History - Economy - Climate - Transports - Festivals - Something to know

Bangkok Brief History

Before the 1780s the vicinity of Bangkok consisted of small principalities which existed without official status. Bangkok began as a small trading community on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River during the Ayutthaya Kingdom,1350 to 1767. The town's name is derived from Bang Makok, bang being the Central Thai name for towns or villages situated on the bank of a river, and makok being the Thai name of Spondias dulcis (a tree producing yellow plum-like fruits).

After the fall of Ayutthaya to the Burmese Kingdom in 1767, the newly declared King Taksin established a new capital in the area of then-Bangkok, which became known as Thonburi. When Taksin's reign ended in 1782, King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke reconstructed the capital on the east bank of the river and gave the city a ceremonial name which became shortened to its current official name, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (which means "city of angels"). On April 21st 1782 Bangkok became the capital of Thailand and the seat of the Thai government.

Since the 1780s then much of Bangkok's history has been dominated by the constant renovation of the old temples, palaces, and monuments in the city, as in Thailand it is the divine responsibility of the king to maintain the Buddhism religion.

The early to middle nineteenth century saw a gradual increase of foreigners into Bangkok, missionaries and traders who came from many European countries and North America. By 1860 many traders had formed economic alliances and treaties with Bangkok.

King Mongkut (1851-1868), and later on his son King Chulalongkorn (1868-1910) brought about much development and modernization in Bangkok and Thailand. The city's first paved street was completed under Mongkut's rule and in 1863, his son proceeded to construct new city roads, developing a railway line connect to the north of Bangkok as well creating a tramway.

By 1900, rural market zones in Bangkok began developing into residential districts. The Memorial Bridge was constructed in 1932 to connect Thonburi to Bangkok which was believed to promote economic growth and modernization in a period when infrastructure was developing considerably. During the Vietnam War period of the 1960s increased FDI investment flowed into Thailand, improving the Don Mueang airport and its highways.

Since the 1960s modernization and population pressure with now over 8 million people in Bangkok, traffic congestion and pollution has become a significant problem in Bangkok.

Business & Economy

Bangkok is the economic center of Thailand, dominating the country's economy and dwarfing any other urban centers. Development continues to pour in to Bangkok mostly neglecting the rest of the nation. It is ranked as the 55th richest urban agglomeration, slightly behind Singapore, Jakarta, and Metro Manila. Its combined economic output is roughly 89 billion dollars in purchasing power parity terms, which accounts for roughly 16 percent of Thailand's GDP also in PPP terms. However, there is a quite a large discrepancy and statisticians and economists would claim that Bangkok accounts for nearly 75 percent of Thailand's service sector which accounts for 45.2 percent of Thailand's 548 billion dollar economy. With the given GDP of the city, the estimates for per capita income is roughly 14,000 dollars, fairly low for a megacity. More realistic but unclaimed estimates put the city's output as high as 210 billion dollars, accounting for 38 percent of national income and per capita income at 33,000 dollars.

The Stock Exchange of Thailand, or the SET is located on Ratchadaphisek Road in inner-Bangkok with over 523 listed companies and combined market capitalization of about THB 6 trillion (USD 197 billion) as of 31 January 2007. Due to the large amount of foreign representation, Thailand has for several years been a mainstay of the Southeast Asian economy and a key center in Asian business. The indices of the stock exchange are SET Index, SET50 Index and SET100 Index. As of Fall 2009, the index is one of Asia's top performing indices, up 58 percent since January.

Bangkok is home to the headquarters of all of Thailand's major commercial banks and financial institutions; 27 financial institutions hold at least 1 billion dollars in total assets. Their bank deposits totaled approximately THB 9.6 trillion, the equivalent of USD 314 billion at the end of the third quarter in 2007. A large number of multinational corporations base their regional headquarters in Bangkok due to the lower cost of the workforce and firm operations relative to other major Asian business centers. Thirteen Bangkok-based companies make the Forbes 2000 list annually. The list includes the largest Thai bank, Bangkok Bank, the country's largest listing as well as the state-owned energy firm PTT, and the renowned Charoen-Phokphand agri-foods conglomerate.

