Nightlife venues to stay open until 4am in four provinces, Bangkok included

Night owls and other species of party animals—the wait is no more, for your favourite nightlife destinations will be able to open their doors until 4am.

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Nightlife venues in Thailand to stay open until 4am in four provinces, Bangkok included

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced that the nightlife opening hours will be extended in order to boost tourism, and a trial run will include Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, and Phuket. This policy will be rolled out officially on 15 December, 2023, just in time for the festivities, and the high tourist season.

However, while it may sound like good news for many, this extension is still only temporary, and officials will be holding another discussion on how many months this trial should take place. A round of assessment will be conducted after the trial period to see if the extended opening hours are to be put in place formally, and determine if there should be zones put in place for safety purposes (think, Silom and Thonglor bars being able to open until 1am, while other areas are open until midnight).

Many business operators have already voiced positive opinions, including those not from the four provinces included in the trial run. Adviser to the Trat Tourism Council Samphan Chanderm also gave his support, saying that expanding the law to other provinces, including areas with high tourism value such as Koh Chang, would boost tourism income.

The news certainly came as surprise for many, seeing how strict the alcohol laws are in Thailand. This would certainly put other issues into the spotlight when it comes to nightlife, including unclear zoning and many establishments still allegedly allowing underage patrons to enter their venues. Will this pave way for the government to take another look at the strict alcohol laws? One can hope.

Many cities in Asia famous for their nightlife, including Seoul and Singapore, allow clubs and bars to stay open until very late, many until morning. This notion will put Bangkok up there with the cities listed, and will certainly be well-received by incoming tourists.