1. shopping

ACCP 2015
GETTING AROUND
Sukhumvit Road. Attractions
An area of 1,500 sqkm, the greater Bangkok Metropolis fits into the ‘big city’ league with ease. Add to that an estimated ten million inhabitants, more
than 30,000 taxis and an ever-increasing number of tourists, and you’ll soon realize that getting to grips with such a vast concrete jungle is no easy feat,
especially if you’re a first-time visitor. This is where our Area Guides come in pretty handy.
Sukhumvit Road, The longest road in Thailand and the center of up-to-the-minute shopping, eating
and nightlife, Sukhumvit has something to offer all visitors. While there are touches of 'Thai-ness' on
every corner, the many fashionable restaurants, bars, air-conditioned malls, hotels and clubs give the
area a distinctly modern, cosmopolitan flavor. Here. The elevated Skytrain (BTS) helps make exploring
incredibly easy. There are many traditional tourist attractions on its magnetism is its modern face:
towering luxury hotels, colossal condominiums, air-conditioned shopping malls and entertainment
complexes, fine restaurants, trendy shops and world-class nightlife.
Sukhumvit Road is the commercial center of Bangkok and is lined on either side with shopping malls and
nightlife hotspots. Popular with Bangkok’s expat community and travelers to the city, Sukhumvit runs
from the downtown area of Nana at one end to the suburban district of Bearing at the other.
1
ACCP 2015
Education Resource in Sukhumvit Area
Museum of Science & Planetarium
Here youngsters can learn about science and technology, natural history, the environment and deep space in
informal surroundings. The Science Museum aims to open the door on scientific experimentation and discovery
with special events, lectures and discussions on science, astrology and related subjects.
The Planetarium has a giant projection of the solar system and a section on the life of stars. On top of that the
Aquatic World, Nature and the Environment area, Health Science area and Children's Discovery House can all be
explored.
Opening Hours: 09:00 - 16:00 (Closed on Mondays and public holidays)
BTS: Ekkamai
Address: 928 Sukumvit Road, Next Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekkamai), near Ekkamai BTS Station on Sukhumvit Road
Tel: + 66 (2) 391 0544
TCDC - Thailand Creative & Design Centre in Bangkok
Asia's first design learning and resource facility, the Thailand Creative and Design Centre (TCDC), was established to foster the country's creativity and
inspire innovative ideas among design professionals and entrepreneurs. TCDC is part of the Thai government's attempt to build Thailand as a knowledgebased society under the supervision of the Office of Knowledge Management and Development.
According to Pansak Vinyaratn, Chairman of the TCDC, Thailand can no longer compete with other countries in terms of lower labour costs. "To maintain
competitiveness in the global market, we need to capitalise on creativity in designing products and services to better meet with market requirements.
Thailand has to further boost export revenues in a bid to keep its trade position in surplus," he said. "To be able to achieve these targets, we need to make
knowledge more accessible to people, that will inspire their creativity and enable them to develop their product originality. The TCDC is the source of
knowledge and self-experience with an atmosphere that stimulates imagination and creativity."
2
ACCP 2015
The 4,490 square metre TCDC is located on the sixth floor of The Emporium Shopping Complex,
and houses state-of-the-art facilities like the largest design library in Asia with over 15,000
design books, related publications, as well as a large selection of films, video and other
multimedia work. There's a permanent exhibition that provides basic design knowledge from all
over the world and leading design centres, a 130-seat convention facility, a creative space for
new generation designers to display their work at no expense, a shop and a restaurant.
The TCDC is a nationally funded public organisation created through an initiative of the Royal
Thai Government. The establishment of an extensive material library is Material Connexion
Bangkok (MCB). This will be the fourth (and only Asian) branch of the internationally renowned
Material Connexion. Acknowledging the importance of understanding and utilising the latest
and most innovative materials in design, the TCDC has chosen to provide Thai people with this
international standard materials resource centre. It will enable all interested Thai designers and
manufacturers to have access to the widest and most up-to-date materials base, so as to inspire
their creativity in the development of new ideas and products.
The venue itself is as trendy and hip as the objectives driving the project, and well worth a visit
for anyone interested in all things creative and cool.
