ask
Search
Ask
Answered9 months ago

What are the current air quality conditions in Bangkok as of January 16, 2026?

Jim *******
asked Jan 16, 2026
7.2k
views
54
replies
36
likes
If I may. Bangkok, 7 am January 16. 2026. Hazy. From my balcony.
Answer summary
On January 16, 2026, residents and expats in Bangkok reported hazy conditions attributed to air pollution, particularly PM2.5 levels. Many users shared experiences of poor air quality, suggesting precautions like wearing masks or staying indoors. Comments highlighted views from different regions in Thailand, such as Chiang Mai and Hua Hin, with several expressing frustration towards the increasing pollution and urban issues. Some users compared air quality between cities in Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries, particularly Vietnam, suggesting varying experiences based on location.
54 repliesnewest first
26

Click comment and we will ask for your email, then OTP, then name.

Jim *******
Jim *******
OP
If I may. Since December 2025. alcohol retail sales (like, at 7-11) have been changed (a pilot program, 6 months) to allow alcohol sales from 11am to 01 am next day.
Chris *****
Chris *****
It’s much clearer today 17 January 2026, Saturday.
Sue **********
Sue **********
Thats why we chose live in the south. Always same temperature and no pollution.
Charlimo *********
Charlimo *********
Are these fires already?
Simon *********
Simon *********
Bad this morning around 6am very pollution foggy as I arrived at the bus station in Bangkok.
Daniel ******
Daniel ******
Go to Vietnam!
Charlimo *********
Charlimo *********
@Daniel *****
the air on Vietnam, especially in Hanoi, is a million times worse than Bkk
Cat ********
Cat ********
Charlimo SawadeeIt is really bad in Hanoi. Was there late last year. I don't have any breathing issues but Hanoi I 100% felt the air quality was bad.
Tim ******
Tim ******
Is this a Farang barracks down there?
Jim *******
Jim *******
OP
@Tim *****
16 milion baht houses, not barracks. I don't think any farangs live there. Thai families, professionals, mid-late 30s.
Shane ************
Shane ************
Great for tourism. Keep that illegal burning going
Brian *****
Brian *****
Go home then sick of people moaning
Tom *******
Tom *******
Get out the city that smog will kill your lungs
Mark ***********
Mark ***********
Chiang Mai burning season starts in a month from now. So many of us migrate to cleaner air πŸ˜€
Jim *******
Jim *******
OP
@Pete ******
Roi Et tower.
Allan ******
Allan ******
Onnut this morning :)
Jim *******
Jim *******
OP
@Allan *****
I know the place, thank you. I can recognize the building to the left. Our first home was at Ekkamai.

Many buildings erected since our time.

Do you know what "Onnut" means?

A beauty of a lady called "nut"
Allan ******
Allan ******
Charlimo *********
Charlimo *********
Aaawwful pollution
Mike *******
Mike *******
Same in Jomtien this morning. Last 2 days as well.
Jim *******
Jim *******
OP
Mike Baker That is a salinity from the ocean. Pattaya has noting to do with air polution.

Poorly educated farangs in Pattaya, human wrecks, they are 90%, have no idea about that.
Jim *******
Jim *******
OP
In 2005, when our daughter was small, Pattaya, Water park, Pattaya Tower.

The water was cold, blue lips after 1 hour.

The aircon in our hotel was actually heating!

All the boats were moved to Jomtien bay, strong winds.

Edit: sea temperature in Pattaya was 17C, like Oslo Bay in Norway in their summer.
Alison *****************
Alison *****************
That looks pretty crap
Jim *******
Jim *******
OP
@Alison ****************
It clears before midday, this is 4pm January 16. It is not polution, salinity from the ocean. Just check what Los Angeles looks like in their mornings.
Noeleen ************
Noeleen ************
Saw this on the way to the airport today coming from Hua Hin , couldn’t believe how bad it was 😷
Jim *******
Jim *******
OP
@Noeleen ***********
Hua Hin? That shithole?

Been there 20 times, all 5* hotels , the beach is muddy rubbish, stray dogs.

Naive farangs flock to there, buy properties in the Hua Hin sticks, like in Maha Sarakham or shitholes land locked like that.
Willy *******
Willy *******
Jim Davis
TaShuna ****
TaShuna ****
@Jim ******
well damn. Geesh
Jim *******
Jim *******
OP
@TaShuna ***
Looking from Dusit Thani hotel, the next large condo building was in dark. Like not even connected to the electrical grid.

Then, I remembered, when I was naive, 2004, went to inspect some beach front condos. The agent showed me around, all of the buildings had dormitories (high small windows, like storage rooms) in their carparks.

What are this dormitores for? The agent (making sure my wife does not hear) told me: "That is where the driver of your Mercedes rests while you are shagging your mia noi upstairs".

All those condos along the beach belong to rich Thais from Bangkok, as their summer houses.

Nothing there for sale. Just see the listings of the properies now. All in the hills, in the sticks, you can not even guess where the sea is. Like you are in landlocked Buriram.
Nick *******
Nick *******
@Jim ******
hilarious that would you describe Hua Hin as a shit hole but rave about Bangkok, and I live in Bangkok πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚
Jim *******
Jim *******
OP
@Nick ******
What a rubbish place Hua Hin is, if anyone had to design it, it was for 15 thousand people. Now, there are 200 thousand people, choking in traffic jams. Even Thais are avoding it.

I was in Hua Hin when they opened their first supermarket,. 2002. near the train station. Then , Hua Hin was like not a well known place.

