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This website gives a broad overview of Thai art and culture from ancient times to the present. It analyzes the impact of Buddhism and other religions on Thai art and covers a variety of aspects of Thai art, such as architecture, sculpture, painting, and decorative arts. The website also includes a number of films and photos that display the exquisiteness and variety of Thai art and architecture.

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At Smarthistory, the Center for Public Art History, we believe art has the power to transform lives and to build understanding across cultures. We believe that the brilliant histories of art belong to everyone, no matter their background.

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The webpage is an article about Thai art in the New World Encyclopedia. It gives a succinct summary of the many artistic disciplines that have emerged in Thailand, such as architecture, sculpture, painting, and dance. In addition to highlighting some of the most important artistic trends and styles, it talks about the historical and cultural factors that have shaped Thai art. The section also lists a number of well-known Thai artists and their contributions to the culture of the nation.

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Traditional Thai art was heavily influenced by Buddhist and Hindu traditions brought from India and neighboring countries by various empires and ethnic groups. By the mid-thirteenth century, a unique Thai style, which flourished in northern Thailand during the Sukhothai (1238 - 1438) and Ayutthaya (1350 - 1767) periods, had developed. Buddhism was the primary theme of traditional Thai sculpture and painting, and the royal courts provided patronage, erecting temples and other religious shrines as acts of merit or to commemorate important events. Much of the Thai cultural heritage was damaged or destroyed when the Burmese sacked Ayutthaya in 1767, and the first three kings of the Chakri dynasty devoted themselves to salvaging, restoring and reinvigorating the old traditions. In the nineteenth century, Thai art began to show evidence of Western influences. Contemporary Thai art often combines traditional Thai elements with modern media and techniques, and encompasses some of the most diverse and versatile art in Southeast Asia.

In ancient Thailand, as in most parts of Southeast Asia, artists typically followed the styles and aesthetic conventions of their era and works of art were produced as acts of religious merit, not for individual recognition. There was little distinction between "artisan" (" chang feemeu"), and "artist" (" silapin"). Traditional Thai sculpture, painting and classical dance drama was primarily religious. Thai art encompasses a number of other media including architecture, textiles, and ceramics.

The history of the area that comprises the modern nation of Thailand is a history of different empires and different ethnic kingdoms, flourishing in different areas and at different times. These included the Srivijaya Kingdom (3rd - 13th centuries) in South Thailand, the Dvaravati Kingdom of the Mon people (sixth - eleventh centuries) in Central Thailand, the Haripunchai Kingdom (750 - 1292) in North Thailand, the Khmer Cambodian Empire (ninth - thirteenth centuries) over most of Thailand, and the Tai Kingdoms: the Lanna Kingdom (1296 - 1899), the Sukhothai Kingdom (1238 - 1438), the Ayutthaya Kingdom (1350 - 1767), the Taksin Kingdom (1768 - 1782, also known as the Thonburi Kingdom) and the Chakri Kingdom (1782-present). Each of these kingdoms had its own artistic traditions, strongly influenced by Buddhist and Hindu traditions brought from India and neighboring countries. By the mid-thirteenth century, a unique Thai style, which flourished in northern Thailand during the Sukhothai (1238 - 1438) and Ayutthaya (1350 - 1767) periods, had developed. Buddhism was the primary theme of traditional Thai sculpture and painting, and the royal courts provided support for the arts, erecting temples and other religious shrines as acts of merit or to commemorate important events such as an enthronement or a victory in battle.

In ancient Thailand, as in most parts of Southeast Asia, there was little distinction between "artisan" (" chang feemeu"), and "artist" (" silapin"); artists typically followed the styles and aesthetic conventions of their era and works of art were produced as acts of religious merit, not for individual recognition. Until the early modern period, Thai craftsmen were considered "true artists," possessing superior intellect and wisdom, and a thorough understanding of culture. The creative powers of individual artists were embodied in stylized objects created for use in Thai society and religious practice. During the nineteenth century, Western influence introduced the concept of the artist as an individual, and of producing works solely for visual enjoyment or as an expression of personal or political values.

Prehistoric Thai art

Evidence of bronze and iron tools from 2500 to 1500 years old has been found at sites in Lamphun and Chiang Mai Provinces. The Hoabinhian hunters and gathers inhabited the Chao Phraya Valley and left pieces of pottery with a wide range of decorative designs. Later Neolithic settlements associated with rice cultivation are concentrated in two parts of Central Thailand. Caves and scarps along the Thai-Burmese border, in the Petchabuan Range of Central Thailand, and overlooking the Mekong River in Nakorn Sawan Province, contain galleries of rock paintings.

Artifacts found at the Ban Chiang archaeological site in northeastern Thailand, discovered in 1966 and dating from about 2100 B.C.E. to 200 C.E., include attractive red painted pottery with unique designs applied to the surface, crucibles and bronze fragments, and bronze objects such as bracelets, rings, anklets, wires and rods, spearheads, axes and adzes, hooks, blades, and little bells.

Traditional Thai paintings primarily consist of book illustrations and painted ornamentation of buildings such as palaces and temples. The most frequent narrative subjects for paintings were the Ramakian (the Thai version of the Hindu epic, the Ramayana); the Jataka stories; episodes from the life of the Buddha; the Buddhist heavens and hells; and scenes of daily life. The manuscripts and scriptures of Theravada Buddhists were in Pali, an Indian language which could only be understood by the educated elite. Murals were intended to educate monks and the general public about the events of Buddha's life, history, moral lessons, and the Buddhist cosmology. Murals found throughout Thailand depict the idyllic Himaphan Forest, the mythical region of the Universe associated with the Himalayas, populated with celestial beings and stylized imaginary creatures, some part human and part animal or bird.

Traditional Thai paintings showed subjects in two dimensions without perspective. The size of each element in the picture reflected its degree of importance. The primary technique of composition was that of apportioning areas: the main elements are isolated from each other by space transformers, eliminating the intermediate ground, which would otherwise imply perspective. Perspective, and the use of shading to create depth, was introduced only as a result of Western influence in the mid-nineteenth century.

Thai murals contain many individual scenes, landscapes and figures, small in contrast to the large wall space on which they are painted. All the panoramas, whether they are located at eye level, near the floor, or above the viewer's head, are painted as though seen by an observer looking down from the sky high above them. Events of religious and everyday life from different times are depicted simultaneously, separated by landscapes or architecture. Celestial and or noble beings are always portrayed as smooth, graceful and serene, while the common folk are painted in realistic or comic, ungainly postures and movements.<ref=mural/>

Srivijaya art

The term "Srivijaya art" can be used to refer to all art and architecture in South Thailand during the period from the seventh - thirteenth centuries. The Srivijaya Kingdom was ruled by the Sailendra dynasty of Central Java, which also ruled the Indonesian Archipelago, the Malay Peninsula and Southern Thailand to the Isthmus of Kra. Sculpture and architectural relics from this period confirm that Mahayana Buddhism was predominant, and reflect various infusions of style from India (Amaravati, Pala and Gupta), Champa ( Vietnam) and central Java. From the eleventh century, influences of Khmer art were also evident.

Dvaravati art

"Dvaravati art" refers to the art style that dominated in Thailand during seventh - eleventh centuries, before the arrival of the Khmers and later the Tai. Dvaravati also refers to the Mon communities that ruled what is now Thailand. The Dvaravati kingdom existed from the sixth to the eleventh centuries before absorbed by the growing Lavo and Subharnaburi kingdoms. The people of the kingdom used the ancient Mon language, but whether they were ethnically Mon is unknown. There is evidence that this kingdom may have had more than one race, including Malays and Khmer. The "kingdom" may simply have been a loose gathering of principalities rather than a centralized state. Nakhon Pathom, U Thong and Khu Bua in Central Thailand are important sites for Dvaravati art and architecture.

Dvaravati itself was heavily influenced by Indian culture, and played an important role in introducing Buddhism and particularly Buddhist art to the region. During this period, the various styles seen in later Thai art began to develop. Stone sculpture, stucco, terra cotta and bronze art objects are of Hinayana Buddhist, Mahayana Buddhist and Hindu religious subjects. Paintings featured people, dwarfs and animals, particularly lions. The style shows influences from India, Amaravati (South India) and Gupta and post-Gupta prototypes (fourth - eighth centuries in India). In India, Buddhist clerics had standardized 32 features to be included in any representation of the Buddha, so that all his images would be instantly recognizable. The Buddha was portrayed as having an aura of inner peace, with a profound spiritual purity. The Hindu Gods, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, were depicted as kingly super-humans radiating power, with strong and beautiful faces, crowned and adorned with jewels. Their consorts were the embodiment of feminine grace and sweetness. Early images had Indian faces, but later works had local elements such as Southeast Asian facial features. The distinctive Dvaravati Sculptures of the Wheel of Law, the symbol of Buddha's first sermon, were erected on high pillars and placed in temple compounds throughout the Dvaravati Kingdom.

During the tenth century, the Theravada Buddhism and Hindu cultures merged, and Hindu elements were introduced into Thai iconography. Popular figures include the four-armed figure of Vishnu; the garuda (half man, half bird); the eight-armed Shiva; elephant-headed Ganesh; the naga, which appears as a snake, dragon or cobra; and the ghost-banishing giant Yak.

Sukhothai period (1238 - 1438)

By the thirteenth century, Hinduism was declining and Buddhism dominated much of Thailand. Buddha images of the Sukhothai ("dawn of happiness") period (1238 - 1438, northern Thailand) are elegant, with sinuous bodies and slender, oval faces. Sculpture was inspired by Theravada Buddhism which created a new style in which spiritual serenity is merged with human form. Intended to reflect the compassionate and superhuman nature of the Buddha, the images did not strictly follow the human form but followed interpretations of metaphors from religious verse and Pali language scriptures. The omission of many small anatomical details emphasized the spiritual aspect of the Buddha. The effect was enhanced by casting images in bronze rather than carving them.

Sukhothai artists followed the canonical defining characteristics of a Buddha, as they are set out in ancient Pali texts:

Skin so smooth that dust cannot stick to it

Legs like a deer

Thighs like a banyan tree

Shoulders as massive as an elephant's head

Arms round like an elephant's trunk, and long enough to touch the knees

Hands like lotuses about to bloom

Fingertips turned back like petals

head like an egg

Hair like scorpion stingers

Chin like a mango stone

Nose like a parrot's beak

Earlobes lengthened by the earrings of royalty

Eyelashes like a cow's

Eyebrows like drawn bows

The "walking Buddha" images developed during the Sukhothai period are regarded as its highest artistic achievement. These stylized images, which do not occur elsewhere in Buddhist art, have round faces, sharp noses, flames rising from their heads, powerful bodies and fluid, rounded limbs. Buddha is depicted striding forward.

During this period bronze images of Hindu gods were also cast, to be used as cult objects in royal court rituals performed by Brahmin priests. These Hindu gods wear crowns and royal attire.

Sukhothai also produced a large quantity of glazed ceramics in the Sawankhalok style, which were traded throughout Southeast Asia. There were two forms: monochromatic pottery in brown and white; and celadon and painted wares with dark brown or black designs and a clear glaze.

Ayutthaya period (1350 - 1767)

The surviving art from the Ayutthaya period (1350 - 1767) was primarily executed in stone, characterized by juxtaposed rows of Buddha figures. In the middle period, Sukhothai influence dominated, with large bronze or brick and stucco Buddha images, as well as decorations of gold leaf in free-form designs on a lacquer background. The late period was more elaborate, with Buddha images in royal attire, set on decorative bases. A variety of objects were created in bronze, woodcarving, stucco and sandstone.

Buddha head overgrown by fig tree in Wat Mahatat, Ayutthaya historical park

Ruins of Ayutthaya, Thailand

Wat Chai Watthanaram, Ayutthaya Historical Park, central Thailand

Bangkok (Rattanakosin) period

Thai "Rattanakosin art" (or "Bangkok" style) refers to the style of art of the time of the Chakri Dynasty, founded in Bangkok after the collapse of Ayutthaya in 1767. This period is characterized by the further development of the Ayutthaya style, rather than by innovation.

One important element was the Krom Chang Sip Mu (Organization of the Ten Crafts), a government department originally founded in Ayutthaya, which was responsible for improving the skills of the country's craftsmen. The ten divisions of the Krom Chang Sip Mu give an overview of the craftsmen's arts existing in Thailand during the reign of the Great King Rama V (1853-1910).

Drawing: Craftsmen, illustrators, pictorial gilders, lacquer craftsmen, painters, muralists and manuscript illustrators.

Engraving: Woodcarvers, engravers, woodblock cutters, architectural woodcarvers, silversmiths, goldsmiths and jewelers; enameling, inlay and embossing. and architectural woodcarvers.

Sculpting: Sculptors of plaster and papier mache,decorative fruit and vegetable carvers.

Modeling: Bronze casters, figure modelers, mask and puppet makers, stucco sculptural and architectural modelers.

Figuring: Makers of animal and bestiary figures, figure assemblers and lantern-makers.

Plastering: Plaster craftsmen, stucco workers and sculptors.

Molding: The making of Buddha images, bronze and metal casting, modeling with clay and bee's wax.

