Bangkok
Information
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When
arriving in Thailand ask for free copies of Thaiways magazine
and Thaiways maps from the information counter at airports
or hotels.
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| Silom / Surawong
/ Sathon |
Half a century ago, nobody would have the foresight to predict that the
Silom-Surawong area, then a remote district with paddy fields around, would
become the most important business and financial centre of Bangkok. Today,
from end to end, these two parallel streets are full of big blocks of multi-storey
buildings, housing many banks, international firms, finance firms, insurance
companies, export-import houses, hotels, airlines offices, restaurants,
shopping arcades, department stores, and entertainment establishments. The
two streets are busy not only in the daytime, but also in the evening, when
people come out to eat, to meet business friends or to seek enjoyment.
There is a small area in this district which, for about 30 years, has been
very well known to foreign visitors for its bars and nightclubs. Known as
Patpong, this famous place offers various kinds of entertainment -- wine,
beer, music, dancing, etc.
Another two parallel streets to the south of Silom Road -- Sathon Nua (North
Sathon) and Sathon Tai (South Sathon) roads -- are also an important business
centre. Along both streets there are a good number of big buildings of business
firms, embassies, hotels and restaurants.
On Silom Road there are both skytrain and subway stations.
Map of Silom
/ Suriwong / Sathon
This is the biggest and busiest shopping district in Bangkok which is accessible
easily by skytrain. In this area, almost all kinds of goods are on sale,
including cloth, clothes, jewellery, handicrafts, books, antiques, etc.
Apart from the well-known Central World Plaza (formerly World Trade Center),
located here are large department stores, several shopping arcades and countless
smaller shops as well as a dozen cinema theatres and mini theatres. So you
can satisfy all your needs if you stay in one of over a dozen first-class
hotels in the area.
The Pratunam Market next to the Indra Arcade, though not a high-class shopping
centre, is worth visiting if you want to broaden your vision and to see
more about the ordinary Thai. It is also the market of garments for export.
Another interesting place in this area is Baiyoke II Tower, the tallest
building in Thailand. The building is 309 metres tall with 2,060 stairs
from bottom to top. From the deck on the 77th floor visitors can enjoy the
vast panoramic view of Bangkok.
Map of Siam
/ Ratchadamri
Sukhumwit Road is one of the three longest roads in Thailand, leading right
up to the Cambodian border in the East. But what concerns us here is the
section from the inner city down to Sukhumwit 63 (Soi Ekkamai). The cream
of this district lies around the entrances to the lanes (soi) off the road,
where there are numerous fashionable residences, hotels, apartment buildings
and guesthouses, and also a large number of really good restaurants.
In the section from the Soi Nana (Sukhumwit 3 & 4) crossroads to Soi Sukhumwit
21 (Asok Intersection), there are many shops catering to foreign tourists,
where jewellery, leather goods, ready-made garments and souvenirs are sold
and tailoring, car rent and other services are offered.
To the north of Sukhumwit Road is the extension of Phetburi Road, which
is rather quiet in the daytime. After dark, however, the long street is
brightened with colourful neon signs and enlivened by people going out to
enjoy themselves in dozens of entertainment places scattered along the street.
There are both skytrain and subway stations as well. But while there are
several skytrains stations along Sukhumwit Road, there is only one subway
station at Asok (Sukhumwit 21) at which passengers can connect to the skytrain.
Royal City Avenue (RCA), a 2.5 km street between Rama IX Road and New
Phetburi Road, is one of the leading entertainment hotspots of Bangkok.
It has attracted teenagers and stylish people to seek amusement in numerous
pubs, discos and restaurants here.
Map
of Sukhumwit / New Phetburi
Top
Ratchadaphisek refers to the short distance between the Lat Phrao Intersection
and the Rama IX Road intersection, which is a busy commercial district containing
several big department stores, office buildings, hotels and a large number
of restaurants. A little way off the road is Thailand Cultural Centre, where
shows, exhibitions and musical performances are held from time to time.
A subway station is also available here.