In perhaps every industry, Bangkok is the sole innovator and contributor to Indochina (excluding Vietnam). The market for flights to enter Laos and Cambodia is heavily dominated by airlines based in Bangkok such as THAI Airways International, Bangkok Airways, and the multitude of airlines in Thailand. Telecommunications, retail, real estate, airlines, and media conglomerates mainly cater to the country's growing population, however, few Thai corporations venture overseas and gain notoriety.

Tourism is a significant contributor to Thailand's economy, providing about 5 percent of GDP. Bangkok is Thailand's principal international gateway and a destination in its own right. This giant market has made Bangkok a prime location for hotel operations as well as the launching pad for small and medium accommodation enterprises. Moreover, Bangkok-based hospitality companies such as Dusit Thani Group, Erawan Group, and Siam Hotels and Resorts, have all expanded operations and can officially be classified as a multinational corporation in its own right.

Income inequality is a growing issue in Bangkok, especially between relatively unskilled lower-income immigrants from rural provinces in Thailand and neighboring countries and middle class professionals (45% of registered residents), business elites, and retired and working foreign expats. About 7 percent of Bangkok's population (excluding illegal immigrants who constitute about 5-8 percent of population) live below the poverty line compared to the national average of 9 percent.

Bangkok Climate

Bangkok has a tropical wet and dry climate under the Köppen climate classification system.

Average temperatures in the city are about 2 °C (3.6 °F) higher than the ones shown for the Don Mueang Airport during the 1960-1990 period.

The highest recorded maximum temperature is 40.8 °C (105.4 °F) in May 1983 and the lowest recorded minimum temperature is 9.9 °C (49.8 °F) in January 1955.

The coldest temperatures were recorded in January 1924, January 1955, January 1974 and December 1999.

 The hottest year on record was 1997 (average yearly at Don Muang 30.0C) and the coldest was 1975 (average yearly at Don Muang 26.3C).

The coldest daytime maximum temperature was 19.9 °C (68 °F), recorded in December 1992. Hailstorms are virtually unheard of in the city, with only one having been recorded in the past fifty years

Transport in Bangkok

Traffic is a real chaos in Bangkok. There are so many vehicles of all kinds that crossing the streets may become a real adventure!

The best way to avoid it is to use the BTS elevated railway, the fastest and more modern way to move around...
But if you have to go through, be patient and don't make very tight schedules, give some "extra" margin for the traffic jams.
Taking the river boats is another way to avoid the traffic in the city center.

From Airport to Bangkok

If you come from airport, you have many solutions to go inside Bangkok center city.

- Public Bus Service: For Bangkok and area (35 baht.).

- Public taxis: Public Taxis can be found on Level 1 (down level)

  Taxi fare: metered taxi fare (around 200-250 bath) plus 50 Baht airport surcharge, and expressway fees (45 + 25 Bath).

- Airport Express provides air-conditioned bus service: Between Suvarnabhumi Airport and first-class Bangkok hotels,  Airport Express  

  operates 4 bus routes to downtown. Airport Express service operates  from 5:00 am to midnight and hhe cost is 150 baht for entire route.

  Contact Airport Express Counter Level 1, near Entrance 8.

- Skytrain: (opening soon)

From Bangkok to Province

There is many solution for leave Bangkok and go to every province.

- Bus Service: You can go everywhere in Thailand with bus for the cheapest price

- Schedules or low coast Airplane companies:  Every touristic cities in Thailand get an airport (Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Koh Samui, Phuket, Hua Hin) but also every province capitals (Hat Yai, Udon Thani, Suratthani...) so it's possible to go everywhere by plane with a schedules planes companies in Thailand (Thai Airway, Bangkok Air, Air Asia) or Low cost Thai companies (Nok Air, one, two, go...)

