The Bangkok A to Z Guide

The complete "Bangkok A to Z Guide;" click a letter to
go to the page with entries beginning with that letter.

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U   V  W  X-Y-Z

Click here for the current time and date in Bangkok.

Please visit the sites below for a whole lot of good information!

Also visit the pages of our partners, QUALITY GROUP TAILORS.

Just click the button below!

Thai Links Page

H

HBO [Home Box Office]. Popular Western (American) cable movie channel available through the "We-are-not-a-monopoly" UBC – the only cable service provider in Bangkok.

Haad Yai [Hat Yai]. The last city of any consequence on the railway to Butterworth, Malaysia. The Prince of Songkhla University is located nearby.

Haj. One of the most important events on the Islamic world’s religious calendar, during which Moslems from around the world travel to Mecca and other holy sites. Thailand regularly has a contingent from its small Moslem group take part in this pilgrimage.

Hand Guns. FORBIDDEN!!! Firearms and anything connected with them are strictly forbidden to foreigners in Thailand, and stringently controlled even for Thai nationals. Bringing them in or being caught in possession of them are serious offenses for which Thai authorities neither have nor show any sympathy. Stiff fines and prison sentences are imposed for violations of the various laws regarding possessing or owning firearms and related paraphernalia. Your embassy won’t be able to do much to help you, besides seeing, once a month or so, that you are getting your maggot-infested bowl of rice daily, right along with the Thai prisoners, and that, if you’re lucky, there is a bucket for your sanitary needs. (Get used to this refrain; we repeat it for every entry having anything to do with firearms.)

Hanoi. Capital of Vietnam, Hanoi is under two hours by air from Bangkok.

Happy Pub [Washington Square.]. Next to Crystal Bar in the Square’s block of buildings occupying its center, this small bar is surprisingly well-staffed. The very friendly owner, a Thai lady named "Mali," is one of the most friendly bar owners in town. Though the bar doesn’t officially open until 3:00 P.M., you sometimes can catch the bartender there as early as noon, for anyone wanting a drink. Friendly, attractive staff. 3:00 P.M.-2:00 A.M.

Hat Yai [Haad Yai]. The last city of any consequence on the railway to Butterworth, Malaysia. The Prince of Songkhla University is located nearby.

Ho Chi Minh City [Saigon]. The former capital of South Vietnam before its defeat by and absorption into North Vietnam, Saigon has rebounded considerably from the grim days immediately following the war and is very much a wide-open city. As pickpockets and other thieves abound, caution is the word of the day. You should invest in a money belt, preferably one that really is a belt; this type isn’t obvious, as are the cloth bags on strings one can hang around his neck inside his clothing. It’s not a good idea – in fact, it’s a terrible one – to wear valuable jewelry. Prostitution abounds (and a good many Vietnamese ladies pursue their profession in nearby countries), and presumably AIDS is a looming menace, as it is throughout much of Southeast Asia. A short flight of not much more than an hour from Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City is a popular tourist destination, more so than the much more staid, conservative capital, Hanoi.

Hoi: literally, "Clam" or "Oyster," but also [impolite.] slang for female genitalia

Holidays. The Thai calendar abounds in holidays, most of them religious in nature. By far the single most important is the April Songkhran festival, which is the "Thai New Year."  Generally, government offices and banks close for more important holidays. Often, bars are "requested" to close, but this is not consistent, and many bar owners stay open anyway, albeit some -- though not all -- with their outside lights extinguished and entry locked, patrons knocking on the door to gain entry. While only New Year’s is the only Western holiday officially recognized (and as enthusiastically celebrated here as elsewhere in the world), Christmas is widely celebrated, without the religious significance it holds for Christians. Some more conservative Thais (the unkind call them "fossils" and "dinosaurs") bemoan the widespread practice of putting up Christmas trees, exchanging gifts, and taking the children to visit Santa Clause, it continues apace, and, if anything, is becoming ever more popular with each new Christmas Season. As we note elsewhere, Thais really like to have fun, and happily seize any and every opportunity to pursue it, and Christmas is no exception.

Home Box Office. Popular Western (American) cable movie channel available through the "We-are-not-a-monopoly" UBC – the only cable service provider in Bangkok.

Hong Kong. Formerly the crown jewel of the British Empire, Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in mid-1997, but remains largely unchanged under the Sino-British treaty returning sovereignty and control of the city to the mainland Chinese.

