Hotel & Logistics
Where to Stay
The conference venue, Centara Grand at CentralWorld, has limited availability over the conference dates. We have arranged rooms for GDHF participants at four nearby hotels.
GDHF partner hotel
Amari Bangkok
We have reserved a block of rooms at the Amari Bangkok for GDHF participants at a range of special rates, available until 2 November. The hotel is about a 15-minute walk from the venue: through Platinum Fashion Mall next door, then along the skywalk that runs from Platinum to the front of CentralWorld.
GDHF partner hotel
Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square
Book through the GDHF link below, which applies our rate code automatically. The hotel is in Siam Square, about a 10-minute walk from the venue along the elevated skywalk between Siam and Chit Lom BTS stations.
GDHF partner hotel
VIE Hotel Bangkok – MGallery Collection
Special GDHF rates for stays over the conference dates: THB 4,600 net per night for one person or THB 4,900 for two, breakfast included. Reserve through the request form on the hotel’s GDHF page.
The hotel is next to BTS Ratchathewi. Take the BTS one stop to Siam and walk to the venue from there, or walk the whole way in just under 20 minutes.
GDHF partner hotel
Hotel Indigo Bangkok Wireless Road
Book through the GDHF link below, which applies our group code automatically. The hotel is on Wireless Road, about a 6-minute walk from BTS Phloen Chit. Take the BTS one stop to Chit Lom and follow the skywalk to CentralWorld, or walk the whole way in about 25 minutes.
Amari and Novotel are within a 15-minute walk of the venue. VIE is one BTS stop away, or just under 20 minutes on foot. Hotel Indigo is a short walk from BTS Phloen Chit, one stop from Chit Lom.
The Venue Hotel
The Forum takes place at Centara Grand at CentralWorld. The GDHF group rate at the venue has now closed, and the hotel has limited availability over the conference dates.
You can still check availability and book directly with the hotel.
Check-in: 3:00 pm / Check-out: 12:00 pm
Book directly with CentaraHotel drop-off and parking, walking routes from Siam and Chit Lom BTS via the skywalk, and a taxi address card in Thai and English.
Visa Information
Visa requirements vary by nationality, and Thailand updated its entry rules on September 15, 2026. Even if you have visited Thailand before, please check the latest requirements for your passport before you book travel. See our Visa & Entry FAQs below, the official Thai e-Visa website, or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.
Our advice: if you need a visa, apply by November 1, 2026.
Visa Letter
To help make your travel planning easier,
we’ve prepared an official Visa Support Letter for GDHF 2026 participants.
You can download the letter here and use it as part of your visa application process. Please ensure you review your country’s specific visa requirements and apply well in advance to avoid any delays.
Visa & Entry FAQs
Last reviewed October 7, 2026. Entry rules can change at short notice, so please confirm the latest requirements with the official sources linked below or your nearest Royal Thai Embassy before you travel.
Do I need a visa to attend GDHF in Bangkok?
As of October 7, 2026, nationals of 60 countries and territories can enter Thailand without a visa for up to 30 days. These include the United States, the United Kingdom, most of the European Union, India, Japan, Australia and South Africa. Nationals of Mauritius and Seychelles can enter visa-free for up to 15 days, and some countries have separate bilateral agreements with Thailand.
Thailand updated these rules on September 15, 2026. Several countries that were previously visa-free, including Morocco, Mexico, Colombia and Sri Lanka, now require a visa. Please check the current list for your passport on the official Thai e-Visa website or with your nearest Royal Thai Embassy.
The visa exemption is framed for tourism. If you are attending GDHF in a professional capacity, we recommend confirming with your nearest Royal Thai Embassy whether you should apply for a Non-Immigrant visa instead.
How do I apply for a Thai e-Visa?
If your nationality is not on the visa-free list, apply online at thaievisa.go.th. The e-Visa is open to every nationality, and you do not need to visit an embassy in person. Create an account, complete the application, upload your documents and pay online. Your application is reviewed by the Thai embassy responsible for your country of residence, and you will receive a confirmation by email once it is approved. Print it and carry it with your passport.
Required documents, fees and processing times vary by embassy, so check your embassy’s own e-Visa page before you apply. Only use the official government website. Third-party sites that charge a fee to “process” your e-Visa are not affiliated with the Thai government.
I’m travelling from Africa. What should I know?
Most African nationals need a visa to enter Thailand. Thai embassies in Africa currently quote processing times of 10 to 15 business days, and some nationalities need additional clearances (for example, Nigerian passport holders need NDLEA visa clearance). Please apply by November 1, 2026 so you have time to respond to any follow-up requests.
If you are attending as a conference participant, you may be asked to apply under the Non-Immigrant category rather than as a tourist. Include our Letter of Invitation, your registration confirmation, your flight booking and your hotel reservation. Many travellers from Africa will also need a yellow fever certificate (see below).