Lacquering: Lacquer work, gilding, glass mosaic, mother-or-peal inlay work, Buddha images, carvers of wooden panels and pictorial gilding.

Beating: Metal beaters, manufacturers of monks' bowls, jewelers, silversmiths.

Thai Rattanakosin art can be classified into two periods: the promotion of classical Siamese traditions under the reigns of Kings Rama I, Rama II, and Rama III; and the period from Rama IV until the present, during which modern Western elements were incorporated into art styles. During the early Bangkok period, numerous works of older sculpture were brought to Bangkok from war torn areas and little new art was created. Later works were ornate, and the simplicity of the earlier period was replaced by lavish ornamentation. During the second period, the images became more human, employing realistic body forms, hairstyles, and pleated toga-style robes. Mural painting and temple ornamentation flourished following the establishment of Bangkok. Beginning in the mid-19th century, paintings show the influence of Western art.

The Emerald Buddha

The Emerald Buddha (Thai: พระแก้วมรกต - Phra Kaew Morakot, or official name พระพุทธมหามณีรัตนปฏิมากร - Phra Phuttha Maha Mani Ratana Patimakorn) is the palladium (Thai: ขวัญเมือง kwan meuang; colloquially มิ่งเมีอง ming meuang) of the Kingdom of Thailand. The figurine of the sitting Buddha is about 45 cm (17.7 inches) tall, made of green jade (rather than emerald), and clothed in gold. It is kept in the Chapel of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) on the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok. According to legend, the Emerald Buddha was created in India in 43 B.C.E. and was held by various kingdoms until it was brought to Ayutthaya in 1432 after the capture of Angkor Wat. Some art historians believe that the Emerald Buddha belongs to the Chiang Saen Style of the fifteenth century C.E., which would mean it is actually of Lannathai origin. In 1552, it was taken to Luang Prabang, then the capital of the Lao kingdom of Lan Xang, by crown prince of Lan Xang, Setthathirath. In 1564, King Setthathirath moved it to his new capital at Vientiane. In 1779, the Thai General Chao Phraya Chakri put down an insurrection, captured Vientiane and returned the Emerald Buddha to Siam, taking it with him to Thonburi. After he became King Rama I of Thailand, he moved the Emerald Buddha with great ceremony to its current home in Wat Phra Kaew on March 22, 1784.

Contemporary art in Thailand

Thai contemporary art encompasses some of the most diverse and versatile art in Southeast Asia. Thailand is well positioned in the global world of contemporary art with its international and liberal outlook and an almost complete absence of the censorship that restricts artists in many countries of the region. Modern painting in the western sense started late in Thailand, with Silpa Bhirasri (Thai: ศิลป์ พีระศรี, 1892 - 1962), an Italian sculptor who was invited to Thailand to teach Western sculpture at the Fine Arts Department of the Ministry of Palace Affairs in 1923, founding what would become Silpakorn University.

Thai artists are now expressing themselves in a variety of media such as installations, photographs, prints, video art and performance art.

Contemporary Thai art often combines traditional Thai elements with modern techniques. Notable artists in the classical tradition include Chakrapan Posayakrit, Chalermchai Kositpipat and Tawan Dachanee.

Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook, Vasan Sitthiket, Montien Boonma and others have represented Thailand at the Venice Biennale. Vasan Sitthiket is probably the only Thai contemporary artist with work represented in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City. Chatchai Puipia exhibited at the Asia-Pacific Triennal (1996), the Shanghai Biennale (2002), the Singapore Biennale (2006) and the exhibition Traditions/Tension Southeast Asian Art at the Asia Society in New York. Panya Vijinthanasarn is the Dean of Silpakorn's Faculty of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Art.

Younger and up-and-coming artists include Porntaweesak Rimsakul, Yuree Kensaku, Jirapat Tatsanasomboon, Kritsana Chaikitwattana and Thaweesak Srithongdee.

Literature

Literature in Thailand was traditionally heavily influenced by Indian culture. Thailand's national epic is a version of the Ramayana called the Ramakien. A number of versions of the epic were lost in the destruction of Ayutthaya in 1767. Three versions currently exist: one of these was prepared under the supervision (and partly written by) King Rama I. His son, Rama II, rewrote some parts for khon drama. The main differences from the original are an extended role for the monkey god Hanuman and the addition of a happy ending.

The most important poet in Thai literature was Sunthorn Phu (or Sunthon Phu, Thai: สุนทรภู่, 1786-1855), who is best known for his romantic adventure story Phra Aphai Mani and nine travel pieces called Nirats.

Kings Rama V and Rama VI were also writers, mainly of non-fiction works as part of their initiative to combine Western knowledge with traditional Thai culture.

Thai writers of the twentieth century tended to produce light fiction rather than literature, but two notable sociocritical writers came from the Isan region: Pira Sudham (born 1942, Thai พีระ สุธรรม); and Khamsing Srinawk (born 1930, Thai: คำสิงห์ ศรีนอก, also writes under the name Lao Khamhawm), best known for his satirical short stories. A number of expatriate writers have published works in Thailand during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, including Indian author G.Y. Gopinath, the fabulist A.D. Thompson, and non-fiction writer Gary Dale Cearley.

Performing arts

Dance drama

Thai dance (Thai: รำไทย, Template:Lang-lo Ram Thai or ระบำ Rabam) is the main dramatic art form of Thailand. Thai dance drama, like many forms of traditional Asian dance, can be divided into two major categories: classical dance ( khon and lakhon) which was once performed only as a religious offering in the royal courts, and folk dance (likay) which evolved as a diversion for common people who did not have access to royal performances. Khon (Thai: โขน) masked dance dramatizes the Ramakien (the Thai version of the Hindu epic, the Ramayana), and embodies the Hindu concept of devaraja (divine kingship). It is highly stylized, with choreography, costumes and masks dictated by tradition. The stories are narrated by a chorus at the side of the stage. Each Khon performance begins with a wai khru rite to pay respect to past masters. Characters wear specific colors associated with their roles. Each character has particular strengths and weaknesses: vanity and valor, flirtation and fidelity, obligations and leadership, jealousy and revenge, cunning and compassion. Lakhon features a wider range of stories than khon, including folk tales and Jataka stories. Dancers are usually female and perform as a group rather than representing individual characters.

Likay is much more varied than lakhon or khon. Stories may be original, and include singing, comedy and ham acting. Costumes may be traditional, modern or a combination of the two. Likay is often performed at village festivals. Thai Likay shares similarities with the Khmer theatre style called Yike. Likay can be traced to Muslim religious performances.

In addition, Thailand has a wide range of regional folk dances performed at festivals and celebrations, and displaying regional influences.

The music of Thailand includes classical and folk music traditions as well as modern string or pop music. Thai musical instruments are varied and reflect ancient foreign influences; they include the klong thap and khim (Persian origin), the jakhe (Indian origin), the klong jin (Chinese origin), and the klong kaek (Indonesian origin).

Thai classical music emerged in its present form within the royal centers of Central Thailand some 800 years ago. Thai classical ensembles, deeply influenced by Khmer and even older practices and repertoires from India, are today uniquely Thai expressions. The three primary classical ensembles, the Piphat, Khruang Sai and Mahori all share a basic instrumentation and theoretical approach. Each employs small hand cymbals (ching) and wooden sticks (krap) to mark the primary beat reference. Several kinds of small drums (klong) are employed in these ensembles to outline the basic rhythmic structure (natab) that is punctuated at the end by the striking of a suspended gong (mong). Classical Thai music is heterophonic - the instruments either play the melody or mark the form. There are no harmony instruments. Instrumentalists improvise idiomatically around the central melody. Rhythmically and metrically, Thai music is steady in tempo, regular in pulse, divisive, in simple duple meter, without swing, with little syncopation (p.3, 39), and with the emphasis on the final beat of a measure or group of pulses and phrase. The Thai scale includes seven tempered notes, instead of a mixture of tones and semitones.

Pop music and other forms of European and American music became popular in Thailand during the twentieth century and influenced the development of several local styles of folk music. The two most popular styles of traditional Thai folk music are luk thung and mor lam; the latter in particular has close affinities with the music of Laos.

Ethnic minorities such as the Lao, Lawa, Hmong, Akha, Khmer, Lisu, Karen and Lahu peoples have retained traditional musical forms.

Nang Yai shadow puppetry

Nang Yai ({{lang-th|หนังใหญ่}, "large shadow puppet") performances originated the beginning of the fifteenth century C.E. at Wat Khanon during the reign of King Chulangkorn and were a popular entertainment during the Ayutthaya period. The performances depict various episodes from the Ramakien. The puppet figures are typically made from perforated cowhide or buffalo hide (more important figures may be made of leopard or bear skin) and weigh approximately 3-4 kg (6-9 lbs). Performances are typically held in the open air, with the puppeteers manipulating the puppets behind a transparent screen, with a fire or bright light behind them casting their shadows on the screen. Puppet shows are accompanied by a musical ensemble and the chants and songs of several narrators.

Nang Yai puppets are still produced and meticulously maintained. The drama group from Wat Khanon performs throughout Thailand. Troupes also exist at Wat Plub in Petchaburi, Wat Sawang Arom in Singburi, Wat Pumarin in Samut SongKram, and Wat Donin in Rayong Province.

The earliest Thai ceramics are those found at Ban Chiang (3,600 B.C.E. - 200 C.E.). Pottery from the later periods was made of buff-colored clay decorated with swirling, fingerprint-like designs. Besides pots, Ban Chiang made many types of ceramics such as vases, jars, animal figurines, ladles, crucibles, spindle whorls and beads. Unglazed, low-fired pottery has been found at other sites throughout Thailand, including Ban Ko in Kanchanaburi province, where archaeologists found earthenware tripod vessels with hollow tapering legs; and Ban Prasat, where fine examples made of black or red clay have been unearthed. The height of ceramic production in Thailand occurred between the fourteenth century and the middle of the sixteenth century, a time of prosperity for both Ayutthaya and Lanna in northern Thailand. King Ramkamhaeng of Sukothai (1237 - 1298) brought potters from China to set up the famous Sukothai kiln. The kilns of Si Satchanalai or Sawankaloke at Goh Noi and Pa Yang are believed by some scholars to predate the Sukothai kiln, perhaps by as much as 200 years. Their domestic wares included coarse, sandy earthenware with cord-marked, stamped or incised decorations; reddish or gray unglazed or partially-glazed stoneware; iron-black Mon ware with rich olive glaze; large dishes with underglaze black decorations; beautiful celadons; covered boxes with grayish, brownish black or gray-black underglaze iron decorations; brown and pearl wares with incised decorations; small vessels with rich honey or dark brown glaze; and cream and white glazed wares.

The Sukothai ceramic industry was almost completely destroyed in 1569 during a Burmese attack. Around 1600, new kilns were built at Singburi to produce coarse utilitarian goods, and Chinese wares were imported in large numbers.

Benjarong (Thai เบญจรงค์; "five colors") ware is a traditional Tahi porcelain, typically decorated with repetitive geometric or flower-based designs using three to eight colors. Hand-applied, gold masks are laid over the white ceramic, and enamel colors are then applied around the gold and overglazed, creating a tactile effect over the surface of the piece. Each color is applied individually and the piece is kiln fired after each application. The firing process brightens the colors of the finished piece and adds to its beauty. The style of multi-colored enamels on a white porcelain base originated from Ming Dynasty China. Patterns include traditional Thai motifs, such as flora, plant and flame designs, as well as cultural symbols, such as the Garuda (the half-man half-bird mount of the god Vishnu and a symbol of Thai royalty). From the thirteenth to the eighteenth centuries, benjarong porcelain was made exclusively for the use of the royal court; later its use extended to the upper class. Today, benjarong porcelain is appreciated all over the world.

Architecture

Architecture is a significant part of Thailand's cultural legacy and reflects both the historical importance of architecture to the Thai peoples' sense of community and religious beliefs, and the challenges posed by Thailand's extreme tropical climate. Influenced by the architectural traditions of many of its neighbors, it has also developed significant regional variation within its vernacular and religious buildings.

Thai Stilt House

A universal aspect of Thailand's traditional architecture is the elevation of buildings on stilts, most commonly to about six feet above the ground, leaving a space underneath to be used for storage, a workshop, relaxing in the daytime, and sometimes for livestock. The houses were raised as protection from heavy flooding during certain parts of the year, and in more ancient times, protection from predators. Thai building plans are based on superstitious and religious beliefs and affected by considerations such as locally available materials, climate, and agriculture. Thai houses are made from a variety of woods, and from bamboo. Single-family dwellings are expanded when a daughter is married by adding a house on the side to accommodate her new family. A traditional house is built as a cluster of separate rooms arranged around a large central terrace which makes up as much as 40 percent of the floor space. An area in the center of the terrace is often left open to allow the growth of a tree through the structure, providing welcome shade. Furniture is sparse and includes a bed platform, dining table and loose cushions for sitting.

A Kuti is a small structure, built on stilts, designed to house a monk. Its proper size is defined in the Sanghathisep, Rule 6, to be "12 by 7 keub" (4.013 by 2.343 meters). This tiny living space is intended to aid the monk's spiritual journey by discouraging the accumulation of material goods. Typically a monastery consists of a number of these buildings grouped together on a shared terrace, either in an inward facing cluster or lined up in a row. Often these structures included a separate building, called a Hor Trai, which is used to store Scriptures.