Opening Hours: 10:00-21:00 (everyday except Monday)
Location: 6th floor, the Emporium, Sukhumvit Road
BTS: Phrom Phong
Tel: (66) 2 664 8448
Baan Kamthieng House Museum
Baan Kamthieng House Museum is located just next to Asoke, one of the busiest junctions on Sukhumvit, surrounded by towering hotels,
condos and in the shadow of Terminal 21 shopping centre. The setting of this renovated teak house feels more like the northern Thai village it
originated in rather than the middle of a concrete jungle. Well renovated with interesting displays, a visit here will give you a great insight into
traditional rural life. It is not worth making a long trip just to see it unless you are passionate about Thai history, but do take a peek if you find
yourself in the area.
3
ACCP 2015
Getting there is easy, walk along Sukhumvit Soi 21 and the Siam Society is found a few hundred metres from Asoke junction, a five minute walk
from Sukhumvit MRT and Asoke BTS stations. Use MRT exit one and BTS exit three.
Getting there is easy, walk along Sukhumvit Soi 21 and the Siam Society is found a few hundred metres from Asoke junction, a five minute walk
from Sukhumvit MRT and Asoke BTS stations. Use MRT exit one and BTS exit three.
Opening Hours: 09:00 – 17:00 (Tuesday to Saturday)
Location: 131 Thanon Asok Montri, Sukhumvit Soi 21 (nearly MRT station Asoke and BTS station Sukhumvit)
Tel: 02 661 6470
Price Range: 100 Baht
Pridi Banomyong Institute
This tree-shrouded building complex dedicated to the important historical figure Pridi Banomyong
is a venue for promoting Thai arts and culture. It hosts monthly art movies, stage performances by
aspiring Thai artists as well as cultural seminars and workshops. If you go on a non-event day, you’ll
find it quite deserted. Walk all the way to the open courtyard in the back, passing through a
wooden walkway, and you will see two tiny art spaces displaying works of random artists. But
unless you come with a specific purpose, e.g. watching art movies, then you might want to skip this
place.
Opening Hours: 09:30 – 17:30 (Tue-Sun)
Location: Between Thonglor Soi 3 and 5
Tel: +66 (0)2 530 5198, +66 (0)2 391 3807
4
ACCP 2015
National Park
Benjakitti Park
If you’re looking for a beautiful area to take a break from the pace of the city, then head to Rama IX Park. Overlooking one of the most picturesque views of
the downtown Bangkok skyline, Benjakitti Park covers a rectangular area of 130 rais (208,000sqms) opposite the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.
The park forms a narrow swathe of green around the expansive Lake Ratchada, with dedicated bicycle and jogging tracks encircling the whole park.
Set in the middle of the lake is the centrepiece fountain and a stage for light and sound
performances during major festivals like New Year’s Eve and Loy Krathong. Apart from
bicycling, the park offers paddle boats, row boats, a skateboarding ramp and fitness area
where you can do various stretches on your own or join one of the aerobics sessions on a
voluntary basis.
Opening Hours: 05:00 - 20:00 daily
Location: Lake Ratchada, Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre
MRT: Queen Sirikit National Convention Center
BTS: Asok
How to get there: From BTS (exit 4), walk about 5 minutes towards Queen Sirikit National
Convention Centre. If you take the MRT, walk towards Asok-Montri for about 5 minutes.
5
ACCP 2015
Benjasiri Park
One of the most endearing features of Bangkok is the city's numerous parks where
abundant greenery sprouts amongst towering sky scrapers and congested roads. Check
out our Bangkok Parks and Activities page for more information on parks in the city.
Built in 1992 to celebrate Queen Sirikit's 60th birthday, Benjasiri Park is often referred to
as 'Queen's Park'.
This is definitely the place to be for sculpture lovers, as several of the best examples of
Thai carvings are scattered around the park. Benjasiri Park is located next to the
Emporium right in the middle of the busy Sukhumvit area. Head down there any time between 06:00 and 21:00 and you will be sure to find
people doing yoga, Tai Chi, jogging and aerobics – each open to visitors who can either partake or enjoy from the sidelines.
Opening Hours: 06:00-21:00
BTS: Phrom Phong
Address: Next to the Emporium Shopping Centre, Sukhumvit 23
Shopping Mall or Places at night in Sukhumvit Road
Some of the best shopping Bangkok has to offer, with
modern malls, luxury shopping centers and plenty of opportunities to bag some bargains. The Sukhumvit area of Bangkok is popular with
visitors and ex-pats, and their influence can often be seen in the variety of shops you find here with Emporium offering luxury shopping,
and nearer to the Asoke junction, Terminal 21 taking you around the world, visiting cities such as London, Istanbul and San Francisco and is
filled with boutiques. For vintage clothes check out the shops at Rain Hill near Thong Lor and for bargains head to Nana, where you can find
Sukhumvit Arcade and Nana Square. We’ve put together a list of the 10 best shopping experiences on Sukhumvit.