Hong Kong remains the link between China and Taiwan, which as of now (late 2000) have no direct links. However, the recently-elected president of Taiwan has proposed the establishing of direct links, which, if Beijing agrees, may make Hong Kong less important as a Taiwan-mainland conduit. Even so, Hong Kong is much else as well, having one of the best-developed and most successful economies in the world, rivaled in Southeast Asia only by Singapore. It is an important center of business and finance, commanding global attention – and respect. It also has some of the best infrastructure to be found anywhere in the world; it’s mass transit and telecommunication systems hold special pride of place, and are widely admired.

For the tourist, one matter of importance has to do with visas. A visa to visit Hong Kong is just that – for Hong Kong only, not the rest of the mainland. Similarly, a visa for the mainland does not grant entrance into Hong Kong, though it appears to be far easier to go from the mainland to Hong Kong than the other way around. Further, while a visa can be obtained on the spot to cross the border from Hong Kong into Shenzhen, the Special Economic Zone opposite Hong Kong, that visa is good only for Shenzhen, although if you have a mainland visa, it is good for Shenzhen as well. All of this also holds true for nearby Macau and Zhuhai, the latter being another Special Economic Zone facing Macau. It’s a good idea to get your visas taken care of before you depart your home country, but not too far in advance, as they must be used within set time-frames. Finally, many countries’ nationals can get visas on arrival in Hong Kong (and Macau), though not in the mainland, for which everyone must have a visa before arriving.

Hong Kong lies northeast of Bangkok, about 2½ hours away by air.

Horizon Cancer Center (in Bumrungrad Hospital on Sukhumvit Soi 3). One of the finest cancer-treatment centers in the region, Horizon boasts the most advanced equipment and highly trained – often in the West – doctors. [See the entry for "Bumrungrad Hospital" above.]

Hospitals.  Bangkok is fortunate to have a wide range of hospitals, including a number that are good by any standard. Foreigners tend to use one of a handful of the best, which include Bangkok Hospital, Bangkok Nursing Home (which really is a hospital, despite its name), Bumrungrad Hospital, Camillion Hospital, and Samitivej Hospital, to name a few. The Police Hospital is older, but people we know who have used it say it passes muster, at least for ordinary ailments and injuries, and is dirt-cheap. One foreigner had his lung collapse, and spent 4nights/5 days there, and his total bill for everything, including food and medicine, came to just under 1,000 pre-devaluation baht – just under US$40, at the time. All medical facilities are much cheaper than many of their counterparts abroad, particularly Japan and America.

Many Westerners have an unfair view of medical treatment in Bangkok. There are many fine facilities staffed with excellent doctors and other medical personnel. In all the hospitals mentioned earlier in this entry, many staff members speak English, some excellently; more doctors than one might guess are Western-trained and, in some cases, have practiced medicine in the West.

Outside of Bangkok, medical care is, predictably, of lower quality. But with the country well-connected domestically by air, one can reach Bangkok in a reasonably short time if he finds himself in need of top medical treatment.

Below is a list of some of Bangkok’s major hospitals, with telephone and fax numbers, addresses, and in a few cases, web sites.

Bangkok Adventist Mission Hospital
430 Phitsanulok Road.
Tel 281-1422, 282-1100
Fax: 280-0441
Private hospital.

Bangkok Christian Hospital
124 Silom Road.
Tel: 264-0560 -79, 634-0453 -64
Fax: 236-2911
Private hospital since 1949, English spoken.

Bangkok General Hospital
2 Soi Soonvijai 7
New Petchburi Road.
Tel: 310-3000, 310-3101 -3
Fax: 310-3367
www.bgh.co.th
Modern 500-bed private hospital, English spoken.

Bangna Hospital
Km. 3, Bang Na-Trat Road.
Tel: 393-8534 -5
Fax: 398-9531
Some English spoken.

BNH Hospital
(formerly Bangkok Nursing Home)
9 Convent Road.
Sathorn Nua (North) Road.
Tel: 632-0560
Fax: 632-0577 -9
Private hospital with English speaking staff.

Bumrungrad Hospital
33 Sukhumvit Soi 3
Wattana, Bangkok 10110
Phone: (662) 667-1000
Fax: (662) 667-2525
www.bumrungrad.com
Private 554-bed American managed hospital.

Camillian Hospital
423 Soi Thonglor
Khlongton Nua
Watthana BANGKOK 10110
Phone: (02) 3915724, (02) 7125313
Fax: (02) 3811841

Central General Hospital
362/114 Pahonyothin Road,
Bang Khen.
Tel: 552-8777
Fax: 552-0666
Open 24 hours.

