I Didn’t Choose to be Latino in Thailand — ¡Nomás tuve suerte!

What is it really like living in Thailand as a Latino? Is Thailand safe? Will the culture feel too different? If you’re a Latino thinking about traveling or working in Thailand this is for you.

As a Latino, I chose to work, and live in Southeast Asia; a region of the world that doesn’t just share many elements with Latin America, it makes me feel at home as a Latino. Specifically Thailand, a country many Latinos rarely consider when thinking about living abroad. A region of the world that doesn’t just share many elements with Latin America — it genuinely makes me feel at home.

My father was born in Mexico City and my mom in Medellín, Colombia. Growing up in Chula Vista, CA, next to the border, and spending every summer in Colombia gave me a Latino childhood I would live again and again in every lifetime.

Now, living and working in Thailand, I still feel at home, with some limitations, but with many familiar experiences that mirror a latino lifestyle in ways I never expected.

Hopefully, this blog will serve as a guide for all my Latina, Latino, Latine, or Latinx paisanos who are unsure, hesitant, or curious about making the move to Thailand or Southeast Asia. The experience of living here has been both familiar and unfamiliar and that balance is exactly what makes it beautiful.

The First Bridge Between Latinos and Thailand

From the start, I didn’t have a hard time getting used to the Thai flavor palette. In fact, Thai food was the first thing that made Thailand feel like home.

I spoke with Executive Chef at El Santo Bangkok, Daniel Calderon, and he explains that “Thai and Mexican cuisine share a natural connection through bold flavors and a fearless use of spice. In both cultures, chili is not just about heat, but about balance, depth, and character. Fresh herbs, bright acidity from lime, and vibrant street food traditions are essential pillars of both gastronomies.” Chef Daniel Calderon, born in Mexico, currently serves as Executive Chef at El Santo Bangkok, where he blends authentic Mexican roots with the dynamic ingredients found in Thailand, celebrating the cultural dialogue between both cuisines. He too found a home away from home in South East Asia thanks to his ability to create traditional, yet creative dishes. Proof that Latino culture doesn’t disappear here; it adapts and thrives.

Some Thai dishes complement their hearty proteins with toppings of scallions and fermented vegetables, which reminds me of how Mexicans add cilantro and onion to tacos de asada, or how Salvadorans top their pupusas with fermented onion and cabbage. Along with these similarities, there are also notable differences between Thai cuisine and Latino cuisine. 

First, the absence of cheese. Yes – cheese. In Thailand, you won’t be eating a lot of cheese like we do in places like Colombia, El Salvador, or Mexico. Beef cattle are far less common here; chickens, pigs, and fish are the primary sources of protein. Because of that, you won’t find beef or cheese as easily as you would back home. Second, the use of fish sauce. In Thailand, they don’t use much table salt; instead, they rely on sauces that bring saltiness and depth. Fish sauce, dark soy sauce, and generous amounts of sugar are three flavors commonly added to many dishes.

Like most Latinos, we take deep pride in our food. Try telling a Mexican that their birria recipe is missing something — you’ll definitely get a strong reaction. Same with Thais. When you hear them speak, they are often talking about food or relationship gossip — just like us and our chisme. Why? According to Chef Calderon “Thai and Mexican food are built around sharing, meals are meant to bring people together, creating energy, emotion, and community at the table.” Because they take pride and find pleasure in sharing and eating food with friends, family, and even strangers, same as Latinos.

Some Thai dishes that feel surprisingly close to Latin cuisine include:

Goong Chae Nam Pla (marinated raw shrimp with garlic) to Aguachile, Nam Tok (fire grilled pork with garlic and lime) to Carne Asada, Tom Yum Gai to Pozole, Gaeng Phed (Red Curry) to Guisado de Carne, Khao Tom Mat to Tamales, Som Tam (papaya salad) to Pepino con tajin y chamoy and Moo Tod with Chicharron. For a Latino moving to Thailand, the food alone can make the transition feel natural.

Culture and Daily Life: Why Thailand Feels Familiar

Thailand also shares a very similar way of life to Latinos: family, helping your community, and being kind to one another are what drive everyday life, just like Latinos, if not more. If you are lost in the street, you’ll always find someone to kindly give you directions. If you’re at a food truck and need some advice on what to get, you’ll get their opinion on what’s best to order. If you walk into a busy elevator, you’ll be greeted by everyone. That way of life is what makes me feel so at home here in Thailand and it strongly reflects Latino values. For Latinos worried about feeling isolated in Asia, this is important. That way of life is what makes me feel so at home here in Thailand, and it strongly reflects Latino values. The proclaimed “Land of Smiles” is no fiction; Thailand is exactly what it’s said to be.

Is Thailand Safe for Latinos?

What makes Thailand a perfect place for a Latino? Apart from similar cuisines and similar ways of life, Thailand offers incomparable personal safety and peace of mind.

Don’t get me wrong, Latin America is full of safe and habitable places. Having worked in rural parts of Colombia and traveled throughout Mexico, South America, and six continents, I can confidently say that Latin America is safer than many cities and neighborhoods in the United States and Europe.

But from personal experience, nothing has compared to the safety and peace of mind I feel living in Thailand.

I’m not saying Latin America is unsafe — it is safe — but like many of our parents would say, in Latin America don’t flaunt your belongings or “no des papaya,” as they say in Colombia. In Thailand, modesty and respect are deeply embedded cultural values.

People generally won’t harm you, steal from you, or try to trick you. Why? Because respect and social harmony are part of daily life here.

I’ve never felt safer, and I’ve never lived in fear that someone would harm me here in Thailand. For many Latinos considering traveling to Thailand, safety is the biggest concern — and in my experience, it has been the greatest gift.

Final Thoughts: Should a Latino Move to Thailand?

Being Latino in Thailand has its struggles — missing certain foods, adapting to cultural nuances, being far from family — but the positive experiences outweigh the struggles. If you are a Latino hesitant about traveling to Thailand because it feels “too far,” “too different,” or “too unknown,” I understand. I had those thoughts too. But I strongly believe that any open-minded Latina, Latino, Latine, or Latinx willing to embrace the socio-cultural differences can feel comfortable and at home in Thailand — just like I have. 

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