6
ACCP 2015
Terminal 21
Terminal 21 brings the dream of traveling the world to downtown Bangkok, with its cuttingedge concept that places several world-famous cities under one roof. Find yourself
wandering around a maze of shops in Tokyo City, sauntering down London’s Carnaby Street,
bagging a bargain in an Istanbul zouk, or shopping for something to fill your growling stomach
at the Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco.
Opening Hours: 10:00-22:00
Location: Sukhumvit Road (between Soi 19 and 21)
BTS: Asok (direct access via Skywalk)
7
ACCP 2015
Emporium Bangkok
Emporium Bangkok is a sophisticated six-storey shopping centre in Sukhumvit, housing worldrenowned designer brands, a luxurious cinema and state-of-the-art exhibition space, as well as
an expansive supermarket and food court. Emporium Bangkok is also incredibly convenient as
it is directly connected to the five-star Emporium Suites by Chatrium and Phrom Phong BTS
Skytrain Station.
Featuring crisp white walls with gold accents and sleek marble flooring, everything about
Emporium shopping mall in Bangkok is classy and refined, from the doormen in crisp white
uniforms and the soft jazz being played on a baby grand piano as you enter, to the haute
couture fashion brands found inside. On the ground floor, numerous international high-end
labels have anchor units, such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Prada, Hermes, Cartier, and Mont
Blanc, while the first and second floor cater to the upmarket and trendy with designer brands
including Paul Smith, A/X Armani Exchange, Guess, Zara, Diesel, and Ck by Calvin Klein.
Shoppers can also find the latest electronic gadgets, sports equipment, books and stationery
supplies on the third floor, aptly called Pleasure & Leisure. Meanwhile, 'The Living Gallery' on
the fourth floor is a haven for aspiring interior designers, housing elegant Victorian bathtubs,
glittering chandeliers, intricate kitchenware, as well as baroque lamps, mirrors, scented candles
and diffusers.
BTS Prom Pong
Emporium Department Store spans all six floors of the back half of the mall, where you can find
familiar beauty brands such as Estee Lauder, Mac Cosmetics, Lancome and Shiseido, an
expansive shoe section, IT and electronic section, men’s and women’s apparel and accessories,
a speciality children’s section, and home decor brands that are imported from Europe, the US
and Japan.
A great place to stop for lunch is the Emporium Food Hall on the fifth floor. A collection of midrange eateries fill the centre space, where visitors will find Japanese, Indian, Vietnamese and
western restaurants, coffee shops and a couple of fast food joints. Behind the centre section
there is a modern food court that hosts a wide range of Thai and international delicacies in a
welcoming setting. The food here, though slightly pricier than most food courts, has a wide
range of dishes and everything is very high quality.
8
ACCP 2015
Opening Hours: 9.00-21.00
Location: Sukhumvit Soi 24/26
BTS: Phrom Phong (direct access)
Tel: +66 (0) 2 269 1000
Gateway Ekamai Shopping Mall
Another shopping mall on Sukhumvit Road that has adopted a theme is Gateway
Ekamai. A trip here is meant to tap into Thailand’s fascination with Japan, and the decor
includes an elephant-sized Maneki-neko (lucky cat) that welcomes you from the sky train,
some replica cherry trees and bamboo water fountains. The ground and first floor at Gateway
Ekamai are dedicated to food, but on the 2nd floor you will find nail salons and treatments
such as eyelash extensions and facials. Go up to the 3rd floor for a bazaar style shopping
experience with over 30 independent clothes, accessories and jewellery shops. The 4th and
5th floors are dedicated to electronics, with some impressive photography and camera
equipment and dedicated branches for Samsung, Apple, Acer and Toshiba mobile phones and
laptops. You can also get repairs done here.
Dining at Gateway Ekamai Shopping Mall : The Japanese theme can be seen throughout
the selection of restaurants on offer. The ground floor offers the usual fare such as Subway,
Shabushi, KFC, Swensen’s and the customary Thai food court. It is floor M that offers a wealth
of Japanese alternatives including the R Burger from Tokyo, Ramen Kourakuen, which offers noodles at reasonable prices, UCC Oriental, Hinaya – a
Japanese grilled chicken restaurant and a branch of Chabuton. Shopping at Gateway Ekamai
The 2nd floor is named ‘Dazzling’ and offers a selection of Beauty and Health treatments as well as a Boots and Watsons. If you are looking for a place to get
your eyelashes extended or top up on Japanese herbal treatments this is where to come. The third floor is small boutiques selling children’s and women’s
(Thai sizes) clothing and accessories. It was great to see some alternative items including beautiful leather bags and adorable dresses for toddlers. There are
still some retail spaces to be filled and hopefully they will continue along the same theme.