Chulalongkorn University Hospital
Rama IV Road.
Tel: 252-8181
Government hospital.

Dental Hospital
88/88 Soi 49,
Sukhumvit Road.
Tel 260-5000 ñ15
Fax: 260-5026
Private dental hospital.

Lad Prao Hospital
2699 Lad Prao Road.
Tel: 530-2244
Fax: 935-0021

Mongkutwattana General Hospital
34/40 Chaeng Wattana Road.
Tel: 574-1000 -1
Fax: 574-4856

Nonthavej Hospital
30/8 Ngarm Wong Wan Rd
Tel 589-5489 -91
Fax: 589-8753
Private hospital

Pakkred Vejchakarn General Hospital
132/215 Chaeng Wattana Road.
Tel: 960-9655-9
Fax: 960-9666
Private hospital, English spoken.

Phayathai Hospital 1
364/1 Si Ayutthaya Road
Tel: 245-2620 -1, 245-9610 -9
Fax: 245-5488
Private hospital.

Phayathai Hospital 2
943 Phahonyothin Road .
Tel: 270-0780, 270-1830
Private hospital.

Police Hospital
Rama I Road.
Tel: 252-8111 to 25
Modern government hospital.

Rajavithi General Hospital
Rajavithi Road.
Tel: 281-1246
Fax: 246-8270
Government hospital.

Ramkhamhaeng Hospital
2138 Soi 34, Ramkhamhaeng Road, Hua Mark
Tel 374-0200 to 16
Fax: 732-0804
Private hospital .

Saint Louis Hospital
215 Sathorn Tai Road.
Tel: 675-5000
Fax: 675-5200
Oldest private hospital in Thailand, English spoken.

Samitivej Hospital
133 Soi 49,
Sukhumvit Road.
Tel 392-0011 -9
Fax: 391-1290
Modern private hospital, English spoken.

Samitivej-Srinakarin Hospital
488 Srinakarin Road.
Tel: 731-7000
Modern private hospital, English spoken.

Thai Nakarin Hospital
345 Bang Na-Trat Road.
Tel: 361-2712 -61
Fax: 361-2788
Modern private hospital, English spoken.

Thonburi Hospital
34/1 Soi Saeng Suksa (Soi 44),
Issarapharp Road, Thonburi.
Tel: 412-0020 -7
Fax: 412-7343

Vibhavadi General Hospitalral Hospital
51/3 Ngarm Wong Wan Road,
Tel: 561-1258 -67
Fax: 561-1466
Private hospital, English spoken.

Hostess Bars. This category of bar is extremely popular in Thailand (and elsewhere), and such bars abound. They tend to be less seedy than some other types of bar – but make no mistake; prostitution remains the name of the game, even in the most upscale hostess bars. These are more expensive than the average gin mill and beer bar, but generally offer superior facilities, a wider range of drinks (especially Western drinks), and hostesses who, on average, are more attractive than waitresses in other types of bars. Another attraction of these bars is that generally, you won’t have any problem with your bill. It may be higher than you would like – but it will almost always be honest, which isn’t necessarily the case in other kinds of bars.

Hotel 27 [Sukhumvit Soi 22]. This small, old, and rather decrepit hotel is one of many so-called "number hotels" – that is, they have numbers for names – whose chief function is to serve as a "short-time" hotel for prostitutes and their patrons. Located at the dead end of the small street ("soi") running east from Sukhumvit Soi 22 behind the south side of Washington Square, this hotel is popular not only with prostitutes and their customers, but with people on tight budgets who want to be conveniently located. One of the creators of this site lived in Hotel 27 for several months, and found it comfortable enough. The rooms are air-conditioned, and the restrooms have hot-water showers – a rarity in low-end hotels and guesthouses. Each room has a phone, but with no dial; you pick up the phone and wait for the front desk clerk to pick up the line and connect you. To make a long-distance call, you have to go downstairs to the front desk. Hotel 27 also has a small 24-hour restaurant and offers maid and laundry services. It also offers free small lock boxes in the office. It is a good idea to leave valuables there. The rate as mid-2001) is 300 baht/night for one person or 400 baht/night for two people.

