10 Videos of Old Thailand That’ll Make You Wish You Could Travel Back In Time

From temples and ancient ruins to street vendors with decrepit carts and old trucks pumping out fumes darker than burning coal Thailand sometimes still feels like something out of the middle of the last century.

That is until you see a Big C or student with an iPhone.

Humor aside, Thailand has changed drastically in the last 20 years, let alone the last 100.

Deforestation, urbanization, and of course the ever-expanding tourism industry have erased a lot of memories that most of us are sadly too young to remember.

But while time travel has yet to be invented, a magical portal called YouTube has given us the opportunity to enjoy the next best thing.

So join me as I travel back through the decades and take a look at old Thailand through the lens of 10 amazing videos.

1. Bangkok in the 70s

If it weren’t for the 1970s styled vehicles and retro clothing, one might never guess that this video of Bangkok was taken nearly 40 years ago.

From 1977 to the present day, Bangkok doesn’t seem to have changed much. Except for bigger traffic jams, more shopping malls and more expats, one might say that the city is “same same, but different.”

2. Phuket in the 80s

If you've ever been to Patong Beach or Bangla Road, you'll know how much things have changed in the 28 years since this home video.

This area of Phuket used to be nothing more than a fairly quiet beach town. In the modern era – bar the COVID period – it's bursting with tourists and expats, with barely a place to put your towel on the beach.

This video will make you wish you could travel back to the eighties and enjoy Patong it in its prime.

3. Thai High-Society in 1919

This time capsule delivers a glimpse in to the social interactions of Thai high society back in 1919.

This fascinating black and white video shows a number of staple cultural courtesies that still exist today, including taking shoes off before entering homes and wai'ing one another as a greeting of respect.

4. Chiang Mai in 1984

Chiang Mai is one of the most refreshing cities in Thailand. It is less touristy than Bangkok, pleasantly mountainous, and temperatures can drop to single digits from December to February.

This video begins in a more rural part of Chiang Mai, filled with laughing children, stray dogs and roosters.

It then sets off to show a much younger Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, one of Chiang Mai’s most visited temples, along with others that scatter the mountainous countryside.

5. Koh Samui in 1987

Chaweng Beach in Koh Samui has changed a hell of a lot since this home video was taken in 1987.

This less commercialized version of the popular island may be lacking tourists, but it is certainly not lacking in delightful scenery.

While hotels right down to the sand is definitely convenient, it is hard not to appreciate what Chaweng Beach was like 28 years ago.

I can, however, appreciate newly paved roads as opposed to dirt tracks ones, especially when exploring on my moped.

6. Siam in the 1940s

Thailand was given its name on July 20th, 1948. Before that it was known as Siam. In this video we get a glimpse of Siam during the rule of Field Marshall Plaek Pibunsongkram.

The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew make yet another appearance in this video, which dates back to the 1940s. We also see Victory Monument, which was until 2016, one of Bangkok's most popular transportation hubs.

7. A Pattaya Slideshow: 1960-1990

The Playboy Disco Club and Bunny Club seen in this video may be gone, but the flashing neon signs, bar girls and go-go dancers can still be seen in Pattaya's Walking Street today.

These pictures show a far less built up Pattaya, and a much cleaner beach 🙂

8. Pattaya Slide Show 2

For those trying to avoid fellow foreigners in Pattaya, one must travel almost 60 years back in time.

You'll be hard pushed to see a “worker” on Beach Road in this video, or an elephant being pulled down a sidewalk to entertain tourists for cash.

Sleaze and animal exploitation aside, one of this video’s most recognizable features is of Khao Pattaya View Point on Pratumnak Hill, and the lack of selfie snappers certainly makes for a better view.

9. North Eastern Thailand (Isaan) 1977

This educational video offers a really interesting glimpse at life in North Eastern Thailand in the 70s.

While much of the region has undergone massive regeneration in the last 36 years, including the arrival of Tesco's, big cinemas, retail parks and decent roads, outside of the major cities there are still people living in fairly similar circumstances today, though with more clothes on and a smartphone in hand.

10. Bangkok Sidewalks in 1965

We finish up our time travel on the streets of Bangkok. It looks to me as if the person taking the video is doing so for the well-dressed foreign lady and her Thai friend, though I may be wrong.

This video, shot in 1965, shows just how less crowded Bangkok was 55 years ago.

One thing that has remained the same is the way food is openly sold on all corners of the street, and freely exposed to the elements.

Another staple is the Tuk Tuks. “20 Baht. Go anywhere you want”!