team on WhatsApp or LINE.

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