Introduction to Bangkok

Set on the Chao Phraya river, Bangkok is without doubt one of the most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities in all of Asia and provides visitors with an experience they are never likely to forget.  New meets old in this city of contrasts, with the staggering expansion of the city over the last fifty years complimenting the serene temples and monuments of the old quarter, set along the riverbank.

Visitors and expats alike are attracted to the unique and utterly Thai experience of Buddhist shrines, street vendors selling all manner of exotic foods, busy markets and the chaotic traffic congestion, set against a backdrop of modern skyscrapers, state of the art shopping malls and world class hotels and restaurants. Elephants and their handlers are a common sight on the streets although nowadays this is more for the tourists benefit than the more practical uses they once served.

Known in Thai as ‘Krung Thep’ or ‘City of Angels’, Bangkok has been the capital of Thailand and the usual residence of the Thai Monarchy since 1782 and is now home to around seven million people.  Bangkok is regarded as one of the main industrial, economic and transport hubs in Asia and its modernisation and urban expansion continues unabated.

In the last forty years or so the city has developed into several distinct districts, some of which are detailed below:

Sukhumvit

The main expat residential area in the city, Sukhumvit is a city within a city and covers a massive area from roughly the centre of town to the city’s south eastern boundary.

The lower soi’s are home to some of the best hotels, restaurants and nightlife in all of Bangkok, while the middle to upper area offers surprisingly quiet seclusion and some of the city’s finest condos and exclusive residencies

Sukhumvit Road is the longest in Thailand and stretches from Ploenchit at its western end, all the way to the Cambodia border at its eastern end.

Ploenchit and Chitlom

At the western end of Sukhumvit Road are the exclusive areas of Ploenchit and Chitlom.  The area is home to the many international embassies of Wireless Road and there are a surprising number of world class shopping malls to be found in the area.

High class condo residences can also be found here, offering spectacular views over the beautiful and leafy Lumpini Park, and the area offers a quiet but convenient location, being set roughly half way between bustling Sukhumvit and the financial centre of Silom.

Silom and Sathorn

Set just to the south of Lumpini Park is Silom, the heart of Bangkok’s banking and financial sector. Only a few decades ago Silom was a swamp with a windmill (silom) in its centre, but today it is home to international banks, stock brokers, financial organisations and many office buildings. 

Silom, along with nearby Sathorn Road area, also offers some world class hotels and serviced apartments and has easy links to other areas in the city via the BTS and MRT.

Siam

Regarded as Bangkok’s city centre, the area around Siam Square is where the Sukhumvit and Silom BTS lines interchange and is home to several of the city’s most exclusive shopping malls, including Siam Paragon, Siam Discovery and the sprawling MBK.  If it’s shopping you’re after, this is the place to come.

Siam square is also home to the Hard Rock café and there are a number of decent restaurants and nightclubs in the area.

Rattanakosin

The city’s old quarter, Rattanakosin Island was where modern day Bangkok was born and houses many of the city’s greatest temples, palaces and monuments.  The area was originally regarded as an island as fortified canals were built around the area to join with the river, although many of the canals have now been filled in as the city expanded.

The glittering gold of the Grand Palace, the elegance of the reclining Buddha at Wat Pho and several other historical attractions are all within easy walking distance of each other and should be a must on all visitors ‘must see’ list.

Chinatown

One of the oldest areas in the city, Chinatown is located just to the east of Rattanakosin and has been home to Bangkok’s Chinese community since the late eighteenth century.

Close to many temples, the area offers many historical attractions but is probably best known for the hundreds of gold shops that are literally on every street corner.  Chinatown is also a great place to search for small fancy goods and has dozens of excellent restaurants serving a wide range of delicious Chinese dishes.

Facilities and Services

Bangkok is served by an excellent infrastructure, with a complex system of highways and freeways being complimented by the BTS Skytrain and the recently opened MRT Subway system.  All the main tourist and expat residential areas are served by the BTS and MRT therefore getting around is quick and convenient.  The city also offers all manner of shopping options with most western foods and items being readily available to buy in one of the many specialised supermarket chains or in the expansive malls.

Nearly all foreign visitors to Thailand will arrive via Bangkok and with the opening of the new Suvarnabhumi International Airport in September 2006, the city now boasts one of the world’s most state of the art terminals.

Bangkok is also served by an excellent healthcare structure with several internationally renowned hospitals and specialised clinics serving the area.  There are also an excellent selection of international schools and universities, offering a wide range of courses.

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