The third and fourth floors are dedicated to electronics which sell the usual cameras, phones, laptops and accessories. It includes an IT City and branches
dedicated to Samsung, Acer, Toshiba and Apple. The biggest pull at this mall are definitely the restaurants, although it does lack the sushi options you might
expect to find in a Japanese Mall. It’s a good addition to the Ekamai area and a more zen shopping experience than some of larger malls in Bangkok.
Opening Hours: Daily from 10.00–22.00
Location: Sukhumvit road 42, Ekamai, Bangkok
9
ACCP 2015
BTS: BTS Ekamai station
Tel: +66(0)8-1911-6430
BTS Ekkamai
K Village
K Village is a modern-looking mall featuring some 100 air-conditioned shops in its five zones, including Fashion & Accessories, Café & Restaurants, Health &
Beauty, Lifestyle & Technology and Gourmet Market. The main highlight, though, is dining, and the place is often packed at weekends. This new-generation
lifestyle mall, frequented by local celebrities as well as the hip and well-to-do of Bangkok, is a welcome alternative to the glittering mega-malls flanking
10
ACCP 2015
downtown Sukhumvit Road. It features two open-style buildings, each offering two levels of retail space, an activities ground which doubles as a beer
garden in cooler months and an outdoor parking lot.
K Village Highlights
With freeform architecture, pockets of greenery and lots of airy, open spaces, shopping at K Village is pleasant and relaxing at the same time. Shops
on the ground floor range from tiny clothes boutiques and shops selling fashion accessories to branded outlets such as Crocs, iBeat and True Value. There’s
also a luxury car dealer, The Gallery, where you can empty your bank account in exchange for a spanking-new Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini, Aston Martin,
or other equally prestigious brands. Many restaurants and cafés at K Village also have outdoor dining terraces. Wine Connection is highly popular and often
packed during meal times; its kitchen serves a selection of pastas, pizzas, salads and grilled meat dishes, while the adjacent wine shop offers a diverse and
extremely reasonably priced range of white and red wines as well as imported beers. Also notable is KUU, a Japanese restaurant and sake bar, offering a
11
ACCP 2015
large selection of yakitori and creative starters.
Opening Hours: 10:00 - 22:00 (shops and restaurants); 08:00 - 22:00 (Gourmet Market)
Location: Sukhumvit Soi 26 (near the Rama IV end)
BTS: Phrom Phong
Tel: +66 (0)2 258 9919-21
How to get there: It's a long walk (about 30 min.) down Sukhumvit Soi 26, so it's better to take a taxi from BTS Phrom Phong.
Rain Hill Plaza on Sukhumvit 47
Ten minutes walk from Thong Lor BTS is one of our favourite
boutique shopping malls. We love to come here and check out the
independent and vintage shops on the upper floors of Rain Hill Plaza
then head to the ground floor for a slice of cake and pot of tea at
Penguin Love Chocolate, or to Shuffle for gourmet burgers and craft
beers. Shopping wise we recommend Him and Her for a mix of men’s
and women’s fashion (both vintage and new designs), Triple Stiched
for men’s vintage classics and Apostrophe’s for a capsule collection of
jumpers, tees and some quirky home accessories.
Restaurants : Although there is a definite focus on Japanese inspired restaurants, Rain Hill offers visitors the chance to eat their way through a
varied choice of world cuisine with great options for either a quick lunch time snack or an evening dining experience.
Penguin Likes Chocolate : A cute café with an even cuter logo, Penguin Likes Chocolate ensures visitors’ blood sugar levels are kept peaking
with a selection of sweet and chocolatey treats. It has successfully mixed the image of an English teashop with a young and playful vibe; as if a
mother designed the layout and let her daughter buy the ornaments. The dessert menu includes waffles, cheese cakes and brownies but our
favourite is the penguin lava which is a chocolate pot with a pudding-like casing holding deliciously rich chocolate sauce inside, accompanied
by chopped strawberries and ice cream for dunking. The limited sofa space mean only a lucky few will be able to sit back and really enjoy the
kooky décor of stuffed penguins and miniature plants, but there is plenty of shaded seating outside.