Religious complexes

A large number of Buddhist temples exist in Thailand. The term Wat is properly used to refer only to a Buddhist site with resident monks, but it is typically used to refer to any place of worship other than the Islamic mosques found in southern Thailand.

A typical Wat Thai has two enclosing walls that divide it from the secular world. The monks' or nuns' quarters or dormitories are situated between the outer and inner walls. This area may also contain a bell tower or hor rakang. In larger temples, the inner walls may be lined with Buddha images and serve as cloisters or galleries for meditation. This part of the temple is called buddhavasa or phutthawat (for the Buddha).

Inside the inner walls is the bot or ubosoth (ordination hall), surrounded by eight stone tablets and set on consecrated ground. This is the most sacred part of the temple and only monks can enter it. The bot contains a Buddha image, but it is the viharn (assembly hall) that contains the principal Buddha images. Also, in the inner courtyard are the bell-shaped chedi ( relic chambers), which contain the relics of pious or distinguished people. Salas (rest pavilions) can be found all around the temple; the largest of these area is the sala kan parian (study hall), used for saying afternoon prayers.

Every region of Thailand has its signature textiles: loose weave cotton in the north; batik in the south; and royal designs in the central plains. The region of Isaan has a particularly diverse fabric heritage. Thailand is famous for its handwoven silks, made from the yellow cocoons of the bombyx mori silk worm. The textured outer part of the Thai cocoon is carefully separated from the inner smoother, lustrous silk. Each cocoon yields 900 meters of silk yarn, so fine that several strands must be twisted together before being hand-woven into very fine silk.

The southern part of Northeastern Thailand, or Isaan, is home to Cambodian speaking peoples surrounding Surin and Lao peoples in the Buriram area, whose textiles reflect their historical and ethnic backgrounds. Cotton cannot be grown because of the dry climate, so many families raise silkworms. Weaving is done during the time between rice plantings and harvests. A tie-dyeing technique called mudmee (ikat) is used to color the skeins of silk before weaving. The individual dyed threads are then arranged on the loom, one by one, so that they form an intricate pattern when woven. The woven fabric appears to shimmer. Mee hol is an extremely delicate mudmee design dyed with three natural dyes that overlap to create six shades. A sophisticated double mudmee cloth called am prom is a fine red silk with minute dots of white resulting from the resist tying of both warp and weft yarns. Two techniques, phaa khit (usually woven from cotton) and prae wa (woven from silk) use a continuous supplementary weft, resulting in a raised, almost embroidered look. Complex multi-shaft bird's-eye or diamond twill designs are woven into traditional shoulder cloths called swai soa. Silk brocades are also produced. Though there has been a steady decline in the demand for handwoven silks since the 1960s, the social structure in rural villages enables skilled weaving to continue. Isaan women still weave fine silk fabrics to be presented as offerings, or as ritual textiles to be worn to the temple or for festive ceremonies such as weddings. Renewed appreciation of traditional arts has motivated the revival of techniques that had been unused for almost a century, and many fabrics are woven for tourists and for export. In the absence of a detailed written history of the area, textiles, along with other cultural traditions, serve as valuable archeological evidence of ethnic migrations.

Thailand has a rich variety of folk arts. Traditional crafts that once produced objects for everyday use have survived in rural villages and are now being revived to produce items of beauty for sale and export. Often entire villages are involved in the manufacture of a single item, such as painted parasols, silver jewelry, pewter ware, teak carvings, or wooden bowls, with each family taking responsibility for one aspect of production. The art of making lacquer originally came from China and evolved unique Thai designs and techniques. Lacquerware is produced in the northern province of Chiang Mai through a painstaking process that involves imbedding colored paint and gold into engraved patterns. Lacquer is used to decorate everything from figurines, toys, bowls, trays and boxes to architectural features such as window frames. Over the centuries, gifted woodcarvers have created religious figures and elaborate decorations for Buddhist temples all over Thailand. Intricately carved wooden furniture, bowls, lamp bases and other decorative items are produced for the domestic market and for export.

Silverware has been a prominent craft in northern Thailand for more than 1000 years. Silversmiths use repoussé techniques to adorn silver bowls and boxes with traditional Thai motifs. Nielloware (kruang tom) reached Thailand during the Ayutthaya period and became prominent in southern Thailand. Niello artisans fashion every conceivable object from sheets of finely engraved silver, sometimes covered with old.

Other important crafts include the manufacture of dolls, parasols, baskets from wood and bamboo, toys, reed mats, and items with mother-of-pearl inlay.

References

Döhring, Karl. Buddhist Temples of Thailand: An Architectonic Introduction. White Lotus. 2000. ISBN 9747534401

Higham, Charles, and Rachanie Thosarat. Prehistoric Thailand: from early settlement to Sukhothai. Bangkok: River Books. 1998. ISBN 9748225305

Morton, David. 1976. The Traditional Music of Thailand. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 0520018761

Ruethai Chaichongrak. Thai House: History And Evolution. Weatherhill. 2002. ISBN 0834805200

Time-Life Books. Southeast Asia: a past regained. (Lost civilizations.) Alexandria, VA: Time-Life Books. 1995. ISBN 9780809491124

Van Beek, Steve, and Luca Invernizzi. The Arts of Thailand. [S.l.]: Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd. 1999. ISBN 9625932623

Woodward, Hiram W. The art and architecture of Thailand: from prehistoric times through the thirteenth century. Leiden: Brill. 2003. ISBN 9004121374

External links

All links retrieved January 24, 2020.

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Traditional Thai art was heavily influenced by Buddhist and Hindu traditions brought from India and neighboring countries by various empires and ethnic groups. By the mid-thirteenth century, a unique Thai style, which flourished in northern Thailand during the Sukhothai (1238 - 1438) and Ayutthaya (1350 - 1767) periods, had developed.

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Multi-cultural History of Art and Language 

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Multi-cultural History of Art and Language 

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This website features materials and articles on a range of Thai cultural topics, including traditional music and dance, writing, and visual arts. Along with links to relevant organizations and services, the website also offers details about Thai cultural events and activities.

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สถานเอกอัครราชทูต ณ กรุงไนโรบี

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Thai arts and cultures have been rooted throughout a long history and have evolved significantly over time deriving influences from diverse civilizations, religions, and ideologies.

Traditional Thai art is influenced by both Buddhist and Hindu literature. Thai painting in the first era was displayed as a mural art in the temples, illustrating the Buddha's stories and his previous life as Phra Wetsandorn (Vessantara), known as "Jataka". They can still be found in fine condition at historical sites in several provinces, including Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, Petchaburi, and Lopburi. Thai sculptures, like paintings, were initially influenced by other traditions such as Mon, Khmer, and Sri Lanka, which mostly depict the image of Buddha and Buddhist ideology. However, Thai contemporary art in modern-day galleries is moving beyond the pre-modern narratives and Buddhism as they reflect social issues and Thailand in a globalized world.

Thai traditional performance and dancing are inspired by local Indian literature. "Khon"- the classical masked performance, considered as an elegant and highly-respected art, in fact, a shared culture among the Southeast Asian nations at least Cambodia, is the adaptation of "Ramayana" or "Ramakian". The popular "Likay" is a folk musical opera, starting from the Thai Muslim, gaining partly influence from the Malay Peninsula. Along with that, "Manohra", a folk dance, and "Nang Talung", a leathered-puppet show, are performed locally in the South of Thailand, telling folklores and lives of commoners. On the other hand, Thai contemporary dramas and plays are rather adapted from pieces written by the past Thai kings and contemporary famous Thai and Western writers such as Shakespeare. The modern stage, like B-Floor and some other solo and grouped performers, transforms the current political and social context in Thailand into pure and abstract performance.

Thai films offer varieties ranging from horror and comedies to mixed and unidentifiable genres. "Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives", a fantasy drama and spiritual journey, directed by an internationally acclaimed director - Apichatpong Weerasethakul - and won Palme d'Or at Festival de Cannes in 2010 was a wake-up call for the Thai new wave cinema, both short and featured films. Unlike the past, Thai movies have been endorsed in several international film festivals, to name a few, Sundance, Rotterdam, Busan, and Cannes.

Thai cuisine is one-of-a-kind, a true fusion food that combines all flavors of saltiness, spiciness, and sweetness to create a complex and exquisite taste. From street food to fine dining, Thai food offers a combination of ingredients - home-grown vegetables and herbs, spices, fresh seafood, and game meat - and is also influenced by touches of Chinese, Persian, and other Asian cuisines. The Thai Government's policy - "Kitchen of the World" - makes Thai restaurants one of the fastest-growing industries in Thailand and abroad. Famous dishes like Som Tum (papaya salad), Tom Yum (spicy soup), and Pad Thai (stir-fried noodles) are loveable not only for Thai people but people around the world. Today's Thai gastronomy is prepared with artistry, incorporating French, Japanese, and Mexican interpretations, as well as modern techniques, including molecular gastronomy.

Thai costumes and textiles are among the Thai people's most prized possessions. Thai clothing and attire changed dramatically during the Rattanakosintra period as Thailand, or Siam at the time was forced to modernize and civilize its way of life following colonial modernity. Thai silk, well-known for its quality, can be well mixed and matched with international design. Queen Mother Sirikit, a founder of Silpacheep Arts and Handicraft Centre, collaborated with the French couturier, Pierre Balmain, to design her dresses in Thai silk for her official visits to several countries during the 1960s. Jim Thompson, a mysteriously disappeared American designer living in Thailand, is a leading figure in reviving and fabricating fine Thai silk products printed with exceptional Thai patterns. Thais nowadays even dress in Thai outfits for special occasions.

Thailand composes its music by using musical instruments originally from India, Indonesia, China, Dutch, and Persia. Thai classical music is played in a form of a chamber band called "Pi-Phat", "Khrueang sai" and "Mahori". Thai country music or "Luk Thung" is influenced by Latin Americans. "Mhor Lum", a Northeastern or "Isaan" music portraying dramatic lives of the marginalized, shares tunes with its neighboring country - Laos. Global movements of music after the 1940s like jazz, soul, pop, and rock also highly impact contemporary Thai music. Dissimilar the jazz elsewhere, Thai jazz introduced by the late King Bhumibol is more lighthearted. Nonetheless, Thai music is distinguishable by the singing-like tones of the Thai language.

The Thai language is an official language of Thailand and is mainly spoken by Thai people. 44 alphabets and 21 vowels could produce 5 tones and 32 sounds. Its writing has developed from Khmer, firstly used by the elites in ancient times. Thai words are mostly derived from Pali, Sanskrit, and Khmer and are similar to the Lao language. Alongside standard Thai, dialects are still used in different parts of the country. "Sawasdee" (Hello) and "Khob Khun Krub/Kha" (Thank you), invented words by "civilizing project", are common greeting phrases Thai people gently say with smiles.

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Thai Arts and Culture - สถานเอกอัครราชทูต ณ กรุงไนโรบี

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Thai arts and cultures have been rooted throughout a long history and have evolved significantly over time deriving influences from diverse civilizations, religions, and ideologies. Traditional Thai art is influenced by both Buddhist and Hindu literature.

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Thai paintings, sculptures, and handicrafts can be found on the website "Royal Thai Art" in a variety of styles, both traditional and modern. The paintings, which were produced using a variety of media, including oil, watercolor, and woodcarving, are arranged according to themes like Buddha, animals, and landscapes. Along with information on the artwork's cultural relevance, the website also offers details about the artists and their methods.

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Thailand Art Culture and History of Trditional Paintings l Royal Thai Art

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Find out the history and the culture of traditional Thailand art represented by Royal Thai Art, one of the best online gallery with worldwide shipping.

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The official website for the international contemporary art festival, the Bangkok Art Biennale (BAB), which takes place in Bangkok, Thailand. The website offers details about the forthcoming biennale, including the times, participating artists, and locations for the exhibitions. Additionally, it provides highlights of the artworks and shows, information on previous biennales, and details about the group organizing the event. Additionally, visitors to the website can buy tickets and find out about transportation and lodging.

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The Art Centre of Silpakorn University in Thailand, which is regarded as one of the most esteemed art institutions in Southeast Asia, is the subject of the article.   The article addresses five significant facets of Thai art, including its history, the influence of religion, traditional methods, current art movements, and the importance of Silpakorn University's Art Centre in supporting Thai art. Photographs and descriptions of various significant Thai works of art, including paintings, sculptures, and textiles, are included with the article.

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The top traditional Thai dishes are included in an article on the website thespruceeats.com. The article lists 25 well-known and traditional Thai foods and gives a brief overview of each dish's components. For those who want to try creating the dishes at home, it also contains links to the recipes for each meal. The article also offers background information on Thai food's distinctive flavor profile and advice on how to order and enjoy Thai food in restaurants.

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Explore 15 Classic Thai Recipes To Make At Home

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If you're ready to try your hand at cooking homemade Thai food, explore top recipes for everything from appetizers to mains and desserts.