Map
of Ratchadaphisek
Top
When Ramkhamhaeng University was founded on Bangkok's eastern outskirts
as Thailand's first open university in 1970, the area was rather remote
and underdeveloped. However, as the university's yearly enrolments increased
rapidly, the area soon became a new satellite city of Bangkok with ever-increasing
shop-houses, apartment buildings, restaurants, cinema houses, department
stores, hotels and places of entertainment. It is most frequently visited
by students and other Bangkokians.
Map
of Ramkhamhaeng
Top
The old Bangkok town is the original area of Bangkok when it was first established
as the capital over 200 years ago. Here are located the Grand Palace, the
Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, two universities
and several ministries. The town was formerly surrounded by walls. Now only
a few sections of wall are preserved as historic sites. It is from this
side of the Chao Phraya River that one takes a boat to visit the Temple
of Dawn and the canals nearby.
Chinatown is located just to the southeast of the old town. It began to
take shape at the same time as the establishment of Bangkok, when the Chinese
inhabiting the old town areas were moved outside the city walls. The goldshop
street named Yaowarat, and the Temple of the Gold Buddha are in this area.
The area around Yaowarat Road is also the best place for Chinese food. You
can find hundreds of food sites here ranging from restaurants to pushcarts
and sidewalk stalls. Moreover, Hualamphong or Bangkok Railway Station is
located near this area, at which a subway station is available.
Map
of Old town / Chinatown
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| Banglamphu / Khaosan
Road |
Khaosan Road of Banglamphu district is the world-renown backpacker's hub,
where backpackers and those on low budgets from all over the world have
found a rendezvous. With over 100 guesthouses and ideal central location,
this area has become the starting point for travelling to other Southeast
Asian destinations like Cambodia or Laos.
It is a bustling shopping area, popular among Thais and foreign tourists
alike. Besides budget guesthouses and a great number of inexpensive restaurants
and food stalls in this area, there are plenty of shops and stalls selling
clothing, shoes and handbags, cosmetics, souvenirs, etc. at attractive prices.
It is a centre of silver jewellery where silver ornaments are available
in a large number and variety.
It is also an ideal place to enjoy nightlife which attracts an increasing
number of Thai youngsters to frequent the restaurants, pubs and bars in
the area.
As tour operators are abundant on Khaosan Road, here is a good place to
purchase competitively priced air tickets and tour packages.
Another reason that makes this area a good location
to stay in is its closeness to various attractions of old Bangkok such as
the Grand Palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Pho, Wat
Mahathat and the National Museum. It is also close to the river bank where
you can catch a Chao Phraya River express boat or a ferry across the river
at one of its several landings.
Map
: Rattanakosin Island - index C2
Top
Pin Klao was the name of the last but one deputy king (maha uparat)
in Thai history, who was the younger brother of King Mongkut (Rama IV) and
whose palace was in the area where Thammasat University stands today. When
a bridge was built across the Chao Phraya River near the place in 1973,
it was named Pin Klao in memory of the late deputy king.
Now the area on the western side of the river has become one of the most
newly developed areas in Bangkok with department stores, many restaurants
and nightlife establishments. The wide road starting from the bridge leads
to such tourist spots as Samphran
Elephant Ground & Zoo, the Rose Garden, Nakhon Pathom, Phuttha Monthon,
and Thai Human Imagery Museum. Along both sides of the road are numerous
fashionable residences.
Map
: Rattanakosin Island - index B2
Top
This area is going to be an excellent location for business premises as
it is close to busy business areas such as Sathon and Bangrak.
There are several department stores, office buildings and huge blocks of
flats along the Rama III Road which stands in parallel with the Chao Phraya
River.
Though the area is rather quiet, nightlife here is interesting as there
are plenty of restaurants with delicious food, beer, music and live entertainments.
Map : Bangkok Metropolis
area C - index B6, C6, C7, D7, D6, D5
Top
Situated on the eastern outskirts of Bangkok, Bangna is an industrial area
and also the gate to the eastern provinces of Thailand, including Pattaya
and Rayong. There are several big department stores for shopping. And at
Km 1 of Bangna-Trat Road, Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre
(BITEC) has been voted one of Asia-Pacific's top venues.
Map : Bangkok Metropolis
area C - index G7, H7, I7
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