Chinatown is a vibrant area of Bangkok, located in the old part of the city. It is the biggest Chinatown in Thailand and one of the biggest in the world. A day trip to Chinatown is a must when visiting the Thai capital.
Bangkok’s Chinatown is best known for its delicious street food scene, cheap wholesale markets, and several temples and cultural attractions. The area comes to life in the evening as the streets glow with colorful neon lights.
Chinatown is located right next to Bangkok Old Town and Chaophraya River. You can reach this neighborhood by taking the MRT or Ferries. Wat Mangkon MRT Station, Ratchawong Pier, and Marine Dept Pier running through Chinatown, making it easily reachable by public transportation.
In this article, we will be looking at the 10 best things to do in Chinatown Bangkok. These include Yaowarat Night market, Sampeng Market, Wat TraiMit, and Talat Noi. I’ll also show you how to get to and get around this interesting area of Bangkok.
If you want to know more about Bangkok, you can read these articles:
- Where to Stay in Chinatown
- My 5-7 Days in Bangkok Itinerary
- Top 40 Attractions and Activities in Bangkok
- How to get from Bangkok Airport to City center
10 Best Things to do in Chinatown Bangkok
1. Yaowarat Road
Yaowarat Road is the main road of Bangkok’s Chinatown, packed with things to do and see both day and night. It is a 1.5km long street, stretching from Road AH123 Chinatown Gate. The street was constructed in 1891 and named after Princess Yaowarat, the sister of King Rama V.
Yaowarat Road is lined with shops selling everything from gold to herbs, to traditional Chinese medicine, and street food stalls. The vibrant neon lights at night give the whole street a lively, bustling feel. It’s particularly famous for its food scene after dark.
The street is home to the vibrant night market, Wat Traimit Temple, and Chinatown Gate. Lots of other attractions such as Sampeng Market, Talat Noi art district, and Wat Mangkon Kamalawat are located within walking distance from Yaowarat Road.
You can explore the street on foot, and take tuk tuks, or Grab when you are tired. By day, you can visit cultural attractions and markets. By night, you can explore the street foods, and lots of restaurants on the small alleys and on the side of Yaowarat Road.
Yaowarat Road is running parallel with the MRT train line and it is only a block away from Wat Mangkon Station. The Chao Phraya River and its pier is 500m away. You can reach this street by MRT train, ferries, tuk tuk, or Grab Bike. It is just a few minutes drive from Old Town and Khao Road.
2. Chinatown Night Market
The Yaowarat Road transformed into a vibrant night market from sunset to late night. You will see lots of street food stalls on Yaowarat Soi 1, and many seafood restaurants on the main roads and along smaller alleys such as Phadung Dao Road.
I recommend starting your night in Chinatown at Yaowarat Road 11, then walk along the main road toward Shanghai Hotel. There are lots of interesting places to visit along the main road, and its side streets such as Plaeng Nam Road, Phadung Dao Road, and Song Wawat Road.
Yaowarat Road 11 is 100 m street that is packed with stalls selling smoothies, grilled meat, mixed fruits. There are seafood restaurants with tables and chairs outside. The short street is packed with people, so make sure to take care of your belongings.
3. Sampeng Market
Sampeng Market is one of the best markets in Bangkok to find cheap goods in bulk. Other similar places are the Pratunam Market, Platinum Fashion Mall, MBK mall, or Chatukchak Weekend Market.
This is a 1km long alley packed with shops selling clothes, jewelry, souvenirs, home decorations, shoes, bags, all kinds of stuff. Most products are from China. The vendors often sell goods in bulk of 3, 5, or 10 items. The more you buy, the greater the discount you get.
Sampeng Lane Market runs parallel with Yaowarat Road and is only 100 m away. It is within walking distance from Wat Mangkon MRT Station. You can combine a visit to the market with other attractions in Chinatown such as Wat Traimit, Chinatown Gate, and Talat Noi.
Be sure to bring cash with you when you go shopping at the market. Even if you don’t plan to buy anything here, it is still a good place to visit and take a stroll along the alley to observe local life and enjoy the chaotic atmosphere.
4. Wat Traimit
Wat TraiMit, also known as Temple of the Golden Buddha, is a famous temple in Chinatown, located near Chinatown Gate, at one end of Yaowarat Road. This temple is known for housing the world’s largest solid gold Buddha statue, weighing over 5 tons.
The ground of the temple is free to explore but if you want to go inside to see the Golden Buddha Statue, you need to buy the ticket at the entrance. It is 50 baht.
