Visit Chinatown (Bangkok)

Bangkok's Chinatown, in addition to the Chinese temples like Wat Mangkon, or Buddhist temples like Wat Traimit and its massive golden Buddha next to the big Chinese gate, offers above all an atmosphere of its own. Between its main street, the most famous Yaowarat Road, very lively even in the evening because it hosts the largest Street Food area in ??Bangkok and the maze of small streets of the very charming district of Talat Noï, my favorite area in Chinatown, it's one of the interesting places in Bangkok to shop especially at Sampeng Lane Market or eat on the go in the evening. The area is also home to the Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theater and its Khon performances. Khon is a traditional dancing masked theater listed as World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.

Served now by Bangkok's MRT metro (Wat Mangkon station), the district is now more than ever an interesting base for a stay in Bangkok. You can easily discover the local street cuisine in the evening, visit the Grand Palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and Wat Pho with a metro ride, explore the klongs, the small canals of Bangkok and their rural life by joining one boat tour from the piers along the Chao Phraya river, and of course, it is THE place to be for Chinese festivities, such as the Chinese New Year or the vegetarian festival in October. There are two accommodations that I really like in Chinatown Bangkok, the Hotel Royal Bangkok Chinatown and its rooftop swimming pool and River View Guesthouse for its dominant view over Chao Phraya river and its location in the charming Talat Noi district.