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Thai cooking instructions and recipes can be found on the culinary blog shesimmers.com. A native Thai who currently resides in the United States and is passionate about teaching others about Thai cuisine runs the site. The blog offers cooking instructions for numerous dishes, such as soups, curries, stir-fries, and desserts. To assist readers in recreating the dish at home, each recipe includes thorough directions and pictures. The blog also offers details on Thai cuisine, culinary methods, and culture.

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Around this time last year, I met with some of my friends who are part of Dill Magazine to talk about something I had wanted to see for a long time: a story on Thai relishes, nam phrik. These dishes form the most significant segment of Thai cuisine, but they're the least understood and the least appreciated. I thought it was about time this changed.

Western food media doesn't like to publish a story like this. It's too niche. It doesn't have a broad appeal. For them, it doesn't make sense to dedicate their precious real estate on something most people don't already know and love. Nam phrik, therefore, hasn't received a lot of coverage in mainstream publications, and when it does, the coverage doesn't go deep and is often rife with misinformation.

I took the idea to Dill, because of this. I wanted to see a story on nam phrik; I wanted it written with competence, understanding, and insight; and I knew the group behind Dill was capable of pulling this off. Even though they're new and small and don't have the resources of a large publication, they don't shy away from specialized materials. I also know the Dill people don't present niche stories in a "hey, look at the bizarre foods these other people eat!" manner either. In other words, I knew this story would be in good hands. Continue Reading →

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Around this time last year, I met with some of my friends who are part of Dill Magazine to talk about something I had wanted to see for a long time: a story on Thai relishes, nam phrik. These dishes form the most significant segment of Thai cuisine, but they're the least understood and the least appreciated.

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Stir-friend Pork and Chinese Olive on ice 

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Stir-friend Pork and Chinese Olive on ice 

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Thai cooking instructions and recipes can be found on the culinary blog shesimmers.com. A native Thai who currently resides in the United States and is passionate about teaching others about Thai cuisine runs the site. The blog offers cooking instructions for numerous dishes, such as soups, curries, stir-fries, and desserts. To assist readers in recreating the dish at home, each recipe includes thorough directions and pictures. The blog also offers details on Thai cuisine, culinary methods, and culture.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Around this time last year, I met with some of my friends who are part of Dill Magazine to talk about something I had wanted to see for a long time: a story on Thai relishes, nam phrik. These dishes form the most significant segment of Thai cuisine, but they're the least understood and the least appreciated. I thought it was about time this changed.

Western food media doesn't like to publish a story like this. It's too niche. It doesn't have a broad appeal. For them, it doesn't make sense to dedicate their precious real estate on something most people don't already know and love. Nam phrik, therefore, hasn't received a lot of coverage in mainstream publications, and when it does, the coverage doesn't go deep and is often rife with misinformation.

I took the idea to Dill, because of this. I wanted to see a story on nam phrik; I wanted it written with competence, understanding, and insight; and I knew the group behind Dill was capable of pulling this off. Even though they're new and small and don't have the resources of a large publication, they don't shy away from specialized materials. I also know the Dill people don't present niche stories in a "hey, look at the bizarre foods these other people eat!" manner either. In other words, I knew this story would be in good hands. Continue Reading →

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Around this time last year, I met with some of my friends who are part of Dill Magazine to talk about something I had wanted to see for a long time: a story on Thai relishes, nam phrik. These dishes form the most significant segment of Thai cuisine, but they're the least understood and the least appreciated.

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Thailand's food and culture are explored on the website thaifoodandtravel.com. The website offers travel advice and recipes for Thai cuisine as well as articles and recipes linked to Thai cuisine. A chef and culinary writer, the author offers thorough details on materials, cooking methods, and the background and cultural significance of numerous dishes. The website also has a section on Thai culture that addresses subjects including Buddhism, customary holidays, and Thai etiquette.

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This site devoted to Thai native Kasma Loha-unchit, Thai chef, cookbook author and tour leader. Share her insider's knowledge about Thai cuisine, customs and culture. ( Kasma's Biography)

Thai Cooking Classes

Kasma no longer offers Thai cooking clsasses.

Trips to Thailand

Kasma has retired from leading trips to Thailand.

Thai Food & Culture

Thai Recipes

Mouth-watering Thai recipes.

Articles

A wealth of information on Thai food & culture.

Ingredients

Mouth-watering Thai ingredients.

Asian Markets

Listings of markets with Thai ingredients:

Thai Cookbooks

Kasma's Two Thai Cookbooks.

Blog

Blog on Thai Food & Culture.

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Thai food, recipes and culture with Kasma Loha-unchit.

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This site devoted to Thai native Kasma Loha-unchit, Thai chef, cookbook author and tour leader. Share her insider's knowledge about Thai cuisine, customs and culture. ( Kasma's Biography) Kasma no longer offers Thai cooking clsasses. Kasma has retired from leading trips to Thailand. Mouth-watering Thai recipes.

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Information and resources on Thai cuisine and travel in Thailand are available on the website Eating Thai Food. The website showcases numerous facets of Thai cuisine, including street food, restaurants, and culinary methods, through articles, videos, and images. The website also offers suggestions for tourists visiting Thailand, such as where to stay, how to get around, and what to do. The site's creator and other authors who contribute to it are passionate about Thai cuisine and culture.

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Thai Street Food, Restaurants, and Recipes | Eating Thai Food

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Thai Street Food, Restaurants, and Recipes Blog in Bangkok

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Eating Thai Food feeds you with the best restaurants in Bangkok, delicious Thai street food, and easy to cook Thai recipes.

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The migrationology.com website has a thorough list of the top 100 Thai meals to try in Bangkok. Each dish is described in-depth in the article, along with its ingredients, method of preparation, and the finest locations in Bangkok to try it. Various Thai meals, including street food, snacks, desserts, and beverages, are included in the guide. The article features images and videos of the meals as well as the settings where they are served. The ideal eating guide for tourists and food enthusiasts, it attempts to assist readers in navigating Bangkok's varied and dynamic culinary

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In 2009, I landed in Thailand with little more than an empty stomach and a passion for food.

It didn't take long before I became wholly obsessed with Thai gastronomy of all forms, kindled daily by fiery spice, intoxicating aromas, and the Thai culture that revolves around every bite.

This list of 100 delicious Thai dishes sums up what I love to do most - eat and take photos of food. I hope it can be useful and inspirational to anyone visiting Thailand and looking to take advantage of the most exceptional Thai dishes!

This list does NOT include the everlasting selection of Thai snacks and sweets. Check out my other ultimate Thai desserts guide if you are looking for Thai sweets.

Note: Many Thai dishes can be ordered with chicken (gai) or pork (moo) interchanged as well as with all kinds of vegetable variations. Most dishes can be tweaked to personal satisfaction. Don't be afraid to experiment!

Don't forget to check out the Eating Thai Food Guide for an all-inclusive guide to ordering amazing Thai meals!

asterixed* dishes are my personal recommendations!

Tom yum goong could be considered the ultimate flavor of Thailand. Shrimp, mushrooms, tomatoes, lemongrass, galangal, chilies, kaffir lime leaves, onions, and a host of other lively ingredients and herbs are boiled together to create the magical taste of the soup!

The clear version is known as tom yum nam sai (ต้มยำน้ำใส), while the creamy version is known as tom yum nam kon (ต้มยำน้ำข้น).

There are countless different variations and ways to make the sour spicy soup, but I particularly like it with either shrimp or mixed seafood.

If you cook, check out my easy tom yum goong recipe!

Gaeng som translates to sour soup - but throughout Thailand there are a number of different variations and styles.

In Bangkok when you order gaeng som, it's often a reddish sweet and sour soup including shrimp. But in the south of Thailand, gaeng som is a staple soup that's laced with chillies and seasoned with turmeric and enjoyed with almost every meal.

The soup is made of ground chillies, fresh turmeric root and lots of garlic. The result is a fiery broth that will excite your taste buds with every slurp!

Tom Kha Gai is a famous Thai chicken and galangal soup that's eaten more like a curry than a soup.

A variety of mushrooms, pieces of chicken, sometimes blood jelly, and lots of coconut milk to make the soup extremely rich, are the fundamental ingredients.

The soup is slightly sour from the lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves while the sprigs of cilantro add a fantastic freshness and the galangal gives it a lovely earthy spice.

While tom yum goong is popular throughout most of Thailand, tom saap is more of the signature soup of Isaan.

The broth is normally a fusion of boiled pork or fish combined with galangal, lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves. Additional ingredients include spring onions, mushrooms and the always present Thai red chili peppers.

Tam saap is the soup that makes any full Isaan meal complete!

Beef isn't all that common in Thailand unless you're in the south of the country where there's a higher percentage of Muslims who eat beef rather than pork (like the majority of the country).

Soup neua is a southern soup that consists of beef boiled until tender and combined with loads of chillies, lime juice and garnished with onions. The broth is extremely beefy and absolutely comforting!

Tom jap chai is a Chinese based vegetable soup prepared by slow boiling cabbage and mustard greens (or any other leafy greens of choice) for hours until the vegetables become very soft and nearly disintegrate into the soup.

As common in many Thai dishes, the usage of pork in the broth (or chicken) gives the soup its ultimate meaty flavor. Tam jap chai is not at all spicy, but offers great flavor from the long cooking mingle of vegetables and meat.

One of the most comforting dishes of southern Thai cuisine is known as gaeng tai pla (แกงไตปลา).

The Thai stew is composed of grilled fish and fish kidney to create a marvelously salty and fiery hot blend. Chunks of bamboo shoots, carrots and long beans are also added to make the stew hearty.

It may be an acquired taste, but I absolutely love this dish!

Coconut milk is a prized ingredient in Thai cooking and there's no better way to enjoy it than within a curry.

Khanom jeen is the name for soft rice noodles that are ever so slightly fermented. They can be compared to really soft spaghetti noodles, but made from rice.

Nam ya is coconut curry often made with fish, served over the soft rice noodes, and topped with a variety of fresh raw veggies. It's a miraculous combination.

Check out my video of eating (and serving) khanom jeen!

Thai green curry is one of the most well known Thai dishes throughout the world. The rich coconut milk base paired with chunks of chicken, round Thai eggplant, and chillies, is a recipe for ultimate culinary comfort!

Grab a plate of freshly steamed rice and green curry will surely be satisfying.

Gaeng Hanglay is one of the most well known Thai dishes that originates from northern Thailand. The chili paste base includes garlic, chillies, shallots, and shrimp paste.

Pork is then simmered in the curry paste until it becomes fall apart tender and bursting with flavor. Gaeng Hanglay sometimes includes pickled garlic and roasted peanuts.

Hor mok is an assortment of mixed seafood cooked with coconut cream and pieces of coconut flesh before being loaded into a young coconut to be served. The dish is slightly sweet fromt the coconut but absolutely scrumptious.

A far as Thai dishes go, hor mok ma plow awn is at the top of the list, something you shouldn't miss when eating in Thailand!

Thai Panang Curry is a red brown colored dish that's lightly sweet and flavored with coconut milk. The curry also has a nice nutty flavor. It's not a soupy curry like Thai green curry, but just includes a little sauce to supplement your plate of rice.

The thing I enjoy most about a typical panang curry is the freshly sliced kaffir lime leaves thrown of top that give the dish a wonderful aroma and zesty touch.

Nearly all Thai dishes get me excited, but there's nothing that makes my mouth drool like a plate of southern style pad sataw (also known as stink bean or bitter bean).

Despite " stink " being in the name, these little beans that grow like peas in a pod, are miraculously flavorful and their texture is just as pleasing.

Normally pad sataw is made with either shrimp or pork, but I'd be willing to eat stink beans in any shape, form, or style!

Massaman chicken curry is especially famous for being a Thai Muslim dish that has flavor influences from Persia. A few of the familiar Arab flavors mixed with the coconut milk of Thailand and you've got what is an internationally acclaimed favorite!

Chicken and potatoes are the large ingredients in Thai massaman curry while the liquid is flavored with a wonderful nuttiness.

Rich and comforting is an understatement when you're talking about Thai pongali curry.

The main flavoring spice is common yellow curry powder which is cooked with a meat of choice. The unique secret of the recipe is an egg that's added to the dish to make it a thick eggy curry that tastes outstanding. A few chopped onions, chillies and celery make it complete.

Boo pad pongali, or crab pongali curry, is another highly prized version of this dish, available at all seafood restaurants throughout Bangkok.

Thai curries are fantastic, but something you don't see to often is beef. And if you like beef, you'll be excited to try this wonderful Thai style curry made with beef (instead of pork or chicken all the time).

Gaeng neua is more of a southern Thai dish due to more of a population that eats beef, however it is available selectively throughout Bangkok as well.

Along with strips of beef, tiny little pea eggplants are also commonly used in the dish.

If you're looking for more of a heathy Thai food, gaeng jued would be a good option. It's basically a vegetable soup of carrots, cabbage, onions, pork, usually tofu, and glass noodles that is normally flavored with pork (but you can also order it as a vegetarian Thai food if you would like).

Gang Jued translated to English really means "plain soup," and it's one of the Thai dishes to eat in order to sooth the stomach or take a break from the highly flavorful repertoire of other Thai dishes.

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Dry salted fish, morning glory, and coconut milk, are the fundamental ingredients in a bowl of gaeng taypo.

