Chinatown (Yaowarat Road)

Bangkok’s Chinatown (Yaowarat Road) is always worth a visit. Also simply known by the locals as Yaowarat, it is one of the oldest and largest Chinatowns in the world. Not just worth a visit during Chinese New Year, it’s an unmissable stop for visitors to Bangkok. Adding to its appeal is the fact that there is always something new to discover, depending on what time you visit.

Special festivities:

“Jay” Vegetarian Festival 2019: Taking place from 28th September – 7th October 2019 this year. For believers, it’s an important time to perform acts of charity and abstain from consuming meat or other animal-based ingredients and as well as dishes with pungent seasoning, garlic and onion to help cleanse the mind and spirit. For tourists and locals alike, the real excitement is in discovering how Bangkok’s renowned street food goes veggie. The epicentre of it all– Chinatown! Most of Yaowarat road will be decked out in the festive red and yellow flags, with various cultural performances and activities taking place during the Vegetarian Festival 2019.

Chinatown in the morning

Rise with the sun for the perfect time to grab a traditional breakfast. Choose one of the many authentic coffee shops, where you can sit alongside old-timer regulars. We also recommend visiting the Chinese temples in the area such as Wat Mangkon Kamalawat. Say a prayer or snap great shots of the action, the choice is yours.

Chinatown in the afternoon

When it starts getting hot, beat the heat by ducking into the many alleys and doing some shopping. Whether its streetside shops hawking their wares or established shops, exciting treasures await. Sampeng alley is especially a hotspot for serious wholesale shopping.

Chinatown in the evening

Once the sun sets, the amount of visitors swells once again. Why are they coming here? It’s a pilgrimage of foodies for the delicious street eats, of course! There are renowned street stalls dotting Chinatown, some of which have been recognized by the prestigious Michelin guide. Seafood, Thai food, desserts and more– it’s all here ready to be tasted. Chinatown by night is another must for shutterbugs. Try and capture the perfect shot of the striking neon lights once it gets dark.

Chinatown walking street

Starting since mid December 2019, foodies can enjoy additional convenience with the Chinatown walking street festival! From Friday – Sunday in the evenings from 7pm til midnight, guests can now browse the classic street food selection without dodging cars. The trial period will last until May 2020 so remember to come hungry!

How to get there?

It’s a lot of goodness packed into a limited space. Chinatown stretches along 1km Yaowarat Road and its adjacent Charoenkrung Road. It’s only approximately 5 kms or a half hour car ride from ibis Styles Bangkok Khaosan Viengtai, or you can take a taxi to MRT Sanam Chai and head onwards to MRT Wat Mangkorn. If you want to explore the rest of Bangkok, use that same MRT station to journey on.