Bangkok: walking through Chinatown

Bangkok’s Chinatown is huge! I had no idea and it really is a Chinatown and not just a tourist driven area, it is a working, eating and shopping venue filled with interesting specialty foods, unusual trinkets and gift items and fun places to explore or just get lost. Fortunately I went with a group of people and some guides that showed us the highlights to the cool alleyways, shopping streets, temples and foodie venues in this district.

If you enjoy visiting Bangkok’s famous flower markets and floating markets like the iconic Damnoen Saduak foating market, you’ll enjoy all the fantastic fresh produce, snacks, prepared foods and even souvenirs to bring back as a momento when visiting these markets.

Have a look at what I was able to see and discover in Bangkok’s Chinatown district:

Busy store front in Chinatown, Bangkok

 Lots of fresh tropical fruits for sale

Tropical fruits for sale in Bangkok Chinatown

 Fresh dim sum and pastries for sale

Dim sum to go at Chinatown in Bangkok

The noodle man captivated a big group of admirers with his showmanship and delicious looking soups. I wish I was hungry so I could sample some of his tasty soups – oh well the photos will have to do for now for you to imagine the savory meal.

The noodle man in Bangkok’s Chinatown

Through a string of narrow passageways filled with food stalls, we finally make it to the main and oldest Buddhist temple in Chinatown and it oozes with musty smells and burning incense in every crevice and alter stands. It’s fascinating and I find a lot of colorful images to capture at this temple, here are just a few photos to give you an idea about this unique temple.

Buddhist temple in Chinatown, Bangkok

Temple details in Chinatown, Bangkok

The main altar is adorned with many small idols and statues, probably symbolizing ancestors and important icons of this temple. The smells of heavy incense and floral smell is quite intoxicating here!

Temple altar in Chinatown, Bangkok

We walk around the side streets on the way to the riverfront of the Chao Phraya river and I love seeing these old homes with those little red lanterns. A moped made this the perfect moment to capture, even though I didn’t really  ride that sweet looking moped (to crazy in the streets of Bangkok)

Streets of Bangkok in Chinatown

 Tuk tuk ride anyone?

Tuk Tuk in the Streets of Bangkok in Chinatown

This one area on a main road was filled with these beauty stands where both men and women were getting their facial hairs plucked out quickly with these grand dames. It really looked painful even though no-one was screaming from the treatments. Would you do this treatment for the price of beauty?

Hair beauty treatment at Chinatown, Bangkok

Finally, we make it to the river and the sun is starting to set quickly. We a small elevator ride up to the top of a rooftop café with a panoramic view of the river and it is stunning. Add some cold coconut drinks and some tasty appetizers and it is the perfect setting for a sunset viewing.

Sunset views overlooking the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok

Roof top temple overlooking Bangkok

That was a fun tour walking through Chinatown in Bangkok. I hope that enjoyed the tour, if so please do share it with any of the social media buttons located on the post, thank you. I enjoyed this tour of Chinatown in Bangkok sponsored by the Thailand authority of Tourism and Tbex Asia 2015, all opinions and thoughts were my own.

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