Every city has its charms and must see areas, and with Bangkok you can definitely add Chinatown to that list.

In order to enter Chinatown in the proper way you should head for the Odeon Circle. This is where you will spot the huge gate that marks the official entrance to Chinatown. The gate is large, red and very attractive, and it certainly warrants a picture before you go into the heart of Chinatown itself.

The size of the Chinese community varies in many cities, but Bangkok can certainly lay claim to a significant area to call its own Chinatown. If you happen to stumble across it while exploring other parts of Bangkok you will immediately see how different it is. In some ways it has shunned parts of modern society, as some of the practices here date back to the 1700s. It provides you with a fascinating visit to say the least.

You shouldn’t expect to have a relaxing time while you are in this area, although that is arguably part of its charm. If you can stand the heat and the constant activity that thrives all around you, you’ll love Bangkok’s Chinatown. It truly is an amazing experience that you’ll never be likely to forget. You can enjoy some serious shopping here too, and there is certainly no shortage of things to buy.

Check out the Sampaeng Lane too, because this is one of the main areas for market stalls. They are tightly packed together in a lane that does not allow for cars to pass. This means you can wander round and check out each stall as you find it. Half of the joy is in never quite knowing what you will find to buy. Some say you can buy whatever you like – you just have to know where to look for it!

Finally, if you have expensive tastes you might like to frequent some of Chinatown’s gold shops too. There are lots of them in this area of Bangkok, although there must surely be only a small percentage of people flush enough to make a visit worthwhile.