Hotels. Just as every other city heavily dependent on tourism, Bangkok is teeming with hotels of every description, all over the city, some in the most unlikely places, hotels ranging from 100-baht-a-night fleabags to top-flight 5-star hotels costing thousands of baht per night. Some of the nicer hotels have shuttle services to and from the airport. A good number are extremely luxurious with excellent staffs and facilities. Some of the most popular are located along the Chao Phraya River on the south end of the central business district. There are so many hotels that you don’t really have to book a room in advance, but if you aren’t familiar with the city, booking is a good idea. If possible, it’s also a good idea to have the hotel’s name in Thai – most taxi drivers don’t speak English, and while they may understand the names of the very best-known (and expensive) hotels, they won’t understand most. On the other hand, there is a taxi stand at the airport where the booking clerks do speak reasonably good English, and they will assist you. It is distinctly not a good idea to let the taxi driver choose a hotel for you. Following is a listing of major hotels in Bangkok, with their addresses and telephone numbers.

Amari Atrium

1880 New Petchburi Road

Tel. 718-2000-1

Amari Watergate

847 Petchburi Road., Pratunam

Tel. 653-9000-19

Ambassador

171 Soi 11, Sukhumvit Road,

Tel. 254-0444, 255-0444

Asia

296 Phayathai Road, Rajthavee

Tel. 215-0808

AW Business Inn

155/4-5 Soi 11/1 Sukhumvit Road,

Tel. 254-7981-4, 255-7155-8

Baiyoke Suite

130 Ratchaprarop Road, Pratunam

Tel. 255-0330-9

Bangkok Centerhouse

817 Soi 21, Petchburi Road,

Tel. 653-6810-7

Bangkok City Inn

(Bangkok Bazar)

