Monday 23 March 2026

Good morning Bangkok. It's Monday and we're heading into the week at 28-35°C (82-95°F) with clear skies. The SET closed Friday at 1,432.99, up 15.54. Gold is at ฿70,250-70,450, down a staggering ฿6,000 from ฿76,300 last Tuesday. The Motor Show opens Wednesday. Songkran is three weeks away. And if you're an expat on a visa-free stamp, you need to read today's top story. Let's go.

The big one. Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is preparing to propose reducing the visa-free stay from 60 days back to 30 days for travelers from all 93 eligible countries. Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow confirmed the move, stating that 60 days is "too long for most tourists" and that the average visitor stays around 15 days. The proposal has been agreed upon in principle by the relevant visa committee but has not yet been implemented. No final date has been announced. Under the proposed change, visitors would still be able to apply for a 30-day extension at immigration for ฿1,900, bringing the total possible stay back to 60 days. Sihasak said the reduction targets abuse of the system: illegal work, people running unlicensed businesses, repeated back-to-back entries, and individuals using the long exemption to transit to neighboring countries for scam operations. Phuket residents have been particularly vocal about wanting stricter entry rules and "higher-quality tourists." The Ministry of Tourism supports the proposal, arguing it won't significantly hurt tourism since most genuine visitors don't need the full 60 days.

Bottom line: If you're a short-term tourist visiting for two or three weeks, this changes nothing for you. If you're a digital nomad, remote worker, or long-stay visitor who has been living on back-to-back visa-exempt stamps, this is the writing on the wall. The government is tightening, and land border visa runs are already being scrutinized heavily in 2026. Immigration officers are granting shorter stays and asking more questions if your passport shows a pattern of repeated entries. The 60-day rule is still active as of today, but the direction is clear: get a proper visa if you're staying long-term. The DTV (Destination Thailand Visa), Non-O, Non-B, or retirement visa are all better options than gambling on how long the current system lasts. Don't wait for the announcement to land while you're mid-trip.

If you own gold or were thinking about buying, last week was dramatic. Gold in Thailand went from ฿76,300 per baht weight last Tuesday to ฿70,250 by Saturday, a drop of ฿6,050 in just three trading days. That's roughly an 8% decline. The crash appears linked to several factors: Trump signaling a possible scaling back of Iran operations (reducing safe-haven demand), the 30-day waiver on Iranian oil sales at sea (easing supply fears), and profit-taking after gold hit near-record levels amid the Middle East crisis. The SET also had a strong Friday, up 15.54 points, as markets reacted positively to signals that the conflict might de-escalate.

Bottom line: Gold in Thailand follows global prices but is also influenced by the baht exchange rate. If you're an expat holding gold as a hedge against Middle East uncertainty, the past week is a reminder that gold goes both ways very quickly. If you've been waiting to buy, ฿70,250 is the lowest level in weeks. But if Trump's de-escalation signals turn out to be theater (Tehran called it "psychological warfare"), prices could snap right back. The Yaowarat gold shops will be busier than usual this week.

Khua Kling Pak Sod is a family-run restaurant specializing in southern Thai cuisine, using grandmother's recipes from TahSae district in Chumphon. The food is unapologetically, face-meltingly spicy. This is the real deal: authentic phet ron (hot-spicy) flavor profiles with heavy use of chilies, fresh black pepper, and earthy spice pastes. The signature dish is khua kling, a dry curry with minced pork that hits like a freight train. Other must-orders: gaeng pu bai cha plu (yellow curry with crab meat and betel leaves, ฿580), sataw pad kapi goong (stink beans stir-fried with shrimp paste and prawns, ฿240), and goong makam (spicy tamarind tiger prawns). Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient. Gaggan Anand (of two-Michelin-star Gaggan fame) has publicly called it one of his favorite restaurants in Bangkok. The Thonglor branch is tucked down a narrow lane off Soi Thonglor 5, in a mustard-yellow low building that's easy to miss. The decor is homely. The owner and her mother may come out to chat with you and check if you can handle the heat. 4.4 stars on Tripadvisor with 100+ reviews. With 4.5 on google with over 1475 reviews as this time of writing. Four branches across Bangkok.

TIP: Go with friends so you can share plates and try more dishes. Portions are generous. If you don't do well with extreme spice, tell the staff and they'll guide you to milder options. But honestly, the whole point is to push your limits. Arrive early for lunch or dinner as it fills up fast. ฿200-600 per dish, cards accepted.

23 March 1839: The first recorded use of "OK" appeared in the Boston Morning Post, as an abbreviation for "oll korrect," a humorous misspelling of "all correct." 187 years later, "OK" remains the most universally understood word in any language. If a Thai immigration officer stamps your passport and says "OK," you're good. If they don't say anything and just stare at your entry history, you might want to re-read today's top story.

See you tomorrow morning.

— Devon

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