You can get to Traimit temple by taxi, tuk tuk, motorbike taxi (Grab Bike), or MRT. It is a 5 minute walk from Hua Lamphong MRT train station. If you reach Chinatown on the ferries, you can stop at either Marine Dept Pier (11 mins walk to the temple) or Ratchawong (17 mins walk to the temple).
5. Talat Noi
This is an old charming area in Chinatown of Bangkok, known for its old houses, and beautiful street art scene. It is located near the Chao Phraya River, only 400m from Chinatown Gate and Wat Traimit. After exploring Traimit Temple, you can walk to Talat Noi to explore the area.
There are many beautiful murals on the walls, including dragons, lanterns, and vibrant colors, reflecting its Chinese heritage. There are several nice cafes and restaurants in the area.
While in Talat Noi, I recommend heading to Marine Dept Pier for stunning views of Chao Phraya River. You can get a ferry from here to explore other attractions and shopping malls along the river.
6. Chinatown Gate
Chinatown Gate is an iconic symbol of Bangkok Chinatown. It is located in the busy roundabout, near Wat Traimit at the beginning of Yaowarat Road. It is a great place to stop and take some photos while wandering around the neighborhood.
You can reach Chinatown Gate by taking the MRT to Huala Lamphong MRT Station, and walk for 5 minutes to reach the gate. It is also a good starting point to explore Chinatown.
7. Yaowarat Chinatown Heritage Center
If you want to learn more about the history of Bangkok’s Chinatown, you can consider visiting Yaowarat Chinatown Heritage Center. It is located in the same area as Wat Traimit Temple.
The entrance fee is 200 baht. It is open from 8.30am to 4.30pm from Tuesday to Sunday (closed on Monday).
8. Wat Mangkon Kamalawat
Also known as Wat Leng Noei Yi, Wat Mangkon Kamalawat is conveniently located right next to Wat Mangkon MRT station, which is good for a quick visit when getting off the train, before exploring other attractions in Chinatown.
This is a Chinese buddhist temple with a peaceful and calming atmosphere. Many people come to this temple to burn incense, make merit, and ask for good luck, health, or wealth.
9. Street Food
Bangkok’s Chinatown is best known for its vibrant street food scene. Many night street food tours in Bangkok are in Chinatown. You can find many street food stalls at the night market, seafood restaurants, as well as Michelin-star restaurants.
Some specialties dishes to try in Chinatown are the Grilled Seafood, Bird’s Nest Soup, Dim Sum, Peking Duck, Oyster Omelette, Durian Ice Cream, and Jellyfish.
10. Chao Phraya River
The Chao Phraya River is one of the most iconic in Thailand, flowing through the heart of Bangkok. Many attractions and shopping malls can be found along the bank of the river.
Chinatown is located on the banks of The Chao Phraya River and is home to two piers, Ratchawong and Marine Dept Piers. From these piers, you can easily take ferries to visit popular points of interests such as ICON Siam, Asiatique The Riverfront, Wat Arun, Wat Pho, and the Grand Palace.
How to get to and around Chinatown Bangkok?
Getting to Bangkok Chinatown is easy by public transportation. This area is well-connected to the MRT underground train and ferries system. It is home to Wat Mangkon and Hua Lamphong MRT train stations, as well as Ratchawong and Marine Dept Piers.
If you stay in Bangkok Old Town, you can use Grab Bike (motorbike taxi), ferries or walk to Chinatown. A Grab Bike ride from Khao San Road to Chinatown Night Market is around 50 baht.
If you stay in Bangkok Old Town, and had a day to explore Chinatown, I recommend exploring on foot. You can have a look at the route from Pak Khlong Talat Flower Market in the old town to Chao Phraya River, Memorial Bridge, and Chinatown.
If you are somewhere along the Chaophraya River, you can consider taking ferries to reach Chinatown. If you want to visit Sampheng Market, get off at Ratchawong Pier. If you want to visit Talat Noi and Wat Traimit, get off at Marine Dept Pier.
If you are staying in modern areas of Bangkok such as Sukhumvit, Siam, Silom, you can take a combination of BTS and MRT train to get to Chinatown. Wat Mangkon Station is located in the heart of the neighborhood, an easy walk to the night market, Wat Mangkon Kamalawat, and Wat Traimit.
See more: 8 Best Areas to Stay in Bangkok
I hope you enjoyed reading my list of the top 10 things to do in Chinatown Bangkok. It is a vibrant area filled with a unique blend of Thai and Chinese cultures, known for its narrow streets, colorful neon signs, street food, temples, and markets. It is a must-see when visiting Bangkok.