The unique flavor is salted by the fish and the morning glory is cooked until withered and fall apart tender. The coconut milk brings all the flavors together into a harmonious Thai concoction that's splendid with a plate of rice.

Thailand is a country known for its colors and variety of curry - green, red, yellow. Buy another popular Thai curry is made from the leaves of the Kassod Tree (thanks to Eating Asia figuring out the English name), known as gaeng kee lek.

The cooking process is quite extensive as the leaves themselves are bitter and tough, but after being cooked to death and conjoined with thick coconut milk, the curry develops a spectacular flavor - and I hear the kee lek leaves are pretty healthy too!

Gaeng om is a northern Thai herbaceous vegetable soup.

The complex flavor is a result of boiling either chicken or pork along with cabbage, long beans, toasted rice (khao klua), and a magnificent array of flavorful herbs, dill being the flavor that really dominates.

A bowl of geang om is fresh, soothing and delicious!

There's not a huge selection of specific Thai breakfast dishes, but Joke is probably the most common.

Widely available in the morning, joke is the congee of Thailand, a rice soup cooked with pork broth to give it flavor. Many choose to eat joke with an egg in the middle and garnished with slices of ginger, spring onions and a dash of pepper.

Jim jum is a classic hot pot relaxation meal. Similar to a ma la tang street cart, you get your own fresh vegetables and cook them in a clay pot full of broth placed right in the middle of your table.

Pork, eggs and mung bean noodles are also commonly ordered to supplement the vegetable soup and make it even tastier.

Eating jim jum is a great Bangkok street food dish to eat with friends, drink a couple beers and enjoy a leisure street side meal.

Cheap street meat, and all-you-can-eat of it, is the only way to describe a Thai moogata feast. It's similar to a Korean barbecue, yet on a less glamourous scale.

Though there are countless little moogata restaurants scattered throughout Bangkok, the official restaurants can be huge - often with hundreds of tables that accommodate thousands of eaters.

Quality is not always taken into much consideration, but quantity is! Nevertheless, eating moogata is a great experience and you get to grill as much meat and boil as many vegetables on your own personal grill as you can handle!

Price in Bangkok should be 100 - 150 THB per person.

Cha om is the name of tender acacia tree sprouts, and combined with eggs, they are the most important ingredient in this specialty omelet.

The acacia leaves give the omelet a very unique flavor and the crispiness on the outside makes it all the more tempting! Cha om kai is most frequently eaten inside gaeng som soup (sweet and sour soup) or just dipped into nam prik kaphi (shrimp paste chili sauce).

There are hardly any Thai dishes that will make you want to lick your plate (and fingers) clean more than a sizzling plate of street side hoy tod.

In Thai it's called deep fried oysters, but in reality it's more like a huge crunchy omelet filled with oysters.

The omelet is often placed on a bed of bean sprouts and topped with cilantro and pepper. Just like other Thai omelets, hoy tod tastes best with a little tomato sauce (sauce prik).

The fancier version of hoy tod known as aor suan, is served sizzling on a hot place and can be ordered at most seafood sit down restaurants throughout Bangkok. Check out Kuang Seafood restaurant or T & K Seafood in Yaowarat.

Wildly popular on the streets of Bangkok, despite their reputation for causing the runs, are the shellfish hoy kraeng, also known as blood cockles.

As Bangkok Glutton explains, the red brown colored liquid that comes out after the cockles are cooked is reminiscent of blood, hence their name!

It's not a Thai dish recommended for the weaker stomaches, but if you're looking to jump right in to the heart of Bangkok street food, order up plate of hoy kraeng.

It may be easy to prepare and not overly elaborate, but hold those thoughts until you taste a Thai style minced pork omelet! When I had my first one, I couldn't believe it was so flavorful... and then I realized the magical powers of a little bit of pig flavoring!

Thai omelets are fried in lots of oil, so they aren't the healthiest dish choice, but over a plate of rice and topped with a squeeze of tomato sauce (sauce prik), it's one of the ultimate Thai comforts!

Stuffed omelets are not widely available in Thai cuisine, but you can find them at a selection of local street food restaurants.

The process begins with an egg that is fried thinly and stuffed with minced pork and a few random vegetables in a tangy sauce that reminds me of Sloppy Joe's.

Tearing into the egg and sopping up the porky juices with a plate of rice is a great way to enjoy a super comfort dish.

Yam kai dao is a Thai style fried egg salad. The eggs, which are in actually more deep fried than pan fried, are then sliced into bite sized pieces, mixed with wedges of tomato, onions and celery leaves and finally doused in lime juice and chillies.

The end result is a fresh salad mishmash that gets its flavor from the lime and takes on the richness of the egg yolks.

Walking down the street in Thailand and need a little snack - khao neow moo ping will come to the rescue!

One cannot underestimate the powerful satisfaction of a few skewers of grilled pork alternated by bites of sticky rice from a plastic bag. Snacking is one of the best things to do in Bangkok, and there's not a more iconic treat than grilled pork and sticky rice.

Thais enjoy the combo for breakfast, snack, lunch, or even dinner. The flavor of grilled meat and sticky rice just never gets old or boring!

Thai sausage is truly a marvelous thing and one of the top versions is Thai northern style sausage known as sai ooah. The minced pork is combined with a variety of distinct ingredients like garlic and lemongrass to give it a spicy lemony flavor.

Few things are more tantalizing than passing a This street food cart that's grilling up a few coils of the luscious sausage. If you're a pork lover, you're absolutely going to love sai ooah.

Satay is a widely popular meaty snack throughout all of Southeast Asia. Though you can find chicken, pork is the dominant protein source in Thailand, and it's generally more widely available.

The Thai version of moo satay consists of pork marinated in turmeric and coconut milk before being grilled with more coconut milk and served along with a side dipping peanut sauce and a few pickled cucumbers and red onions.

Moo satay is a snackers' (and beer drinkers') best friend!

Curry is often thought of as a saucy spice filled dish - which most of the time would be correct. However, for kua kling, spice filled would be correct but it is the un-saucy definition of all curries.

A product of the genius of southern Thai cooking, kua kling is prepared with minced meat (normally pork or beef) that's combined with a host of powerful spices and topped with diced chillies and fresh peppercorns.

The result of kua kling is a dish that boasts explosive flavor and extreme deliciousness.

What could be better than tender grilled pork neck? The answer is no other than tender grilled pork neck mixed with a few other vibrant ingredients like chillies, onions, and lime juice.

This Isaan style meat salad goes wonderfully with sticky rice and som tam (green papaya salad).

The process of making moo dat diew first begins with drying and salting strips of pork in natural sun light. After the drying process is complete, the thin strips are normally deep fried to give the meat a final cook and pleasant crunch.

Moo dat diew is often available on menus at Thai restaurants, but it is far more common as a beer treat.

On the streets of Bangkok you can find moo dat diew strung on carts and it is normally served on sticks, already deep fried. Don't forget to eat some sticky rice with it too!

There's no secret about fried chicken, in Thailand people love it just as much as any other country in the world.

Fried chicken is available at anywhere from sit down restaurants to street stalls that offer fried chicken to go. To give fried chicken a little more of a unique Thai flavor, it's often served with a sweet and sour, slightly spicy dipping sauce.

Just like fried chicken, grilled chicken is prevalent throughout all of Thailand. Forget about a hamburger and French fries combo meal and instead opt for the masterful pairing of sticky rice, papaya salad and grilled chicken - you won't be disappointed!

You'll find there are all parts of the chicken and a few different marinades on grilled chicken available in Thailand. A light soy sauce and sugary marinade is most common, but I especially enjoy the turmeric marinade.

If you're a meat lover in Thailand, ka moo is a little gem that will surly make your mouth water.

Pork knuckles are boiled in an aromatic blend of soy sauce, sugar, and cinnamon five-spice, for hours and hours until the meat is fall apart tender and begging to be eaten.

Khao ka moo is served over rice and drizzled in pork broth.

Chicken biryani is a dish with fascinating history. It's popular in places as far away as Iran and Zanzibar, and also common in Thailand where it's known as khao mok gai.

The yellow curried rice is cooked with chicken broth so it's oily and extremely flavorful. Khao mok gai in Thailand is served alongside a killer green sauce that's sweet and sour.

If you're in Bangkok, you shouldn't miss the khao mok gai at Areesa Lote Dee where they also make a tasty version with beef or goat.

Red barbecued pork, originally from China (see Hong Kong street food), is also very popular in Thailand. One of the most common everyday dishes is khao moo daeng, a plate of rice topped with red barbecued pork, a few slices of Chinese sausage, and covered in the quintessential sweet red sauce.

Khao moo daeng is literally available on every street and at countless Bangkok street food stalls throughout the city. Though it's way far out and hard to get to, I think this khao moo daeng restaurant is the best in Bangkok.

I'll be honest, a plate of khao man gai is not on my list of top Thai dishes, but despite my opinion, it is one of most popular neutral dishes in Thailand.

Originating from Hainan, the combination of boiled chicken over rice cooked with chicken fat has become famous throughout Asia. The trick lies within the sauce which holds the power to make or break the dish.

Also watch this khao man gai video, shot at a typical restaurant in bustling Bangkok.

Thai fried rice can be made with a variety of ingredients - whatever happens to be on hand. I particularly enjoy shrimp in my fried rice, but feel free to order it however you want.

The thing that elevates the flavor of Thai fried rice to culinary comforting levels is a squeeze of lime juice and a sprinkle of Thai chillies in fish sauce.

Khao pad in Thailand is often considered one of the staple dishes that any local may order out of laziness, not having to pick different dish to eat!

As far as I'm concerned, any Thai food menu from Isaan is incomplete without a plate of nam tok.

Grilled pork is sliced up and cooked with crushed toasted rice, onions, and chillies. It's then bathed in fish sauce and lime juice, making it one of the essential Thai dishes to be eaten with sticky rice.

Along with nam tok moo, larb moo is equally delightful and one of the more popular Thai dishes.

Minced pork is combined with lime juice, toasted rice (for crunch), onions and a selection of herbs. The sprigs of fresh mint on top of the dish give it a wonderful final touch. Larb is another favorite that should be eaten with all Isaan meals.

Sometimes a dose of deep fried protein is a craving that needs to be fulfilled - and when the craving comes in Thailand, deep fried pork with garlic is never far away.

Often the fried pork in Thailand is cut in bite sized pieces and is nicely garlicky. The plate pictured above is a meal deal including fried pork and a fried egg over the top of a bed of rice.

What could be more genius than taking Thailand's most beloved hot and sour soup and frying the same flavors with rice?

Khao pad tom yum is a trendy Thai dish, popular with students and the younger generation, not so much at traditional restaurants or stalls.

Flavored with roasted prik pao chili sauce, kaffir lime leaves, thin slices of galangal and lemongrass, this is a glorious version of fried rice!

Duck is very commonly eaten in Thai cuisine and there are two main ways of cooking it. The first is known as bpet yang (roasted duck) and the second method is bpet paloe (boiled in soy sauce and Chinese five spice).

Different restaurants around Bangkok specialize in either type of duck, but normally not both kinds at the same restaurant. A few slice of duck and its precious skin served over a plate of rice and drizzled in duck juice is known as khao na bpet.

For a plate of boiled duck check out Goliang 2 restaurant and for roasted duck head to Ratchawat's roasted duck restaurant. Also, just keep an eye out for ducks hanging in the window of any restaurant - you can't miss them!

Khao kluk kaphi is a Thai style mixed fragrant rice dish. Day old rice is stir fried with Thai shrimp paste to give it a subtle, not overpowering flavor.

The dish is then topped by a diverse range of exciting fresh ingredients like shredded green mango, sweet fried pork, red onions, a fried egg and a squeeze of sour lime.

I love khao kluk kaphi and think it is one of the Thai street food greatest hits.

Pad gra pao didn't become one of Thailand's most significant day-to-day dishes for nothing - it's a flavor you'll surely cherish with your first bite!

Really, you can order stir fried Thai basil with just about any kind of meat your heart desires - shrimp, squid, chicken, pork, or tofu. Common practice is to order a fried egg on the side and sprinkle chili laced fish sauce on top.

The peppery taste of the seared basil, the salty chicken, and the runny egg yolk, make pad gra pao among the list of local Thai favorites.

Of all the things to do in Bangkok, a visit would not be complete without an order of pad gra pao!

Catfish and all the tasty Thai dishes that are made from it, make it one of the most commonly beloved fish in Thai cooking.

Though pad phet pla duk tod is swimming in a layer of oily grease, the tempting flavor makes it a crowd pleaser. The catfish is cut into small pieces before being deep fried through and through - not just to cook it, but to turn the entire piece of fish into almost a catfish potato chip.

The fish is finally stir fried in sweet chili sauce and garnished with slivers of kaffir lime leaves before being ready to dish up.

There are two main styles of cooking Thai chuchee curry, one includes coconut milk while the other doesn't. The onc in the picture obviously includes coconut milk in the sauce, but both ways are delicious.

The curry is flavored with garlic, turmeric root and simmer kaffir lime leaves. Normally chuchee curry is made with mackerel fish and it's common to be eaten as a khao rad gaeng (rice topped with a choice of different dishes) dish.

Whenever I'm walking through a Bangkok market and get a whiff of sweet basil, I immediately think of hoy lai prik pao.