43/5 Rajdamri Road, Pathumwan

Tel. 253-5372-3

Bansabai Inter Hostel

8/137 Soi Sahakorn 15, Ladprao 71 Rd.,

Tel. 539-0150, 530-6286, 932-9200

Bossotel Inn

55/12-14 Soi 42/1, Charoenkrung Rd.,

Tel. 630-6120

Central Plaza

1965 Phaholyothin Road,

Tel. 541-1234

Century Park

9 Rajprarop Road, Dindang

Tel. 246-7800-9, 248-2550-9

China Town

526 Yaowaraj Road

Tel. 225-0203-26

Charlie House

1034/36-37 Soi Sapam Khu, Rama 4 Rd.,

Tel. 679-8330-1, 679-8258-9

Chaophaya Park

229 Ratchadapisek Road, Huay Kwang

Tel. 290-0125-50

Chateau de Bangkok

29 Soi Ruamrudee Ploenchit Rd.,

Tel. 651-4400

City Lodge

Soi 9, Sukhumvit Rd,

Tel. 254-4783-5

City Lodge

8/2-6 Soi 19, Sukhumvit Rd.,

Tel. 253-7705

Classic Place

1574-98 New Petchburi Rd.,

Tel. 255-4444-9, 255-0404-9

Comfort Airport

88/117 Vipavadi-Rangsit Rd.,

Tel. 552-3240-2, 552-0670-2

Comfort Lodge

153/11-14 Soi 11/1, Sukhumvit Rd.,

Tel. 251-9250, 251-0745

Dusit Thani

946 Rama 4 Rd.,

Tel. 236-0450-9

Elizabeth

169/51 Pradiphat Rd., Sapankwai

Tel. 271-4188-9, 271-0204

Embassy Suites

8 Soi 20, Sukhumvit Rd.,

Tel. 258-0160

First

2 Petchburi Rd., Pratunam

Tel. 255-0111-20, 255-0350-5

First House

14/20-29 Soi 19 Petchburi Rd., Pratunam

Tel. 254-0300-13

Fortune Bluewave

Ratchadapisek Rd.,

Tel. 641-1551

Grace

12 Soi 3, Sukhumvit Rd.,

Tel. 253-0651-79

Grand Hyatt Erawan

494 Ratchadamri Rd.,

Tel. 254-1234

Grand Inn

2/7-8 Soi 3, Sukhumvit Rd.,

Tel. 253-3380, 254-9021-5

Grand Pacific Hotel

1 Soi 19 Sukhumvit Rd.,

Tel. 255-2440

Grand China Princess

215 Yaowaraj Rd.,

Tel. 224-9977, 224-7997

Grand Tower

23/1 Sukhumvit Soi 55 Klongtoey

Tel. 259-0380, 714-2001

Hilton International

2 Wireless Rd.,

Tel. 253-0123

Holiday Inn Crown Plaza

981 Silom Rd.,

Tel. 238-4300

Impala

9 Soi 24, Sukhumvit Rd.,

Tel. 259-0053-4

Imperial Queen’s Park

36 Soi 22, Sukumvit Rd.,

Tel. 258-2321-6

Indra Regent

120/126 Ratchaprarop Rd., Pratunam

Tel. 208-0022, 208-0033

Jade Pavilion Travelodge

30 Soi 22, Sukhumvit Rd.,

Tel. 259-4675-89

Landmark

138 Sukhumvit Rd.,

Tel. 254-0404, 254-0424

Manhattan

13 Soi 15, Sukhumvit Rd.,

Tel. 255-0166-88

Manohra

412 Suriwong Rd.,

Tel. 234-5686-9, 234-5070

Mansion Kempinski

75/23 Soi 11, Sukhumvit Rd.,

Tel. 255-7200, 253-2655

Marriott Royal Garden Riverside

Charoen Nakorn Rd.,

Tel. 476-0021-2

Maruay Garden

1 Phaholyothin Rd.,

Tel. 256-1051-47

Menam

2074 Charoen Krung Rd.,

Tel. 289-0352-3, 289-1148-9

Mecure Hotel Bangkok

City Square 1091/336 Petchburi Rd.,

Tel. 253-0543, 253-0510

Meridien President

135/26 Gaysorn Rd., Ploenchit

Tel. 253-0444

Monarch-Lee Garden

188 Silom Rd.,

Tel. 238-1991

Montien

54 Suriwong Rd.,

Tel. 233-7060-9, 234-8060-9

Montien Riverside

372 Rama 3 Rd., Bang koleam

Tel. 292-2999, 292-2888

Nana

4 Soi 4, Sukhumvit Rd.,

Tel. 255-0122, 252-0121

Narai

222 Silom Rd.,

Tel. 237-0100

New Hotel

1216/1 New Rd.,

New Swiss Inn

1/28-29 Soi 11, Sukhumvit Rd.,

Tel. 255-4523

Noorie Hotel

178/7 Soi Wuttiphant, Rajprarop Rd.,

Tel. 656-2590-4, 251-5171

Novotel Bangkok

Siam Square Soi 6, Rama 1 Rd.,

Tel. 255-6888

Novotel Bangna Bangkok

14/49 Srinakarin Rd.,

Tel. 366-0505

Novotel Lotus Bangkok

1 Soi Daeng Udom (Soi 33), Sukhumvit Rd.,

Tel. 261-0111, 262-1688

Oriental

48 Oriental Avunue

Tel. 236-0400, 236-0420

Pavilion Place, The

37/3-17 Patpong 2 Rd.,

Tel. 237-4000-20

Quality Suites Airport

99/401 Soi Benjaminr Chaengwattana Rd.,

Tel. 982-2022-65

Ra-jah

18 Soi 4, Sukhumvit Rd.,

Tel. 252-5102-1

Rembrandt

19 Soi 18, Sukhumvit Rd.,

Tel. 261-7100

Rama Garden

9/9 Vipavadi-Rangsit Rd.,

Tel. 561-0022

Regent Bangkok

155 Rajdamri Rd.,

Tel. 251-6127

Regency Park

12/3 Soi 22, Sukhumvit Rd.,

Tel. 259-7420-39

Rex

762/1 Sukhumvit Rd.,

Tel.259-0106-15

Riverside Plaza

753/45 Ratchvithi Rd.,

Tel.434-0090-3, 435-1797

Royal

2 Ratchadamnoen Rd.,

Tel. 222-9111-26

