Breaking the dark side: Mike Yu shows what the BBC missed

When the BBC released The Dark Side of Thailand, many locals felt disappointed by how the country was portrayed as it overlooked the warmth and creativity that make the country what it is.

Among those featured was Mike Yu, a British content creator with Hong Kong roots and over 345,000 Instagram followers. Instead of staying quiet after the controversy, Mike chose to take back the narrative. He shows the kingdom through his own lens which is raw, genuine and full of heart.

We caught up with him to talk about how Bangkok became his creative playground, explore his creative process and hear how he really feels about his moment in the BBC spotlight.

Becoming a content creator

Before Mike became Insta-famous and was invited by the BBC to feature in the controversial documentary, his original plan for Thailand was a simple three-day layover with two bags before catching a flight to the Philippines. But Bangkok had other ideas. One week became two, then three, until leaving seemed impossible. When his tourist visa expired, he switched to a student visa to study Thai for a year.

‘I never imagined I would live here. I thought, ‘Within three days, I’ll chill, get a massage, visit a temple.’ But three days weren’t enough. I kept extending. It felt addictive. I didn’t want to leave.’

That marked the beginning of his journey as a creator portraying the life of an expat in Bangkok. But Mike didn’t simply post videos without guidance. He honed his craft working with comedy icon Uncle Roger.

‘I think without him, maybe there is Mike, but he’d be different.’ 

As the sole staff member, he learned everything on the fly including scripting, directing, editing and client communication. 

‘I didn’t really know how to edit or talk to clients. I didn’t even know what made a clip good or viral,’ he admits.

Long days often stretched past midnight. ‘Being thrown into the deep end forced me to become a better creative, a better editor and a better communicator,’ he says. 

His advice to aspiring creators is to start by working for someone else, even unpaid, to build essential skills.

For the first two years of his own channel, Mike did everything himself, including filming, editing and subtitling. A single minute of video could take five to seven hours. ‘I’m a perfectionist,’ he laughs. ‘I type every subtitle myself, I make sure every shot feels real.’ 

His approach is spontaneous. ‘I just grab my phone, see what feels authentic and let the moment breathe. That’s what keeps it real.’ Eventually, he built a small team. 

Now, he posts daily short-form videos and two YouTube uploads a week, balancing the raw immediacy of TikTok with the polished expectations of Instagram. ‘It’s a different kind of pressure,’ he admits, but it allows him to share Bangkok and Thailand as they truly are.

Mike’s content bridges two worlds. For Thai viewers, he shows how Westerners live. For Western audiences, he reveals what Thais think and do, adding English subtitles when he talks to locals. 

‘It’s about creating a bridge,’ he says. ‘Showing life honestly, from both perspectives.’ 

Bangkok is his main character. From Thong Lo’s upscale streets to Talad Plu’s historic markets, from the green oasis of Bang Kachao to bustling downtown alleys, the city offers endless stories. 

‘Any time of day, something interesting is happening,’ he says. ‘I don’t have to look for it. It comes to me.’

Challenging stereotypes

Mike Yu’s commitment to authentic storytelling was put to the test when he appeared in a BBC documentary. Approached as a British expat eager to share his positive experiences, he expected a fair portrayal of life in Thailand. Instead, the programme aired under the title ‘The Dark Side of Thailand.’

‘So honestly, just as a disclaimer, I didn’t know it was called ‘The Dark Side of Thailand.’ They just interviewed me. They said, ‘Hi Mike, we know you’re a British person living in Thailand. Can you give some interviews?’ I was like, ‘Of course, I’d love to share my experiences because it’s been amazing.’ But when it aired, it was disappointing. I’d left the UK three years ago, hadn’t been back, and the first thing I reconnect with was negative. Why focus on the negative?’

For Mike, the experience was a stark reminder of why he left Britain in the first place. ‘It made me realise again why I came here – for a happier, calmer life. And then I saw the documentary, and I was like, why are they going to the places that aren’t really where Thai people go? It was all about foreigners. I never saw them talk to the street vendors or the market sellers. Why not speak to real Thai people?’

He acknowledges that every country has its problems, but the BBC documentary, in his view, presented a skewed and incomplete picture. ‘Of course, every country has a negative side. But I wish they showed a more well-rounded view. This wasn’t real Thailand. Many foreigners and Thai people saw that immediately and knew it wasn’t accurate. I think the documentary even received backlash for that, which is fair.’

Rather than dwell on disappointment, Mike used the experience to reinforce his own approach. He doubled down on content that shows Thailand as it truly is, challenging stereotypes often perpetuated abroad. ‘Growing up in the UK, all people knew was 7-Eleven toasties, Khao San Road, ladyboys. That’s it. So I wanted to show something real. I interview Muay Thai fighters, Grab drivers, restaurant owners – people living everyday Thai life. That’s the Thailand I know and that’s what I want people to see.’

Even the misstep was a learning experience for him. ‘It was disappointing, yes, but it taught me a lesson too. If someone is wrong, people will stand up for what’s right. It wasn’t just me – there were seven, eight other people who felt misrepresented too. But it also reinforced why I do what I do – to show the world a real, human side of Thailand that the media sometimes misses.’

Turning everyday Bangkok into viral stories

Mike Yu’s channel is a window into the real Thailand, a mix of viral hits and quiet moments of authenticity. Some videos have had life-changing impact. ‘I remember one video. It got me 50,000 followers from one video. Yeah, in total it got 10 million views and 50,000 followers,’ he recalls. It was a house tour of a foreign friend’s luxury condo in Asok.

‘It surprised the world because, number one, it was a luxury condo but at a price extremely affordable compared to the West. Living in a 50–60 square metre apartment with an infinity pool, gym, and 24-hour security would cost at least $4,000–$5,000 in North America or London. Here, it was only $500–$600,’ he explains. 

‘A lot of people were like, why are we working so hard in the West, living in a shoebox, when we could live like this? On the street, I hear people say, ‘Hey, I moved here because of those house tour videos.’ And it’s not just one person. It’s many, from Norway, Denmark, England. These videos really open eyes. Thailand has a very affordable way of living if you compare it to the West.’

But it is not for everyone that could afford this kind of accommodation, especially the locals. Mike adds a note of perspective. ‘I know it’s not the same for everyone. If you’re a Thai person working a traditional Thai job, the economy is very different. But if you have a remote job in the West, many people take advantage, earn a Western salary and move here.’

Spontaneity drives much of his other content. Riding his motorbike for his budget meal series, he seeks out market stalls with no signs, run by older vendors, busy mostly with Thai customers. ‘Everything feels like content. I never switch off. If I’m not filming or editing, I’m thinking about the next video. You’re like a hamster on a wheel,’ he admits. 

His upbringing, raised in the UK by Hong Kong parents, helped him adapt quickly to Thailand. Cantonese and Mandarin made learning Thai easier. ‘It’s like putting on glasses,’ he says. ‘I can understand the culture, talk to vendors and feel truly at home.’

Through his lens, Bangkok and Thailand are no longer cliches. They are full of stories. Sometimes messy, sometimes beautiful – that only someone willing to live and create here can capture. 

‘The content I produce opens the eyes of a lot of people who’ve never visited Thailand or those living here who don’t speak Thai because they see real, firsthand experiences of what Thai people think from all walks of life,’ he adds.