Nam Arai
Water and Ice in Thailand

© General Information -  Travelers' Net
Text and Pictures by Michael Bjorklund

Can you drink the tap water in Thailand? Can you trust the ice? These are questions you should ask yourself no matter where you're going. You can avoid many unfortunate things if you do your home work and know what's what when you arrive at your travel destination.

The tap water in Thailand should not be consumed. Do not drink it and do not feeze it to make ice cubes. Using the water for hygenic purposes is ok. Washing your face, brushing your teeth and taking a shower can be done without problem.

You will probably buy lots and lots of bottled water during your stay in Thailand. This is the way to go. You will pay between six and twenty five Bath for a bottle depending on the size, brand and location. If you're planning a long stay you might want to buy the twenty liter bottle. The first one is around one hundred Bath but when you give the bottle back and buy a new one, it's about ten Bath.

Since the Thais don't drink the tap water themselves you can be sure that the water you're served at restaurants is from a bottle and not from the tap. If you buy a salad it might have been washed in tap water though so it's a good idea to ask about it. Usually it's not a problem but it's always better to play it safe.

Ice is also pretty safe in Thailand. It's made from processed water. This goes for all places, from the luxurious hotels to the street side vendors. A big bag of ice will cost you five Bath.

As long as you don't drink the tap water, you'll be ok!