Royal Benja

39 Soi 5, Sukhumvit Rd.,

Tel. 655-2920-57

Royal Garden Riverside

257/1-3 Charoen Nakorn Rd.,

Tel. 476-0021-2

Royal Orchid Sheraton

2 Captain Bush Lane, New Rd.,

Tel. 234-5599

Royal Park View

19/9 Soi 20, Sukhumvit Rd.,

Tel. 261-8989, 261-8999

Royal River

670/805 Charansanitwong Rd.,

Tel. 433-0300

Ruamchitt Plaza

199 Near soi 15, Sukhumvit Rd.,

Tel. 254-0205, 651-0074

Sena Place

17 Soi 11, Phaholyothin Rd., Sapankwai

Tel. 271-4410, 271-4424-8

Shangri-la

86 Soi Wat Suan Phlu, New Rd.,

Tel. 236-7777

Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit

250 Sukhumvit Rd.,

Tel. 653-0334

Siam City

477 Sri Ayutthaya Rd.,

Tel. 247-0120, 247-0130

Siam Inter-continental

967 Rama 1 Rd., Siam Square

Tel. 253-0355-7

Siam Palace

3 Soi 10, Pradipat Rd., Sapankwai

Tel. 271-1192, 278-2410, 279-1865

Siam Orchid Inn

109 Soi Rajdamri Rd.,

Tel. 251-4417, 255-2199, 255-3140-3

Silom Plaza

320 Sliom Rd.,

Tel. 236-8476-84

Silom Street Inn

284/11-13 Silom Rd.,

Tel. 238-4680-8

Silom Village Inn

286 Silom Rd.,

Tel. 234-4448, 235-8760-1, 233-9447

Sol Twin Tower

88 Rongmuang Soi 3, Rama 4 Rd.,

Tel. 216-9555

Southern Comfort Apartments

Soi 22, Sukhumvit Rd., (behind Washington Theatre)

Tel. 259-0328-9

St. James

18 Soi 26, Sukhumvit Rd.,

Tel.261-0890, 261-0868-73

Stable Lodge

39 Soi 8, Sukhumvit Rd.,

Tel.253-3410-11

Suan Dusit Palace

295 Ratchasima Rd., Dusit

Tel. 243-6891-8

Sukhothai

13/3 South Sathorn Rd.,

Tel. 287-0222

Sunroute Bangkok

288 Rama 9 Rd.,

Tel. 248-0111

Swiss Park

155/23-24 Soi 11/1 Sukhumvit Rd.,

Tel.254-0228

Tara

18/1 Soi 26, Sukhumvit Rd.,

Tel. 259-2900-19

Tawana Ramada

80 Suriwong Rd.,

Tel. 236-0361

Taantawan Place

119/5-10 Suriwong Rd.,

Tel. 238-2620-39

Tai Pan

25 Soi 23, Sukhumvit Rd.,

Tel. 260-9888, 260-9898

The Emerald

99/1 Ratchadapisek Rd.,

Tel. 276-4567

Thai Hotel

78 Prachatipathai Rd.,

Tel. 282-2831-33, 35

Thai House Inn

1/1 Soi 7, Sukhumvit Rd.,

Te. 255-4698, 254-8695

Tongtara

9/99 Charoen Krung Rd.,

Tel. 291-9800, 688-0188

Tower Inn

533 Silom Rd.,

Tel. 237-8300-4

Town in Town

300/1 Srivara Rd., Ladprao 94

Tel. 539-5051-2, 539-8358

Trinity Place

162 Soi 5, Silom Rd.,

Tel. 231-5050

Travelodge

11/1 Soi 10, Sukhumvit Rd.,

Tel. 653-1314-7

Viengtai

42 Tani Rd., Banglamphu

Tel. 280-5393-9

Wall Street Inn

37/20-24 Suriwong Rd.,

Tel. 233-4164-7

Welcome Palace

30 Nares Rd., Bangrak

Tel. 237-7920-46

Westin Banyan Tree

21/100 South Sathorn Rd.,

Tel. 679-1200

White Orchid

409/421 Yaowaraj Rd.,

Tel. 226-0026

White Palace

40 Soi 15, Petchburi Rd., Pratunam

Tel. 255-2701-5, 251-2796, 252-8553-4, 252-8204

Windsor

8-10 Soi 20, Sukhumvit Rd.,

Tel. 258-0160-5

World Inn

131/5-7 Soi 7/1, Sukhumvit Rd.,

Tel. 255-7274-5

Y.M.C.A. Collins International House

27 South Sathorn Rd.,

Tel. 287-1900, 287-2727

YMCA Hostel

13 South Sathorn Rd.,

Tel. 286-1936, 286-3310

Houses.  While there are numerous modern Western-style houses around, of chief interest to foreigners, particularly those from the West, are the traditional Thai houses, all but gone from Bangkok, but still found outside the capital. These houses are elevated, allowing air circulation on all sides, an important feature given Thailand’s hot climate, especially during the hot season (roughly February through May). The roof is elevated a few centimeters from the tops of the exterior walls, further enhancing air flow. The space under the house is an all-purpose area – a good place to sling a hammock, the house providing shade from the fierce tropical sun, and cover from the monsoon rains. Household items and vehicles can be stored there, and the space provides a sheltered play area for children. An important consideration, at least in times gone by, was safety from wildlife, though wildlife is rapidly vanishing as development continues and the population grows.