You can try — but let’s be real: the top-tier ladyboys in Thailand are better put together than half the actual girls in the bar.

Yeah, sure, look at the hands, the Adam’s apple, the voice. But those are old tricks. These days, surgeries, hormones, and makeup skills are on another level.

My real test? Energy. There’s something different in the way they move, the confidence, how they hold eye contact. You can feel it if you’ve been around long enough — but even then, you’ll still get fooled once in a while.

Bottom line: if you're not 100% sure… don’t act like you are.

And if you find out too late? Roll with it — or politely bounce. No shame either way.

The classic signs are there — the jawline, the hands, the voice — but honestly, the really good ones can fool even experienced guys. I was in Nana Plaza once chatting up this absolute stunner from behind. Legs for days, flawless makeup, killer curves. We go outside to smoke, and she drops her voice half an octave — boom. That’s when it clicked. My advice? If you really care, look for the Adam’s apple or ask directly with humor. Most ladyboys in Thailand aren’t offended — they know the game better than you do.

You can sometimes tell by how they move — especially the hips and hands. Cisgender girls tend to move differently, and their hand gestures are more fluid. But the real pros have mastered all that. I got caught off guard at Soi Cowboy by one who worked at Cockatoo — didn’t realize she was a ladyboy until I reached her room. At that point, I just laughed and went with it. If you’re in Thailand, expect surprises. And don’t get angry — it’s on you to ask if it matters that much.

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Clues like hands, Adam’s apple, or voice can help — but surgery and hormones blur those lines. In bars, I just ask. Better to be direct than surprised later. And honestly? When they’re that gorgeous, does it even matter?

Sometimes you can’t. But the giveaways: strong jawline, large hands, slightly deeper voice, or over-the-top makeup. Still, many pass 100%. If you must know—ask. Most will tell you if asked respectfully.

You think you know until you don’t. Best advice? Don’t assume. In Thailand, beauty is fluid, and so is gender. If you're unsure, enjoy the mystery—or just go with it.

Sometimes you can tell right away, sometimes you can’t — and that’s exactly why Thailand nightlife is so interesting. In Bangkok’s Nana Plaza or Soi Cowboy, plenty of ladyboys are obvious: taller than the girls around them, sharper jawlines, more confident body language. But then you walk into a bar in Pattaya or Phuket and suddenly you’re second-guessing yourself, because some ladyboys are stunning and completely pass as female.

A few things I’ve noticed over the years:

Hands and feet — often a little bigger than average Thai girls, especially if you look closely when she picks up her drink.

Shoulders and hips — ladyboys sometimes have broader shoulders and narrower hips, even after surgery.

Voice — a soft tone that can slip into a deeper register if you chat long enough.

Confidence level — many ladyboys in nightlife settings carry themselves with extra swagger, unlike some shy gogo dancers.

But here’s the catch: if you’re not sure, don’t sit there staring like a creep. The easiest and most respectful move is just to ask. In Thailand, it’s not an insult — they’ll usually answer honestly, especially in places like Soi 6 Pattaya where ladyboy bars exist side by side with girl bars.

So yes, you can sometimes tell, but not always — and that’s part of the fun.