The dish consists of clams that are stir fried with an abundance of Thai roasted chili shallot paste ( prik pao) and at the final moment of being cooked, a generous handful of sweet basil is tossed on top. The result is easily some of the tastiest clams you'll ever eat!

Roasted catfish are not pretty to look at, but thankfully they taste really good!

Slow smoked over a bed of charcoal, these gnarly creatures manage to soak up the flavor of smoke like a sponge.

Each bite of the catfish is almost like meat, flaky and extremely smoky. The chili dipping sauce provided makes a pla duk yang a welcomed addition to any Isaan meal!

I sometimes go through periods of Thai food addiction to certain dishes and my heart was on larb pla duk for at least a couple of months - and I would still rate it as one of my favorite Thai dishes.

Remember the smoked out catfish above? Well take one of those guys, debone it, and mix up the flesh with red onions, toasted rice, galangal, dried chillies and throw on some sprigs of mint and you've got a seriously mouthwatering dish.

You can find larb pla duk at this fantastic restaurant in Bangkok, but it's widely available at nearly all som tam restaurants.

One of the most beloved things to eat in Thailand is a fried fish smothered in signature sweet chili filled sauce.

The fish is crunchy on the outside and the sauce almost reminds me of a honey glaze on a roasted ham, it's sweet and spicy. The contrast of the crunchy fish and the sauce is simply a marvelous thing as so many local eaters can testify to!

Sometimes the fish is deep fried before being stir fried and other times straight raw fish pieces are stir fried and combined to make the dish - whatever method the chef deems appropriate, it will be good! I love it either way.

Oyster sauce and young celery stalks are the fundamental ingredients of pad pla keun chai, giving it a Chinese food flavor and making it one of my ultimate comfort dishes.

One of the giants of Thai seafood dishes is pla kahpung neung manao, a steamed Asian seabass (barramundi) in sour lime sauce.

The steamed fish remains moist and fall apart tender while the sauce is sharply limey and pungently alive with sliced chillies and raw garlic. Healthy and massively flavorful, this is surely a dish to impress!

At seafood restaurants, this dish will even be brought to your table in a metal fish shaped dish with a candle lit on the bottom to keep it hot while you enjoy your meal!

Head to either Kuang Seafood restaurant or T & K Seafood for an excellent version of pla kapung neung manao.

Shrimp in my opinion is one of the great edible things on the planet. Living in Bangkok, I'm able to eat shrimp regularly without breaking the budget!

While shrimp are fantastic in a variety of Thai dishes, sometimes it's nice just to eat them straight roasted over hot coals. Peel the shrimp, dip them in the garlicky sauce, and you've got a sensational bite!

Take a snake head fish, deep fry the entire thing, and then plop it into a piping hot metal fish shaped bowl of sweet sour soup and you've got the making of gaeng som pla chon.

It's often served with probably my favorite vegetable to eat in Thailand, pak grachet (water mimosa).

The crunchy fried fish paired with the hot and sour soup is another wonderful display of the essential tastes of sweet, sour, spicy and salty all married into a single Thai dish.

Snakehead fish is one of the most typical fish to eat in Bangkok and throughout Thailand. With its sharp teeth and ugly head, it's not the most attractive of fish in the water, but it sure tastes wonderful.

In pla chon lui suan, the snakehead fish is steamed along with a bunch of different vegetables and then covered in a zesty sour massively garlicky sauce that bursts with flavor. The combination of fish and vegetables is hard to beat!

They make it really well at Som Tam Khun Gan in Bangkok.

Oh the joys of whole roasted fish over flaming embers served with dipping sauce - it's heavenly!

It was prior to backpacking Southeast Asia that I had experimented a number of times grilling fish, only to have half of my fish end up stuck to the grill. It was hopeless.

But there's a solution in Thailand , and that's salt. Lots of it.

The fish is first stuffed full of lemongrass and then plastered in salt before being place on the grill. On low heat the salt protects the skin leaving the flesh moist and flaky.

One of the favorite dishes of any khao gaeng (rice and curry) stand is little fried fish. I particularly drool at the thought of mackerel marinated in shredded turmeric root that's then deep fried.

Pla too tad cumin is especially common in southern Thailand, a flavor that's reminiscent of magnificent Malaysian street food. Extra toasted pieces of turmeric are sprinkled on top to really bring out the flavor.

I won't lie to you, when I first had this dish, I was unimpressed. I understand eating deep fried things as snacks, but what could be so good about deep fried fluffiness as a dish during a meal?

Well the answer, like so many other Thai dishes, lies within the sauce.

The deep fried catfish essence is good, but it's the sauce made with sour shreds of green mango, chillies, garlic and peanuts that really makes yam pla duk foo such a hit.

Along with a handful of curries and a few other select Thai dishes, green papaya salad has become ubiquitous with Thai cuisine across the world.

Shredded green papaya, tomatoes, and long beans form the bulk of the salad while dried shrimp, toasted peanuts and lots of red chillies add their own unique component.

The ingredients, rather than being mixed up, are pounded using a wooden mortar and pestle so the flavors truly blend together.

There are many different kinds of som tam eaten throughout Bangkok. Here are a few of the most common types:

Som Tam Thai ส้มตำไทย - Normal green papaya salad dressed with lime juice and fish sauce.

Som Tam Boo ส้มตำปู - Includes small fermented crabs

Som Tam Pla Raa ส้มตำปลาร้า - Included Thailand's famous fermented fish

Som Tam Hoy Dong ส้มตำหอยดอง - Included fermented oysters

Eating sticky rice with som tam is a requirement (in my opinion)!

For a twist on Thai green papaya salad, it can be nice to order green mango salad, prepared in a very similar way.

Sharply sour green mangoes are shredded up and mingled with toasted peanuts and a dressing of fish sauce and lime juice to create a wonderfully refreshing healthy salad.

It may sound weird or even unappetizing, but wait until you give som tam ponlamai a taste before you come to any conclusions!

It's the Thai version of fruit salad, an assortment of tropical fruit diced into cubes, pounded with fiery chillies and dressed in limey sweet dressing. The diverse mixture of flavors is an absolute thrill for the tongue!

What could be better than apples and guavas laced with chili?

The chewiness of needle mushrooms is what makes this salad so delightful. Needle mushrooms are kind of like chewing on pieces of pork fat, except much much healthier!

Needle mushrooms are included in a few different kinds of Thai dishes, but I really enjoy them mixed into a salad along with fresh tomatoes, onions and celery.

Lemongrass is a common ingredient in Thai cooking, but most of the time the woody stalks are boiled to extract the lemony fragrance and discarded. However, if sliced very finely, lemongrass can be eaten without tearing your throat.

Yam takrai goong sot includes boiled shrimp, red onions, toasted cashew nuts and the all important slices of lemongrass. The variety of textures and sweet lemon aroma of the stalks create a marvelous mixture.

Eating lemongrass is also used in Gaeng Run Juan, a traditional Thai dish.

Before coming to Thailand I wasn't all that fond of pumpkin. Apart from an annual slice of pumpkin pie on American Thanksgiving, pumpkin to me was useless.

But in Thailand, pumpkin is not only used in sweet Thai desserts, but it's also the principal ingredient in a few salty dishes to be eaten with rice.

Pumpkin coconut curry is wonderful, but I really like pumpkin stir fried with egg. The pumpkin is cooked soft and the accompanying egg adds a subtle richness.

Tofu is not nearly as common as it was where I visited in China, but there are some Thai dishes that use tofu as a secondary ingredient.

Tao hoo song kreung is a mixed tofu dish that included pieces of egg tofu, minced pork, and whatever bits of vegetables the chef decided to throw in.

Sometimes, like in the photo, the tofu is fried in oil separately before joining the other ingredients so it has that perfect crispiness on the outside, but is silky soft on the inside.

I didn't believe it until a Thai friend of mine ordered this dish, saying it was something she enjoyed eating at her home as a child. I'm not one to argue about the dishes children take comfort in, so I was happy to sample it for the first time.

That very first plate has since turned into hundreds, if not thousands of devoured plates of cabbage fried with minced pork and egg. Cooked on high flame with lava hot oil, the cabbage remains crisp and not watery.

Chicken is stir fried in many variations and along with many different strong flavoring ingredients in Thailand. If you love the earthy spiciness of ginger, gai pad king is a Thai dish you need to eat.

Sometimes large quantities of ginger can be bitter, but in this dish, young ginger that's been soaked in water is used. This allows the ginger to be a dominant ingredient yet remain almost sweet with just a hint of bitterness.

While Thai cuisine is often characterized by an abundance of ingredients flavored by the wonderful pig, one of the great things about Thai food is that it's often not cooked until you order it!

This means that if you want plain stir fried vegetables, you can order it exactly the way you want, to your own personal specification.

Be sure to check out a copy of the Thai food guide.

To me this is one of the standard Thai dishes - something I keep coming back to lunch after lunch.

A few vegetables and some chicken fried up with red chili paste and flavored with basil and you've got a killer Bangkok $1 meal that will light your mouth on fire and make you yearn for more!

Bitter melon (or bitter gourd) is something I grew up not overly fond of as it reminded me of choking on those dreaded chloroquine profilaxis pills when I lived in DR Congo.

But everything is "likeable" by getting yourself to eat it over and over until it finally just tastes good, and that's how I began my love affair with bitter melon.

Now I find that bitterness is such a wonderful flavor that's so neglected in much of Western cooking. Bitter melon stir fried with shrimp or stir fried with egg are both wonderful Thai dishes!

Vegetables are commonly eaten and widely available throughout all of Thailand, but no stir fried veggie dish is as popular as pad pak bung fai daeng.

The morning glory (also known as water spinach) makes the perfect accompanying dish to any well rounded Thai meal. The vegetable is scorched on high heat with oil at just the right temperature so it remains freshly crispy and salty with oyster sauce.

Melon leaves happen to be one of my favorite vegetables to eat in Thailand.

The leaves and shoots are stir fried with oyster sauce and garlic so the dish is massively flavorful and the texture is slightly tough but tender at the same time.

Eggplant is a very special thing.

From baba ghanoush to Sri Lankan brinjal, there are so many recipes from around the world that highlight the goodness of the gourd plant. One of my favorite ways to eat eggplant in Thailand is roasted and then mixed into a salad.

The salad also includes diced Thai red chillies, red onions and is doused in a fish sauce and lime juice dressing.

A fried Mackerel, some khanom jeen fermented rice noodles, a selection of lettuce leaves and herbs, and a flaming hot bowl of special chili sauce makes miang pla too one of the most spectacular Thai dishes.

It's a leisure meal in Thailand, something that should be eaten at a slow pace, not scarfed down in a hurry. The basic procedure is similar to making a taco - start with a piece of lettuce, fill it with rice noodles, herbs, a piece of fish, and finally smother it in sauce.

Water mimosa is a vegetable I had never heard of or seen before living in Bangkok. Nowadays it's on my menu as a dish I can't resist eating at least a number of times per week.

The vegetable is stalky and quite chewy tough, but in my opinion the texture is what really makes it so delicious. Stir fried with chillies and garlic, pad pak gachet is lively and appetizing.

Khao yam is sort of like fried rice, without the fried part.

The rice itself is mixed with a few spices and then topped with toasted coconut flakes, sliced long beans, bean sprouts, dried shrimp, chili powder and fragrant kaffir lime leaves.

As a southern Thai speciality, I really enjoy buying khao yam from the Krabi morning market.

Nam prik, translated as chili sauce, is a huge part of traditional Thai food (that often gets forgotten by the outside world). There are probably hundred of version of pounded chili sauces, each region of the country having their own speciality.

Nam prik kaphi is one type of chili sauce that's commonly popular throughout all of Thailand. Fermented shrimp sauce pounded with lots of chillies and mixed with lime juice is the basic composure of the sauce.

Nam prik is normally eaten with fresh steamed vegetables of just on top of rice.

Another variation of Thai chili dipping sauce is nam prik goong sot, a delicious mixture of shrimp paste, boiled shrimp, chillies and lime juice.

Get it from Nong Joke restaurant in Krabi, Thailand.

Literally translated into English as "drunken noodles," Thai pad kee mao is exactly what you want after a long night out. It's greasy, it's salty, it's rich and above everything else, it's extremely tasty!

Wide rice noodles are fried with a mixture of meat and assorted vegetables, salted generously, and delivered as a scrumptious mess of food ecstasy.

Very similar to pad kee mao, pad see ew is yet another Thai fried rice noodles dishe. This version however, is a little more ingredient specific, often only including pork and a few pieces of Chinese broccoli or cabbage.

Pad see ew is darkened by dark soy sauce and it's best enjoyed with a spoon full of chili flakes and vinegar.

There are a few different kinds of Thai wide rice noodle dishes, but reigning superior in my opinion is kuay teow kua gai - wide rice noodles stir fried on low heat with pieces of chicken (or sometimes squid) and egg. The slightly crisp noodles and the scorched egg are a result of the slow cooking process.

There are plenty of local neighborhood spots to grab a plate of tasty kua gai, but an award winning plate is cooked by an old man down an alley in Yaowarat.

Pad Thai has taken the world by storm, a dish that has become synonymous with any discussion on Thai cuisine. Sweet, salty and nutty are a few of the recognizable flavors that make it such a hit.