Opening Hours: 11:00 – 22:00
Location: Ground Floor
12
ACCP 2015
Well-know restaurant : Wine Connection Tapas Bar and Bistro, Marugame Seimen, Shuffle
Rustic Cuisine and Bar,
Shops
The handful shops in Rain Hill make it suitable for a leisurely browse before or after a meal
rather than an all out shopping expedition. At Rain Hill you will find – among the hairdressers
and beauty salons – a number of interesting boutique shops with unique and hard-to-find
items to impress your friends back home.
Rain Hill Plaza
Opening Hours: 10:00 – 23:00
BTS: Thong Lor
Address: Soi 47 Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok
Tel: 02 260 7447
Nana Square Shopping Mall
Nana Square might not be the biggest or shiniest mall in Bangkok, but if you are staying in
the Nana area it’s extremely handy, with five floors of shops selling a wide variety of goods:
electronics, clothes, souvenirs and accessories with a focus on handbags. On the ground
floor you will often find a super sale focused on specific goods, such as end of line clothing,
sportswear or even lingerie. Nana Square shopping mall is also the place to come if you are
looking for an internet cafe, bank and currency exchange, laundrette or beauty salon. Given
Nana Square shopping mall’s handy location it tends to be frequented for practical reasons,
but if you’ve left your gift buying to the last minute and are staying in the area, head to
Nana Square to pick up some bargains.
Opening Hours: 10:30-22:30
BTS: Nana/ Asoke
Address: Nana Square, 49 Sukhumvit Rd (at the corner of Sukhumvit Soi 3)
Tel: +66 (0)2 253-0192
13
ACCP 2015
Eight Thonglor
A fun lifestyle mall with a focus on food, this shopping centre is located on Thong Lor (soi
55) just before Soi 8. It’s just about walkable from the BTS if you are feeling energetic.
Restaurants take over most of the ground floor: Crepes and Co are famous for their
delicious pancakes and brunches, True serve coffee and Perfume is an unusual concept
where scent is the focus of the food. Downstairs in the basement is a large supermarket
(open 24 hours), with international products. There’s a great range of unique boutiques
here as well, selling
beautifully
crafted
children’s
clothing
from Chateau de Sable,
rare and collectible
records at 8 musique, The Vintage Store stocks pre-owned designer
clothing and handbags and Pantry Magic is the ultimate in baking and
cooking accessories, fit for a cordon bleu chef.
BTS: Thong Lor
Address: Thong Lor soi 8, Sukhumvit 55 (Thonglor), Bangkok, Thailand
10110
Tel: +66 (0) 2714 9515
14
ACCP 2015
The Sukhumvit Market
A lot of Nana shopping exists on the street, with the vendors that make up the
roadside market fringing the main road. This part of Bangkok is also known as
the Middle Eastern quarter –'Little Arabia’, where many Arab businesses set up
shop. Street stalls selling counterfeit T-shirts, bags, trinkets, DVDs, CDs and
eastern-influenced apparel contribute to the bustling vibrancy of the place.
This is a great location to pick up indigenous tokens for friends and family back
home.
Opening Hours: 11:00-22:30
BTS: Nana
Address: Sukhumvit sois 2-12 and sois 3-15
Generous tips & Guide Information from http://www.bangkok.com/, Claire Mykura.
15
ACCP 2015
WHAT TO SEE IN BANGKOK
Global Top 20 Top Destination Cities by International
Overnight Visitors (2014)
Bangkok has a tropical monsoon climate and holds claim
to being the hottest city in the world. Sitting close to the
equator, it is both hot and humid in equal measure, is
unrelenting simply because it doesn't cool significantly
at night. The period between June- July is the steamiest
and rain (avg. 25-35° C).
Please check more inform :
http://www.bangkok.com/weather.htm
Source by :
MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index 2014
16
ACCP 2015
Asia/Pacific Top 10 Destination Cities by International Overnight Visitors (Resource: MasterCard Worldwide
Insights,2014)
Asia Pacific Top 10 Destination Cities by International Overnight Visitors (2014)
17
ACCP 2015
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
Police
Tourist Police
Ambulance
Fire
Samitivej Hospital
Bumrungrad International Hospital
Medical Emergency
Operator-assisted overseas calls
Directory Assistance
Airport Flight Schedules
Traffic Hotline
Immigration
191
1155
1554
199
02 711 8000
02 667 1000
1669
100
1133, 13
1566
1197
1111
Provided by : Theeradej, International Relation Office, PharmKKU,
Updated : May 3rd, 2015.
[email protected]
18