The very first time I visited Thailand was back in 2017. I had an incredible time, but there’s one thing I wish I knew before traveling to the Land of Smiles as a new tourist. That one thing is the poor air pollution or better yet – the importance of checking the air quality levels. I can only speak for myself when I say, I believe the air quality in America is pretty decent. When I step outside here in Nashville, TN I can breathe relatively easy; In northern Thailand that was not the case. Don’t get me wrong, not every city in Thailand has poor air quality, but bigger cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai definitely do. The first time I visited Thailand I was not prepared. After spending a couple days in Bangkok my lungs had had it. We’re talking coughing fits, a sore throat, a raspy voice, runny eyes – the whole gamut.
Thailand Air Pollution – Is It Really That Bad?
So the biggest question you maybe asking yourself right now is, ‘dang is the air pollution in Thailand really THAT bad!?’
In my humble opinion – yes. Just this month, (April 2023) CNN reported on how Thailand’s air pollution problems are actually halting tourists from visiting the country. Even more so, the same article explains that hospitals in northern Thailand are filling up quickly with people suffering from respiratory issues related to the poor air quality.
Additionally The Air Quality Index or AQI ranked Chiang Mai, (which is Thailand second biggest city) as the most polluted city in the entire world for at least one week straight.
Even the Thai Government is speaking up about the recent air pollution problems. A Thai Government statement, released in March 2023 explained that air pollution is now affecting more than one million people across the entire country.
Who’s to Blame? – Thailand’s Air Pollution Culprit
So exactly who or what is to blame for the air pollution in northern Thailand? The answer is three-fold; forest fires, widespread crop burning and last but not least, tons of traffic.
As far as crop burning goes – in Thailand many people choose to gather and burn fallen leaves and other agricultural matter around their homes and businesses after the rainy season ends in October. It’s this heavy smoke that pollutes the air in villages and cities for a few weeks each year.
November through April is another big time for air pollution throughout central and northern Thailand. Farmers and agricultural corporations burn millions of rai of rice, maize corn and sugar cane fields during these months. The reasoning behind this is, burning crop residue is the quickest and simplest way to clear agricultural waste before the next harvest.
Lastly let’s talk about the traffic. One visit to Bangkok and you will quickly realize traffic is bumper to bumper, pretty much all the time. Currently there are 9.7 million registered vehicles in Bangkok. With more than 10 million people in the city – that means nearly every household has a motor vehicle. With so many vehicles on the roads you can imagine all of the smoke and CO2 emissions coming from them.
How to Prepare – Solutions to Breathe Easy in Thailand
Hear me out. Yes, air pollution is a real problem in Thailand – however it’s not all throughout Thailand. Air pollution is the worst in Thailand’s biggest cities such as Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
The good news is you can prepare beforehand. First, start by deciding when you’re going to visit Thailand. If you’ll be visiting within the months of November-April know that this is the time of year when air quality is the worst. In such case come prepared. Equip yourself with an excellent mask that blocks out particles. The CDC recommends the N95 as the gold standard. Additionally you’ll want to bring along an anti-histamine or allergy medication such as Zyrtec or Claritin. Once you’re in Thailand you can also buy a medicated nasal inhaler. Trust me, these guys are small in size but huge when it comes to relief from nasal congestion. Lastly, be sure to bring along or buy a Neti Pot and be sure to use it first thing in the morning and at night before bedtime to clean out your nasal passages.
It’s Not All Bad Everywhere
Again air pollution isn’t terrible throughout all of Thailand. You may also find perhaps you have lungs of steel and the air pollution doesn’t phase you one bit.
I definitely don’t want air pollution to stop you from visiting one of the coolest country’s ever. Instead of visiting cities in northern Thailand like Bangkok and Chiang Mai (which have higher air pollution levels); you can always change your destination. The closer you are to a big body of water, typically the easier it is to breathe.
What you should know about places like Bangkok and Chiang Mai (where the air quality can be poor) is they both are land locked. Coastal cities like Krabi, Phuket, and Koh Samui are absolutely stunning and the air quality is cleaner because they are surrounded by water.
Whatever you decide, I hope these tips helped and I hope you have the best time in Thailand ever.