I particularly enjoy a plate of pad thai that includes shrimp, but it can also be ordered plain, just sprinkled with bits of tofu and ground peanuts.

Pad Thai is available throughout Bangkok, served at both high end restaurants and falling apart street carts.

Rather than using rice paper as the wrapper, kuay teow lui suan actually uses wide rice noodles - making it more of a noodle roll than a spring roll. Nevertheless, it's delicious!

Wide flat rice noodles are filled with a combination of lettuce leaves and herbs and either sausage, shrimp of even just tofu, and served alongside a bowl of green sweet chili sauce.

If you are in Bangkok, check out Baan Suan Pai for a delicious kuay teow lui suan... and it's even vegetarian!

Goong ob woon sen is the agglomeration of clear mungbean noodles cooked in ginger with prawns. Hints of coriander and white pepper give it its signature taste.

You can order goong ob woon sen from any Thai Chinese seafood restaurant like Hua Seng Hong Restaurant or T and K Seafood.

Mungbean noodle salad is a highly popular dish for local Thais.

The foundation of the salad is clear mung bean noodles, but from there it can really include a variety of different ingredients like random bits of seafood, minced pork, immitation crab, tomatoes, celery, onions, and often it will even included Thai hot dogs.

The dressing is lime juice and sugar to give it a zesty bite!

Chicken noodles is one of the standard day to day dishes to eat in Thailand. The secret is in the soup, a cauldron of chicken and onions boiled until soft creating an aromatic chickeny broth.

Noodles are prepared in the same way as any other noodle stall, thrown in a little basket and flash dunked in boiling water for a few seconds until cooked through. Combine the noodles and soup, add a few scoops of chili flakes and toasted garlic, and you've got a fantastic light meal or afternoon snack.

Khao soi is a northern Thai dish, with influences from Burmese flavors, that consists of flat egg noodles topped in rich coconut creamy curry.

The curry is a combination of coconut milk and masala, and is most commonly made with chicken or beef, though pork is also available at certain restaurants.

A good bowl of Khao Soi, like at Krua Kon Dee's, includes sliced pickled mustard greens, red onions and a squeeze of lime!

Fresh egg noodles topped with duck is equally as popular as rice topped with duck - both can be wonderful!

You can either order soup within the noodles or you can order it dry with soup on the side ( ba mee bpet haeng).

Most restaurants that serve duck throughout Bangkok will likely served egg noodles as well.

There are two distinguishable variation of sukiyaki (known as suki for short) in Thai cuisine: suki nam (soup) or suki haeng (dry style).

Suki nam may be better referred to as a Thai style hotpot - a pot of boiling soup where you add your own vegetables, mungbean noodles and meat, and cook it all in front of you.

Suki haeng, which I consider the tastier of the two versions, is the same mixture of vegetables and meat (or seafood) but instead of boiling it, the ingredients are stir fried.

Imagine a classic brown gravy, but instead of placing it over mashed potatoes, ladle it over noodles, and you've got Thai radna. The porky brown gravy is thick, sticky, and is normally supplemented with a scoop of vinegar and a spoon full of chili flakes.

Radna can be ordered with either wide rice noodles ( sen yai radna เส้นใหญ่ราดหน้า) or thin angel hair rice noodles ( sen mee radna เส้นหมี่ราดหน้า). I prefer the former version, though the photo is of angel hair noodles.

Named " boat noodles " for their history of being served from vendors directly from boats, these specialty bowls of Thai noodles are a treasured culinary masterpiece cherished by nearly all Thais.

It's the kind of dish that a mere mention of will spark a mouthwatering conversation with a Thai that will surely end up in a meal of boat noodles.

The goodness is in the broth, and the secret, a dab of pig blood. The hot soup mixed with pig blood creates a truly unique richness that's so powerfully porky that it will have you addicted from your first bite!

I like to go to Victory Monument boat noodles alley to enjoy an occasional boat noodle challenge.

Despite Thailand's magnificent supply of street food, MSG-laden instant ramen noodles are just as popular as anywhere else in this world.

Mama is the brand that has the monopoly on instant noodles in Thailand and kids and adults alike crave these addictive salty noodles.

One of the favorite ways to eat Mama in Thailand is to stir fry them up with a few assorted veggies, assorted meat, and some extra salty seasoning.

Thai cuisine would not be complete without the mention of one of the most mainstream street side dishes, kuay teow tom yum. It's available on nearly every corner of Bangkok, served from permanent restaurants, the back of motorcycles or makeshift stalls.

The soup is a sweet and sour, meaty medley that's cooked somewhat plain so you can add as much chili flakes, vinegar or ground peanuts as you need in order to create a taste that's balanced to perfection. Many Thais also enjoy a spoon of sugar on top of their noodles to sweeten things up.

For kuay jab, the dry rice noodles are cut in trapezoid shaped pieces so they curl into rolls as soon as they are bathed in boiling water.

A standard bowl of kuay jab, which is especially famous at a few stalls in Yaowarat, is served with soup made from the tasty innards of the pig. Moo krob (crispy pork belly), slices of lungs, intestines, and blood jelly, are a few of the prized finds in any bowl of kuay jab!

Yen ta fo, originally a Chinese style dish, is yet another popular form of noodles on the everlasting repertoire of Thai noodle dishes. The dish typically includes wide rice noodles, though you can order thinner rice noodles if you so desire.

Once again, the coveted flavor lies within the broth of the soup, which in yen ta fo's case, happens to be bright pink!

The color of the soup is a result of fermented bean curd paste that gives the dish a sweet flavor and its explicitly pink color.

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Thank you very much for taking a look at this list of 100 delicious Thai dishes and I truly hope it will give you ideas about exactly what to eat when you visit Thailand!

If you enjoyed this guide and would like more Thai food information and tips please consider getting a copy of the Eating Thai Food Guide - an eBook filled with over 3 years of Thai food information and photos on how to take advantage of the best Thai food!

Happy eating!

- Mark Wiens

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100 Thai Dishes to Eat in Bangkok: The Ultimate Eating Guide

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In 2009, I landed in Thailand with little more than an empty stomach and a passion for food. It didn't take long before I became wholly obsessed with Thai gastronomy of all forms, kindled daily by fiery spice, intoxicating aromas, and the Thai culture that revolves around every bite.

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Bangkok, Thailand, culinary excursions are available on the website bangkokfoodtours.com. The excursions take visitors to several districts and introduce them to a range of Thai delicacies in order to provide them an immersive culinary experience. The website offers a variety of tour choices, including day tours, private tours, and evening culinary excursions. The website lists the kinds of dishes that will be sampled, and each tour includes stops at a number of restaurants and food stands. The website also has a blog with posts regarding Bangkok travel advice and Thai cuisine culture.

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Bangkok Food Tours – Bangkok Food Tours | Holiday And Night Tour Bangkok | Thailand Tour

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On the website travelhappy.info, there is a piece about Bangkok's best markets in Thailand. Several marketplaces are highlighted in the piece, including Khlong Toei Market, Pak Khlong Talat (Flower Market), and Chatuchak Weekend Market. The author gives helpful information for tourists, such as opening hours and haggling pointers, as well as descriptions of the ambience and types of things sold at each market. The article includes images and references to more travel-related materials.

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There are hundreds of Bangkok markets, ranging from the small and specialized to gigantic markets selling everything from antiques to pets.
Bangkok Market Vendor © Walter Lim
From riverside shopping to gigantic weekend markets, Bangkok markets range from charming and scenic to franticly busy. Bangkok is home to hundreds of markets that offer a huge range of items, from local handicrafts to clothes, technology and more.

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Chatuchak Weekend Market

Chatuchak Market © Mark Fischer

Chatuchak Weekend Market is Bangkok's largest market, home to more than 8,000 stalls and 27 separate areas. Almost every product you can possibly imagine can be found in its myriad aisles, from antiques and handicrafts to pets and technology.

Also known as "JJ Market", Chatuchak is easily accessible via the BTS and MRT. To reach the market, you can either walk from Mo Chit BTS Station or, if you're riding the MRT, exit right inside the market from Kamphaeng Phet Station.
Hotels close to Bangkoks Markets
Chatuchak is absolutely massive, and its seemingly endless aisles and stalls can look the same as you pass them. Because it's so easy to get lost, make sure you buy items when you see them - if you plan to come back later, you might not find the shop.

Pricing at Chatuchak is generally reasonable, but you should be prepared to haggle to get the best deals. Aim for 25-30% off the quoted price for products, of if you're buying in bulk, see if the seller offers a wholesale discount.

Patpong Market

Patpong Night Market© shankar s.

Located in Bangkok's most infamous red light district, Patpong Market might not be the most romantic shopping destination. It is, however, conveniently located and full of clothes, souvenirs and other items, albeit often at inflated prices.

Patpong is a short walk from Sala Daeng BTS Station. Turn left from Silom Road onto Soi Patpong and you'll be surrounded by neon and stalls. Be prepared to bargain, as most of the prices for products at Patpong are marked up considerably.

While you're unlikely to find any high quality goods here (and it goes without saying that any "bargain" fashion you find most likely isn't genuine) Patpong's location is a point in its favour, being just a short walk from some of Bangkok's top hotels.

Pak Klong Talat (Flower Market)

Bangkok Flowers © Mark Fischer

Pak Klong Talat is Bangkok's biggest flower market. Located on Chak Phet Road, it's a long distance from the BTS or MRT. Access this market by taxi or, if you're feeling a little more adventurous, the Chao Phraya Express Boat at Saphan Phut pier.

Although Pak Klong Talat is technically open 24 hours, you'll want to visit early in the morning to catch the market when its selection is at its peak. Largely unknown to tourists, Pak Klong Talat is a great break from the typical Bangkok to-do list.

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Klong Thom Market

Open from Saturday evening until Sunday afternoon, Klong Thom Market is equal parts thrift store and Blade Runner set. Klong Thom is Bangkok's biggest second-hand market, offering everything from vintage fashion to retro video games.

Located far from the MRT or BTS, Klong Thom is best accessed by taxi. Get there on Saturday night to see the market at its peak, or come on Sunday morning for a more relaxed and quiet experience.

Asiatique Riverfront

THE HARBOUR MARKET © Prachanart Viriyaraks

Open since 2012, Asiatique is one of Bangkok's newer night markets. As its name suggests, it's located on the riverfront and is accessible by free ferry from Saphan Taksin pier.

Asiatique Riverfront contains over 1,500 shops offering clothing, jewellery, Thai cultural items and more. It's also home to a range of riverside restaurants, a giant Ferris wheel and a selection of live performance shows.

Rod Fai Market

Bangkok 2013 © Jonathan Lin

Rod Fai Market specialises in all things vintage, from the usual vintage products like jeans, watches and furniture to more surprising - and expensive - items like sports cars, 50s Godzilla merchandise and Vespa scooters.

If you're a fan of vintage fashion, Rod Fai Market is a must-visit shopping hotspot while in Bangkok. Located just behind Seacon Square, Rod Fai Market is accessible by taxi - ask your driver to take to you "Talat Rod Fai".

On Nut Night Market

If you're staying on Sukhumvit Rd and feel like a fun night of shopping and excellent food, On Nut Night Market is worth a visit. Located right next to On Nut BTS Station, On Nut Night Market is easy to access from anywhere on the Sukhumvit BTS Line.

When it comes to shopping, On Nut offers more of the same - clothes, accessories and souvenirs are all cheap and easy to find. This market's specialty is dining and drinking, and you'll find one of Bangkok's best outdoor food courts at the market.

Khao San Night Market

Khao San Road, Bangkok,Thailand.© Justin Vidamo

Khao San Road might be best known for its cheap bars and guesthouses, but it's also home to one of Bangkok's better tourist-focused markets. Cheap clothing, souvenirs, books and even fake IDs are easy to find at Khao San Night Market.

If you're staying on Khao San Road, just walk outside your hotel and you'll be right in the market. A few blocks north of Khao San itself, you'll find Banglamphu Market, which is a popular local market offering clothes and accessories at great prices.

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There are hundreds of Bangkok markets, ranging from the small and specialized to gigantic markets selling everything from antiques to pets. Bangkok Market Vendor © Walter Lim From riverside shopping to gigantic weekend markets, Bangkok markets range from charming and scenic to franticly busy.

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The Chatuchak Weekend Market, one of the biggest markets in the world and located in Bangkok, Thailand, is described on the website chatuchakmarket.org. The website provides information about the market's history, location, hours of operation, and travel directions. Additionally, it offers details on the various market segments, the kinds of products that are offered, and tourist advice. The website has a section for merchants interested in renting a stall as well as a map of the market.

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A post regarding online shopping in Bangkok, Thailand, may be found on the website at-bangkok.com. The article gives a general overview of Thailand's online retail environment, highlighting the growth of sites like Lazada, Shopee, and JD Central. The benefits of online purchasing are also covered by the author, including its convenience, broad selection of goods, and affordable prices. The article offers advice on safe and secure online purchasing as well as connections to other websites for online shopping.