- Public Taxis: price depend of province you want to go, taxis have a reference price but you can negotiated it cheaper with the driver.

- Train: There is in Thailand 3 big train line one for Malaysia, one for Chiang Mai and one for Nong Khai, their price is little bit more expensive thai bus companies but very attractive too.

- Car Rental: You can rent a car from 1000 bath/day (extra charge around 3,000 bath if you don't give back tcar at the same place)

Taxis

Taxis in Bangkok are fixed with a meter and have a sign "TAXI-METER" on the roof.

The minimum fare is 35 baht for the first kilometer. Then the rates are 5 baht per km for the 2nd-12th km, 5.50 baht per km for the 12th-20th km and 6 baht per km for the 20th-40th km, 6.50 baht per km for the 40th-60th km, 7.50 baht per km for the 60th-80th km and 8.50 baht a kilometer for any distance beyond that. There is a surcharge of 1.25 baht per minute for traffic congestion when the taxi moves no faster than 6 km/hr.
The rates also apply to trips to the provinces (1,300 to 1,500 bath for Pattaya) or take taxi meter for the airport (around 250 - 300 bath and 50 bath surcharge for airport).

A toll of 40 - 60 baht for expressway or toll way must be paid by the passenger.

Tuk-tuk

Tuk-tuk is a three-wheeled taxi without a meter or air-conditioning.

Fares must be negotiated beforehand, but they are normally a little cheaper than ordinary taxis and are suitable for short trips only.

There're a lot of Tuk-tuk around every touristic attraction and sometime is more easy to take one of them than a taxi. Many taxi don't want put meter when they stay around tourist place (as Patpong shopping or Grand Palace) or refuse to take care customer when they have to go to far with traffic jam.

Frequently Tuk-tuk drivers want stop in gems or jewels shop and ask to stay in shop 20 min for they get free gasoline, never accept that because when you go out from gem shop he send you with an other Tuk-tuk an you have to negotiate price one more time..

Motorcycle Taxi

Due to heavy traffic in rush hours in Bangkok, nowadays motorcycle taxis are abundant.

Normally, a motorcycle station can be found at the entrance to a soi (lane).

Fares are about the same as Tuk Tuk except during rush hours when they may cost a bit more. If you are not really in a hurry, you'd better avoid using them as they are not safe.

Skytrain (BTS railway) and metro (MRT subway)

BTS Skytrain operates from 06.00 - 24.00 hours everyday with two main lines - Sukhumwit and Silom lines.

On the birthday of HM King Rama IX, 5 December 1999, an elevated two-line Skytrain (officially called BTS) metro system was opened. The remains of the failed BERTS (Hopewell) project can still be seen all the way from the main railroad station out towards Don Mueang Airport. Due to the Asian financial crisis of 1997 construction was halted and the concrete pillars were left unused.

The MRT subway system opened for use in July 2004. The MRT connects the northern train station of Bang Sue to the Hua Lamphong central railway station near the city centre, while also going through the eastern part of Bangkok. It connects to the BTS system at BTS stations Mo Chit, Asok, and Sala Daeng.

Currently, transit and development projects initiated by ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin are gaining in popularity with the currently elected government, and have a possibility of being resumed and extended.

A new high speed elevated railroad called the Suvarnabhumi Airport Link, currently under construction, will link the city with the new Suvarnabhumi Airport. The announced opening date has been pushed to back to December 2009.

There are plans to extend the line to Don Mueang and Rangsit, but again, this is very dependent on the political situation.

Plans have been approved for a further extension of the BTS Silom line from Wong Wian Yai to Bangwah (4.5 km/2.8 mi), Sumrong to Samut Prakarn (8 km/5.0 mi), Mo Chit to Saphan Mai (11.9 km/7.4 mi) and the National Stadium to Phran Nok (7.7 km/4.8 mi). This includes five underground stations in the Rattanakosin area. The State Railway of Thailand has also been given approval to complete the Dark Red and Light Green lines. Alongside, MRT has also begun construction on two new lines, the Purple line from Bang Yai to Bang Sue, and the Blue line from Hua Lampong to Bang Khae and Ta Pra.

