BANGKOK: Chinese tourists are driving a surge in Grab bookings to Bangkok’s Song Wat and Khlong Bang Luang, as photogenic neighbourhoods, food destinations and a viral Thai flower-garland hairstyle shape their travel choices.
Grab reported a 10-fold increase in rides to and from Song Wat and growth of more than 12-fold for Khlong Bang Luang, making the two areas standout destinations among Chinese visitors this year.
Panomkorn Jirasatienpong, head of marketing at Grab Thailand, said Chinese tourists’ overall ride bookings had risen by more than 75% compared with the same period last year.
Panomkorn said China had regained its position as Thailand’s largest overseas tourist market, with more than 3.82 million arrivals between Jan 1 and Sept 26, 2026. Chinese visitors remained a key customer group for Grab.
Chinese travellers commonly researched and planned their Thailand trips through Xiaohongshu, Panomkorn added. Searches on the Chinese social media platform for keywords related to Thai tourism had exceeded 13 million this year.
Grab’s findings showed that Chinese tourists looking to create social media content were drawn to destinations offering distinctive activities and photo opportunities.
Song Wat’s combination of cafés, restaurants, shops and street art throughout its lanes has helped turn the historic neighbourhood into a popular stop. Khlong Bang Luang Floating Market has similarly attracted visitors keen to photograph life in a canal-side community.
The latest fashion trend, known as malai rat klao, involves wearing lotus garlands in the hair, giving traditional Thai styling a contemporary twist. Popularised by young Thais, the look has caught on among Chinese visitors and helped push Grab bookings to Pak Khlong Talat to almost twice their previous level.
Beyond Bangkok and major destinations such as Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Phuket, Chinese tourists are also visiting Thailand’s secondary tourism provinces.
Chiang Rai remained the most popular secondary destination among Chinese Grab users, particularly for visits to Wat Rong Khun and Wat Rong Suea Ten. Lamphun emerged as a rising destination, with ride bookings increasing more than fourfold.
Spiritual tourism also remained popular. Grab highlighted the Ganesha shrine in Huai Khwang, where visitors pray for success, and the Trimurti shrine at centralwOrld, associated with prayers for love. Bookings to both sites grew by more than 45%.
Banthat Thong has regained momentum as a food destination for Chinese tourists, with Grab bookings tripling. Ratchada, Huai Khwang and Rama IX were also popular dining areas, particularly for seafood and hotpot.
Grab highlighted queues at Som Som Seafood on Banthat Thong, Kodtalay Seafood Buffet and Loong Mala in the Rama IX–RCA area. Nueng Nom Nua, known for milk drinks and homemade bread, also attracted Chinese customers throughout the day at its Banthat Thong outlet.
Mango sticky rice remained the leading Thai dessert among Chinese GrabFood customers, with orders increasing by more than 50%. Durian sticky rice led trending menu searches, attracting more than 27,000 searches.
Grab has partnered with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) on the Grab Grand Golden Week campaign, aligned with TAT’s Nihao Month 2026 programme.
Panomkorn said Golden Week, the Chinese National Day holiday period from October 1–7, typically brought ride demand around 90% above normal levels.
The campaign includes collaborations with Xiaohongshu influencers to share travel trends and destinations, alongside information about safety features and ride services with drivers who can communicate in Chinese.
Grab is also introducing Chinese-language pick-up and drop-off signs at popular attractions. Promotional teams and activity booths in Banthat Thong, Yaowarat and ICONSIAM will offer discounts on rides and food delivery, aiming to make travel more convenient and strengthen visitors’ confidence. - The Nation/ANN
