Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Krung, formerly known as New Road) and a new royal district (Dusit) styled after
European palaces.
Bangkok was still a gangly town when soldiers from the American war in Vietnam
came to rest and relax in the city's go-go bars and brothels. It wasn't until the boom years
of the 1980s and 1990s that Bangkok exploded into a fully fledged metropolis crowded
with hulking skyscrapers and an endless spill of concrete that gobbled up rice paddies and
green space. The city's extravagant tastes were soon tamed by the 1997 economic melt-
down, the effects of which can still be seen in the numerous half-built skyscrapers. Nearly
two decades later, many of these still exist, but are becoming increasingly obscured be-
hind a modern public transport system and the seemingly endless high-rise condos and
vast glass-fronted mega-malls that have come to define the Bangkok of today.
Sights
Ko Ratanakosin
Welcome to Bangkok's birthplace. The vast city we know today emerged from Ko
Ratanakosin, a tiny virtual island ('Ko') made by dredging a canal around Mae Nam Chao
Phraya during the late 18th century. Within this area you'll find the glittering temples and
palaces that most visitors associate with the city. Ko Ratanakosin's riverfront setting is
also home to several museums, markets and universities. All these sights are within walk-
ing distance of each other and are best visited early in the morning before the day comes
to a boil.
The river ferry pier at Tha Chang is the most convenient access point.