Skytrain station (BTS)                                                                                                     Subway station (MRT)

Car Rent

Cars are easily rented at rental shops and companies all around Bangkok. The bigger international car rental brand can be find in Bangkok (Budget, Avis, Hertz, Rent a car...), they are more expensive than local rental shop (from 1,200-1,500 THB/day) but with international brand you are sure about full insurance.

Train

For intercity travel by train, most passengers begin their trips at Hua Lamphong at the southern end of the MRT.

Here, trains connect Bangkok to Malaysia in the south, Chiang Mai to the north, and Nong Khai to the northeast and beyond to Laos.

Every line have many stop for each big Thai city, for a good price (around 1,500 THB for exemple from Bangkok to Suratthani) you can have air-conditioning VIP night train for go in north, south or northeast.

Bus service

The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority service area covers Bangkok Metropolis and its suburban areas in the adjacent provinces of Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom, and Samut Sakhon.

It serves approximately 3 million passengers per day. The service hours are 05.00-23.00 hrs, except 24-hr night-owl service on some routes. In September 2005, BMTA owns a fleet of 3,579 buses comprising 1,674 ordinary buses and 1,905 air-conditioned buses. In addition to BMTA-owned buses, there are 3,485 private-own contract buses, 1,113 contract minibuses, 2,161 side-street songthaews, and 5,519 vans. In total, there are 15,857 buses and vans over 427 routes across 8 zones.

Virtually all cities and provinces are easily reached by bus from Bangkok.

For destinations in the southwest and the west such as Phuket, Krabi, Koh Samui..., buses leave from the Southern Bus Terminal, west of the city in the Thonburi area.

For destinations in the southeast, such as Pattaya, Ko Samet and Ko Chang..., buses leave from the Eastern Bus Terminal at Ekkamai.

For all destinations north and northeast, the Northern Bus Terminal is at Mo Chit. Bangkok's less accessible southern terminal was recently moved even farther out.

Though Bangkok is well connected to other cities, getting to the bus terminals often are a challenge in themselves.

You can also go by air-conditioning VIP bus and boat in some island like Koh Samui (Bus from Bangkok to Chumpon then Hi-Speed Catamaran from Chumpon to Koh Samui (after stops in Koh Tao and Koh Phangam).

This trip is quite long (12 hours) but cheap (1,000 THB) with privite company Lomprayah (www.lomprayah.com)

Airports

Bangkok is one of Asia's most important air transport hubs. In 2005, more than ninety airlines served Don Mueang International Airport. It was the 18th busiest airport in the world, second busiest in Asia by passenger volume, 15th busiest in the world and fourth busiest in Asia in international passenger volume.

Don Mueang consistently ranked 19th in the world in cargo traffic, and seventh in the Asia-Pacific region. Don Mueang is considered to be one of the world's oldest international airports, its opening in March 1914 making it almost twenty years older than London Heathrow. It has three terminals and is located about 30 km (19 mi) north from the heart of Bangkok.

On 28 September 2006, Suvarnabhumi Airport, became Bangkok's official international airport, replacing Don Mueang. Pronounced Suwannaphum, or loosely Su-wan-na-poom, the airport is located southeast of the city center in Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan Province. The progress of Suvarnabhumi Airport dates back to the early 1970s when a large plot of land 8,000 acres (3,237 ha) (32 km²) was bought. A student uprising in October of the same year prevented further progress with the development when the military government of Thanom Kittikachorn was subsequently overthrown. After several military coups and the Asian financial crisis of 1997, construction finally began in 2002, after five years of clearing the site.

