Bangkok: Thailand’s cosmopolitan capital where the past races into the future

In this video, we take a pre-Covid trip to beautiful Bangkok, the capital and most populous city of Thailand.

Known in Thai as ‘Krung Thep Maha Nakhon’, or simply ‘Krung Thep’, Bangkok is situated in the Chao Phraya River delta, and traces its roots to a small trading post during the Ayutthaya Kingdom in the 15th century.

Watched over by its skyscrapers, visitors to Bangkok will find a heady mix of chaos and refinement, of frenetic markets, snail’s-pace traffic jams and hushed golden temples, late-night bars and early-morning alms-giving ceremonies. Not to mention, of course, a warm and friendly welcome, irrespective of language barriers.

Exploration, here, is amply rewarded. An extended boat trip can be capped by a visit to a hidden market. A stroll off Banglamphu’s beaten track can lead to a conversation with a monk. A tiny lane in Chinatown can yield a Chinese opera performance. After dark, the BTS skytrain can lead to Khwaeng Silom district, where the local nightlife scene reveals a cosmopolitan and dynamic city.

And it goes without saying that foodies will have a great time – whether savouring the local street food, or lingering over a gourmet dish.

Should you find yourself here, consider adding the following to your visiting itinerary:

• The Grand Palace
• Wat Pho
• The National Museum
• Thanon Khao San
• The canals of Thonburi
• Jim Thompson’s House
• Chatuchak Weekend Market

View the original video here.

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