Requirements differ from embassy to embassy, so please check the latest guidance from the Royal Thai Embassy that covers your country. If your embassy asks for anything we can help with, email gdhf@techchange.org.
Do I need a yellow fever vaccination certificate?
If you are travelling from, or have transited through, a country that Thailand lists as a yellow fever infected area, you must show an International Certificate of Vaccination when you arrive. The vaccination must have been given at least 10 days before arrival.
The list includes Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and much of West and Central Africa, as well as Brazil, Colombia, Peru and several other South American countries. See the full list published by the Royal Thai Embassy, and confirm with your nearest Thai embassy, as the list is updated from time to time.
Travellers without a valid certificate may be vaccinated and held in quarantine on arrival. If you are a national of a listed country but do not live there, carry proof of your current residence.
Is there anything else I need to do before arriving?
Yes. Every foreign visitor must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within the three days before arrival, whether or not you need a visa. You can complete it at tdac.immigration.go.th or through the official THIM app from Thailand’s Immigration Bureau. The TDAC is free, so avoid third-party services that charge a fee.
We also recommend checking your own government’s travel advisory for Thailand and confirming any transit requirements for countries you pass through on the way.
Justify this conference to your employer
Attending the in-person digital health conference is the perfect way to gain new knowledge, meet like-minded professionals, find new partners, funders, and vendors, expand your skillset, and expose yourself to new perspectives in the digital health sector.
Our team has created a toolkit of easily customizable letters and worksheets to help your manager understand the benefits of your attendance.
Use this customizable letter template, including a budget overview, to help explain and justify your conference attendance to your manager/employer/donor.
Use this worksheet to create a custom list of the benefits you and your organization will gain from your attendance.
Use this template to take notes on sessions, record key takeaways, and identify action items. These notes can be used to estimate the return on investment and create your conference summary for your team.
Getting to the GDHF Venue
Bangkok is serviced by two international airports: Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), the main international gateway, and Don Mueang Airport (DMK), used primarily by low-cost carriers. The venue, Centara Grand at CentralWorld, is located at 999/99 Rama 1 Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330.
From Suvarnabhumi, the journey to the venue is approximately 30 km and takes 45–60 minutes by taxi depending on traffic. The Airport Rail Link also connects Suvarnabhumi to Phaya Thai station, where you can transfer to the BTS Skytrain (Chit Lom or Siam stations are a short walk from the venue). From Don Mueang, the journey is approximately 25 km and takes 45–60 minutes by taxi.
Metered taxis are available at both airports — use the official metered taxi queue rather than touts approaching you in the terminal. Grab (the regional equivalent of Uber) is widely available in Bangkok and can be used from both airports and throughout the city.
The hotel also offers airport transfer services. To arrange a transfer, contact the hotel directly at cgcw@chr.co.th.
Logistics Information
Health Requirements
Thailand has no mandatory vaccination requirements for entry, with one exception: travelers arriving from or transiting through a yellow fever endemic country must present proof of yellow fever vaccination.
Tap water is not safe to drink in Thailand. Bottled water is widely available throughout Bangkok, including at the venue.
We recommend consulting your physician or a travel health clinic before travel for any personal health guidance.
Security Information
Bangkok is generally safe for visitors, though normal urban precautions apply. Petty crime — pickpocketing and bag snatching — can occur in crowded tourist areas, markets, and on public transport. Scams targeting tourists are also common.
Some precautions to keep in mind:
- Keep your passport, excess cash, and valuables in the hotel safe
- Always carry a copy of your passport
- Be alert in busy tourist areas and markets
- Use metered taxis or Grab rather than unlicensed cabs — a metered taxi should start at 35 THB
- Avoid displaying expensive jewelry or electronics
- Do not physically resist any robbery attempt
- Monitor local media for any developing situations
Travel to areas within 50 km of the Thai-Cambodia border is currently restricted following conflict in that region. This does not affect Bangkok or the event venue.
For the most current advice, check your national foreign office travel advisory for Thailand before and during travel.
General Information
- All major credit cards are accepted in Bangkok. Banks, currency exchange counters, and ATMs are widely available at the airport and in shopping malls throughout the city.
- Standard bank hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 3:30pm; branches located inside shopping malls often open daily from 10:30am to 7:30pm. Foreign exchange counters are generally open 7:00am to 8:00pm.
- The voltage in Thailand is 220–230 volts, 50Hz. Sockets generally accept plug types A, B, and C. A universal travel adapter is recommended.
- The official language of the forum is English and French.
- Weather in Bangkok in December is warm and dry, with average highs of 31°C and lows of 21°C.
- Local time: Bangkok is GMT+7.