My Thai wife said today (January 16, 2026), never to go there even for free.
Michael ********
Michael ********
Stay inside or wear a KN95 mask. PM2.5 pollution will kill you
Tony *******
Tony *******
Bangkok, I love you 😍
Shane ************
Shane ************
@Tony ******
it’s a shitbox man
Jim *******
Jim *******
OP
@Tony ******
Bangkok, with 16 milion residents, the biggest small place on the planet.
Frank **********
Frank **********
Air pollution. Great for lung cancer.
Jesper *********
Jesper *********
Useless comment, great for self righteous doucebags.
Frank **********
Frank **********
@Jesper ********
are you talking to me?
Jesper *********
Jesper *********
If it isn't the self righteous katoy loving doucebag Frank Shevchuk
Frank **********
Frank **********
Jesper *********
Jesper *********
@Frank *********
Eat a dick you self righteous doucebag
Frank **********
Frank **********
@Jesper ********
I have seen the inappropriate comments you just made on my Facebook page. You definitely have a serious mental problem l.
Frank **********
Frank **********
@Jesper ********
what a dickhead. What does my comment have to do with being righteous?
Jesper *********
Jesper *********
@Frank *********
Do you see any other self righteous doucebags in the thread?
Jim *******
Jim *******
OP
Why are you crawling on your knees to be in Thailand?
Jesper *********
Jesper *********
What are you on about? Are you druk?
John **********
John **********
Jesper *********
Jesper *********
πŸ‘πŸ»πŸ‘πŸ»πŸ‘πŸ» And?
Pete *******
Pete *******
Clear skies up north.
Chris *******
Chris *******
@Pete ******
Chiang Mai? Which part of North is this?
Pete *******
Pete *******
@Chris ******
am in phon thong area. Roi Et province. Small village about 8km from town centre. Village is called Pho Ngam.
Jim *******
Jim *******
OP
Roi Et?

I loved that place, spent there 2 days. Their high tower, shaped as an endemic instrument, "wot". The sound is like "pan flute".

Fantastic and the view over the city. We had a lunch up there.
Jim *******
Jim *******
OP
I have maybe 20,000 pictures from Isan. even stepped down from the car and spoke to the farmers. What nice all people they are.

My Thai wife is a child from jungle, a daughter of a farmer, next to Wang Nam Yen, as a child she was cooking food for ruby miners in Cambodia (she had no idea it was a different country, no border checkouts). She can speak Khmer language.

Yes through her, I came to love Isan.

Nothing better than when a farm girl graduates from the elite Ramkhanhang university in Bangkok. The whole village (rented a bus) to be there, her graduation.
Jim *******
Jim *******
OP
Lovely. I have been to every place in Thai but not further north tnan Udon Thani. 35,000 km, with my Thai wife and our daughter. Months spent there. Give me Isan plains and tranquilty, that almost matches a beach view.

Activity

26 joined
Jim *******
Jim *******
Jim *******
Jim *******
Jim *******
Jim *******
26
people
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
...members60% approval
Member 1
Member 2
Member 3
Member 4
Member 5
Member 6
Member 7
Member 8

Related

25
Which is better for families moving to Thailand: Chiang Mai or Krabi?
8868811d
What are the application fees and requirements for a DTV visa at regional embassies in Southeast Asia?
358128mo
Is my plan to celebrate Songkran in Bangkok and Pattaya a good idea?
4.2k33289mo
What are some affordable room rental options in Bangkok for 5000 Baht?
11.8k6919810mo
What banks in Bangkok are recommended for Americans with a non O visa to open a bank account?
2.3k17151y
What is the process for Australians applying for a DTV visa with a culinary class in Thailand, and can a dependent spouse join?
622332y
What are the best ways to spend 8 days in Thailand while in Pattaya?
16.8k1391912y
What are some less smoky places to stay in Thailand during March and April for someone moving to Chiang Mai?
4k17242y
What are some experiences and tips for long-term stays in Thailand?
19.5k863172y
What is the best strategy for renting a studio apartment in Bangkok as an expat?
3k25162y
What are some chill and trendy areas near Bangkok for expats looking for an authentic experience without needing to go downtown?
8.1k65792y
How can I find an agent for my O-A visa application in Bangkok or Hua Hin, and is it easy to renew without an agent after the first year?
2.7k24153y
What are the options for owning or renting a car in Thailand when living there part-time?
4k22423y
What are the best areas to live in Bangkok for a peaceful environment and good views?
2.1k7143y
Where do most retired Americans live in Thailand?
10.4k811143y
What are some recommended plans for a hot and polluted day in Thailand?
2.6k23154y
How can I open a bank account in Bangkok while on a tourist visa?
2.1k17114y
What preparations should I make for living in Bangkok, Thailand for a year?
12.8k841974y
Is the smog in Chiang Mai really serious for retirement plans?
8.9k73954y
What are the experiences of flying with KLM from the UK to Bangkok?
4.2k36375y
What are the current entry requirements for the Immigration Office in Bangkok?
1.7k5285y
How far can a $2000 monthly income stretch in Thailand with the current economy?
12.7k1021435y
Why are some pools and gyms closed in Bangkok while others remain open?
2.5k19206y
What recent travel experiences to Bangkok have the expats shared amidst COVID-19 restrictions?
17.9k1023216y
What should I do about TM 30 registration if I haven't been registered at my current residence in Thailand?
1.8k1659y

Resources

Need help with your Thai visa?