Italian embassy apologises after Bangkok train video sparks backlash

Italy's embassy in Bangkok apologised after a viral video showed a Thai woman confronting a group of noisy Italian teenagers on a Bangkok train.

The TikTok video was posted on Friday and had been shared more than 28,000 times. In the clip, a Thai woman off camera repeatedly tells the Italian group to be quiet and says, "In Thailand, we don't scream." A woman from the group replies, "Sorry for bringing money to your country." One boy is filmed waving and then making an obscene gesture at the camera.

The argument continued as the Thai woman accused the Italians of having no manners. She also used vulgar language and gestures. Online reaction was divided, with some users criticising the teenagers for disrespecting local customs and others saying the Thai woman responded too harshly.

The Italian Embassy in Bangkok said it condemned the inappropriate behaviour of a group of Italian underage tourists on a school trip and apologised to Thai people and others affected. The embassy said Italians understand and value respect for others, courtesy and harmonious coexistence in Thai society.

The embassy also posted a video in which three adults identifying themselves as leaders of the Italian group, along with the boy filmed making the obscene gesture, apologised to Thai people. One woman said the boy would return to Italy as soon as possible because of his behaviour.

The TikTok user who posted the video did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Thailand reduced the length of visa-free stays for tourists in May as part of efforts to curb crimes committed by foreign nationals. The change followed several high-profile arrests of foreigners over drug offences, sex trafficking, public indecency and operating unlicensed businesses.

Thailand's economy relies heavily on tourism, but foreign arrivals have not returned to pre-Covid-19 levels. Tourism ministry figures cited in the report showed total tourist arrivals fell by more than three percent in the first half of this year compared with the same period in 2025, while visitors from Italy were down about 9.6 percent.