The first flights landed in September 2006, shortly after another military coup. Its two parallel runways are connected by the five concourses of the main terminal building. The airport features a 132.2-metre (434 ft)-tall control tower, the tallest in Asia and one meter (3.2 ft) taller than Kuala Lumpur International Airport control tower. It is the tallest stand alone purpose built control tower in the world. Airports of Thailand Plc. (AoT) have announced another terminal to accommodate a further fifteen million passengers. This will be part of Phase 2 of the airport, which is expected to begin construction in three to five years. The main airline of Suvarnabhumi is Thai Airways International.

Much of the construction of Suvarnabhumi Airport took place during the premiership of Thaksin Shinawatra, who took personal responsibility for its timely completion. Despite a "ceremonial" opening on the planned date, construction was over a year late. Continuing controversy surrounds the quality of planning and construction; accusations include cracks in the runway, overheated buildings, a severe shortage of toilet facilities and lengthy passenger walks to departure gates. The fact that the airport is already overcrowded and near its maximum capacity less than a year after opening is another concern.

Don Mueang remains in use as a base of the Royal Thai Air Force.

Most of the low-cost airlines now use the airport for domestic flights, in an effort to ease congestion at Suvarnabhumi, until the next terminal is opened.

www.bangkokairportonline.com

www.bangkokair.com

www.thaiairways.com

www.airasia.com

www.nokair.com

River and canals network

An elaborate network of canals known as khlongs gave Bangkok the nickname "Venice of the East" at a time when most transportation was by boat. Today, nearly all of the canals have been filled in and converted into streets. While many khlongs still exist with people living along them and markets often being operated along the banks, most are severely polluted. A notable khlong market is the floating market in Taling Chan district. Through downtown Bangkok runs the Khlong Saen Saeb, which has a canal boat service, the most extensive of which is the Chao Phraya Express Boat with as many as thirty stops along the both banks of the Saen Saeb. However, there are limitations as the further north the route is the farther apart the stations are, impeding the ability of this water taxi to function as a true mass transit system.

River taxis & Ferries can be used on the Chao Phraya River. Some are just cross-river ferries, but others serve the many landing stages on both banks and cover a route that goes up as far as the northern suburb of Nonthaburi.

Thai Festival and National days

Bangkok Songkran Festival - 13–15 April

The traditional Thai New Year is an occasion for merriment all over the city, but most notably at Sanam Luang, near the Grand Palace, where the revered Phra Phuttha Sihing image is displayed and bathed by devotees.

In the Wisutkasat area, a Miss Songkran beauty contest is held and accompanied by merit-making and entertainment. Khao San Road, Bang Lamphu area is also one of the high-spots in the city where locals and tourists play water by the water-throwing activities.

Royal Ploughing Ceremony - May

An ancient Brahman ritual, conducted at Sanam Luang, in which farmers believe, is able to forecast the abundance of the next rice crop.

The event is a result of a series of ceremonies that are conducted by Phraya Raek Na, portrayed by a high-ranking official from the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives who wears colourful traditional costumes.

This ceremony was re-introduced in 1960 by H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej and is considered the official commencement of the rice-growing season.

H.M. The Queen’s Birthday Celebration 12 August

To display their loyalty and to honour Her Majesty Queen Sirikit on the occasion of her royal birthday, the Thai people decorate their houses and public buildings. Around Bangkok, Ratchadamnoen Avenue, the area around the Grand Palace and other well-known locations are bedecked with coloured lights and magnificent adornments.

Trooping of the Colours - December

Their majesties the King and Queen preside over this impressive annual event, held in the Royal Plaza near the equestrian statue of King Chulalongkorn.

Dressed in colourful uniforms, amid much pomp and ceremony, members of the elite Royal Guards swear allegiance to the king and march past members of the royal family.

H.M. The King’s Birthday Celebrations - 5 December

H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest reigning monarch is well beloved and deeply respected by all Thais old and young. The occasion of his royal birthday provides his loyal subjects the opportunity to express their reverence for him. All over the country, buildings and homes are elaborated and the area around the Grand Palace is spectacularly illuminated.

Something to know about Bangkok

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