BANGKOK — 3 June 2026, A Chinese resident in Thailand has sparked online debate after claiming a Chinese restaurant in Bangkok's Huai Khwang district refused to accept Thai baht and would only accept payment in Chinese yuan.

The complaint emerged in a video posted on TikTok by user JaideeBing and Bao, a Chinese national living in Thailand, who questioned whether the restaurant's payment practices were legal.

"Chinese restaurant operating in Thailand, but it doesn't have a Thai bank account. It only accepts cash and WeChat Pay. Is this allowed?" the user wrote in the post.

In the video, the man said he had recently eaten at a noodle restaurant in Huai Khwang and attempted to pay for his meal using local payment methods.

According to his account, restaurant staff told him they did not accept Thai QR-code payments and did not have a Thai bank account. He said staff then asked whether he had any other currency available.

The customer said he ultimately paid in Chinese yuan and was charged the equivalent of 375 baht for a bill that had originally totalled 325 baht, an increase of 50 baht.

"This restaurant only accepts yuan. I'm confused. Can they really do this?" he said in the video.

The man, who said he has lived in Thailand for many years, criticised the practice and urged businesses operating in the country to comply with Thai laws and tax regulations.

"They may think I'm new to Thailand, but I've been here a long time. Half of me is Thai already," he said.

The video has attracted widespread attention on social media, with many users questioning whether businesses in Thailand can legally refuse to accept Thai currency or operate without a Thai payment system.

No response from the restaurant or relevant authorities was immediately available.

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