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There here is no denying that online shopping is something that everyone in the world uses. Bangkok and all throughout Thailand is no different. It provides a very efficient way to shop and without getting out of the house or getting out of the office. All you have to do is go online and touch a few buttons and there you will have done your shopping. . How convenient is that? Shopping online in Thailand can be a bit different from the rest of the world because some online stores like Amazon or BH photo or any other western online shops will charge delivery and tax. Sometimes the delivery costs may be higher than the cause of the product. In Thailand there are some shopping sites that provides free delivery or very little delivery costs .
Let's have a look at some of these online shopping sites. (from most reliable down)
Lazada; it's one of the first major online shopping site that is very reliable. Some items that they sell have the option to pay on delivery. They also let other vendors sell their products on the site.

Aliexpress; is a big online shopping site world wide service with free delivery to Thailand.

Shopee; Is another site that is similar to Lazada

JD central; Is another site that is similar to Lazada

The top 3 in this list are quite safe to shop from personal experience. There are other online shopping sites that you can find some are big that sells everything like sites mentioned above, some are smaller sites thats sells specific product like phones or cloths. Thailand is still behind the the world of online shopping compared to the western countries but it does work and you can definitely do online shopping here; same as gambling. Thailand does not have real casinos yet like many other countries but there is online gambling; like 18bet which can be as convenient as online shopping

About the Author: vasin

Current: Editor of At-Bangkok.com, Managing Director at dp-Studio Co. Ltd. Past: Lecturer, Instructor at School of Architecture King Mongkut University of Technology, Architect at RNL Architect, Architect at Roth Sheppard Architects Education: School of Architecture Chulalongkorn University Bangkok Thailand (B.Arch) School of Architecture University of Arizona USA - School of Architecture University of Colorado, Denver USA (M. Arch)

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There here is no denying that online shopping is something that everyone in the world uses. Bangkok and all throughout Thailand is no different. It provides a very efficient way to shop and without getting out of the house or getting out of the office.

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A post about the top six markets in Bangkok, Thailand, can be found on the website nerdnomads.com. The article gives a brief description of each market, including its location, hours of operation, and the products it sells. Amphawa Floating Market, Pak Khlong Talat Flower Market, Talad Rot Fai Night Market, Chatuchak Weekend Market, and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market are among the markets highlighted. The article offers pictures as well as advice on what to eat and how to haggle for the best rates when visiting each market.

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12 Markets In Bangkok You Should Not Miss

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Bangkok has some of the best and biggest markets in the world. Here are the 12 best markets in Bangkok with great shopping and food.

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A blog entry on the website migrationology.com discusses the markets for shopping in Bangkok, Thailand. The article provides descriptions of a number of well-known markets in Bangkok, including Khlong Toei Market, Or Tor Kor Market, and Chatuchak Weekend Market. The author gives comprehensive details about each market, including the products sold there, the market's hours of operation, and shopping advice. In order to provide readers a better understanding of the setting and goods offered at each market, the post contains images and videos.

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It's incredible to think about how many shopping markets in Bangkok are available for you to explore!

You can be shopping for days!

I've been based in Bangkok since early 2009, and I'm still stumbling into markets I've never been to before.

In this blog post I'm going to share with you 6 of Bangkok's busiest central markets and shopping paradises that should cover a variety of all your shopping needs and desires.

1. Sampeng Market (Yaowarat)

Yaowarat, or Bangkok's Chinatown, is one of the most exciting and busiest parts of the city. Along with a fantastic array of Thai street food everywhere you looks, one of the most famous things about Chinatown are the shopping markets.

The most famous of them all is Sampeng Market, a seemingly everlasting sprawl of random trinkets, latest inventions, jewelry, fabric and everything else you can imagine. The market is often jam packed with shoppers, street food carts and transport dollies all scurrying through the narrow aisles.

Although you can buy individual products, Sampeng Market is also a place where many store owners or market stall vendors from other parts of Bangkok come to buy wholesale deals and then re-sell elsewhere. So you can expect to find some good deals at Sampeng, and if you'd like, you can buy things in bulk.

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2. Chatuchak Weekend Market (ซื้อของที่ตลาดนัดจตุจักร)

Easily the most world famous shopping market in Bangkok is the weekend Chatuchak Market (also known for short as JJ Market). This is a truly massive jumble of both makeshift stalls and permanent stores for the extreme shoppers.

Everything is available at Chatuchak Market... that is if you know where to look.

I've spent hours wandering around, looking for something I had seen on a previous visit at Chatuchak Market, and had no idea where to ever find it again, it's that BIG ( Hint: if you see a stall you really like, take note of its stall number location so you can come back if you want, otherwise it can be hard to re-find what you saw).

3. Saphan Phut (สะพานพุทธ)

As a very local style Bangkok night market, Saphan Phut doesn't get too much attention form visiting tourists. However, if you're interested in seeing the latest local trends or observing the modern youth culture of Thailand, Saphan Phut is a great place to see.

While a lot of the clothing and accessories caters towards youth, there's still a lot of random stalls (and always changing stalls) to be discovered. You may stumble into a vintage rock band t-shirt collection or an army fatigue clothing stand. Be sure to sample the fried squid eggs, particularly famous at Saphan Phut!

Like any of the shopping markets in Bangkok, you never know exactly what you might find!

4. Pratunam Market (ประตูน้ำ)

Conveniently located in one of Bangkok's most happening districts, Pratunam market is among the most thriving shopping markets in Bangkok. The market deals mostly clothing but there's also a mishmash of other things like Thai souvenirs.

As a wholesale market, it's not uncommon to see many foreigners from around the world buying in bulk to bring things back to sell in their home countries. Pratunam makes a great home-base when you're visiting Bangkok if you're into shopping. There are plenty of accommodation choices in Pratunam, and even some hotels like a Novotel directly above Platinum.

If you've had enough winding through the alleys you can always step into the craziness of Platinum Shopping Center, purchase electronics at Pantip Plaza, or even make the short walk to the modern CentralWorld mall.

5. Khlong Toey Fresh Market (ตลาดคลองเตย)

One of Bangkok's biggest and busiest fresh food markets is Khlong Toey. No matter if you're looking to buy some fresh fruit or supply an entire restaurant with all necessary ingredients, you can purchase everything at this sprawling market. Amidst the backdrop of modern flashy buildings and sky-rises, butchers slice fresh cuts of meat and vegetables are sold by the bushel.

The market is one of the food distribution hubs of Bangkok, so there's always plenty of energy and lots to observe. Walking around Khlong Toey is a very interesting and insightful experience in Bangkok.

Click here to watch my Khlong Toey Market video.

6. Wang Lang Market (ตลาดวังหลัง)

Located across the Chao Phraya River from Bangkok's Grand Palace and adjacent to Siriraj Hospital, eating and browsing through Wang Lang is one of my favorite things to do in Bangkok.

There's always an oustanding selection of tantalizing pre-cooked snacks for people on the go as well as a handful of cheap sit down restaurants. Don't forget to try the deep fried pork and the sweet waffle coconut pancakes (khanom tungtag) - check out this video of Wang Lang here!

Along with the abundance of food, Wang Lang market is a popular place to go shopping for trendy clothes or other little locally made gadgets. Catering to lots of students, the prices are pretty decent!

Conclusion

Along with delicious Thai food, browsing and buying things at shopping markets in Bangkok is one reason the city attracts so many visitors. There's a market of everything.

There are many things to do when you're in Bangkok, and if you love shopping, these six markets will be a great place for you to start.

Without the vast amount of entertaining markets, Bangkok wouldn't be the same!

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The 6 Most Popular Shopping Markets in Bangkok

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It's incredible to think about how many shopping markets in Bangkok are available for you to explore! You can be shopping for days! I've been based in Bangkok since early 2009, and I'm still stumbling into markets I've never been to before.

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A brief summary of Bangkok's marketplaces is provided on the webpage, which is hosted by Celebrity Cruises. It lists the top markets that visitors should check out, including the Pak Khlong Talat Flower Market, the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, and the Chatuchak Weekend Market. The page discusses the distinctive elements of each market, such as the goods offered, the ambiance, and the stories behind them. Additionally, it provides advice on haggling, navigating marketplaces, and sampling regional cuisine for tourists.

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The Ultimate Guide to Bangkok's Markets | Celebrity Cruises

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Markets in Bangkok are a riot of colors, sights, and sounds. While it's true that you'll find tourist trinkets in many of them, there's plenty for locals and serious shoppers as well. Morning and night markets in particular have long been a focal point of social and cultural life in Thailand.

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A blog post about Bangkok's Incredible Skyline

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A blog post about Bangkok's Incredible Skyline

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This blog post that analyzes Thailand's biggest skyscrapers and Bangkok's amazing skyline. The article gives a quick overview of Bangkok's growth and explains how it turned into a metropolis consisting of high-rise structures. The author then goes over some of Bangkok's most remarkable skyscrapers, including MahaNakhon, King Power Mahanakhon, and Baiyoke Tower II, and gives details on their designs, heights, and other distinguishing characteristics.

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Bangkok’s Amazing Skyline - Thailand’s Biggest Skyscrapers

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The incredible Bangkok skyline is hard to ignore - discover the very best Bangkok skyscrapers in our guide to the most impressive structures in Thailand.

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The Baiyoke Tower, a skyscraper in Bangkok, Thailand, is described on the webpage. It emphasizes the tower's height as well as the range of amenities and sites that are accessible to guests, including a hotel, an observation deck, and a shopping center. Additionally, the website provides advice on how to visit the tower and maximize your time there.

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Baiyoke Tower observation deck

It's one thing to see the Bangkok skyline from your hotel window, but watching it from the 84th-floor outdoor revolving deck is entirely another. Up at the top, the cool breeze, the excitement, the open space and the sense that you're on top of one of Thailand's tallest buildings make all the difference.

For around 400 baht, the price of one T-shirt from the shopping mall underneath, you can get access to the skywalk on the 77th floor, the revolving observation deck and a free drink (from a small selection of fruit juices, soft drinks, cocktails, beers or spirits). The skywalk, with huge display windows all around and coin-operated viewing scopes, is a prelude to what's to come once you actually get to the rooftop. Facing the 4 directions, the skywalk offers information on the landmarks, major areas and highways spreading out below.

Depending on the time of day and how clear the sky is, the Baiyoke Tower experience will be different. Sunset and nighttime are very popular, though the views are equally amazing in the daytime. You might be able to see way beyond the Chao Phraya River to the west and south.

Once you're up on the revolving deck, you can spend as much time as you want, before going down one level to enjoy your complimentary drink. The whole place is a bit old and doesn't have the charm of all the newer rooftop bars and restaurants in Bangkok, but this is really about getting a unique view, trying to recognize familiar places far off in the distance, and even the hotel you're staying at.

Baiyoke Tower shopping experience

Apart from the viewpoints, Baiyoke Tower II offers 6 levels of shopping. But don't expect glitz and glam, as shopping in Pratunam caters to wholesale and mass-market types of clothing. Instead of brand names and designer labels, think affordable clothes that are good for blending in rather than for making a fashion statement. You don't have to buy in bulk as prices are already very cheap even if you pay the retail price for single pieces. Most shops will offer a discount when you buy 3 or more items.

Compared to nearby Pratunam Market, Baiyoke Tower II shopping offers more variety for men as well as indie types of clothing. The second basement level is interesting, as it has all kinds of graphic-printed T-shirts imaginable - whether cartoon characters, soccer club logos, graphic nude women, heavy metal types, rock emblems, reggae style, embroidered patterns, tie-dye and many others. You can find accessories like bags, beads, necklaces, hats, belts and more T-shirts on the 4th floor.

Baiyoke Sky Hotel

Baiyoke Tower is also home to the 4-star Baiyoke Sky Hotel, one of the highest hotels in Bangkok. Divided into 3 zones (depending on the floor heights), the guestrooms and suites offer various panoramas of the city skyline and come complete with modern amenities.

Another way to enjoy the view is while enjoying the international and seafood buffet at Bangkok Sky Restaurant (76th, 78th floors). If you're not a hotel guest, you can purchase a combination which comes with access to the 2 viewpoints for around 1,100 baht. Crystal Grill (on the 82nd floor) specializes in grilled meat but also offers an international buffet.

Baiyoke Tower in Bangkok

Location: Soi Ratchaprarob 3, Phaya Thai, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand

Open: Skywalk and observation deck open daily from 10am to 10.30pm

Price: 400 baht

This article includes opinions of the Go Guides editorial team. Hotels.com compensates authors for their writing appearing on this site; such compensation may include travel and other costs.

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Baiyoke Tower in Bangkok - Touch the Sky at One of Bangkok's Highest Rooftop Viewpoints - Go Guides

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The 84-storey Baiyoke Tower is an unmissable towering landmark in the Pratunam area of Bangkok. Its skywalk on the 77th floor has large viewing windows and is the best place in the area to get sweeping bird's-eye views of the skyline.

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A video about the tallest building in Thailand 

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A video about the tallest building in Thailand 

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The Mahankhon Skywalk Building's breathtaking vistas, of course! Thailand's highest structure at the moment is the 78-story King Power Mahanakhon Building, which is situated in the center of Bangkok.  You can see the entire city of Bangkok from the top of this incredibly impressive structure, and what a view it is. This skyscraper has a glass skywalk hanging over the edge from which you can gaze down over the street and structures below.

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THE TALLEST BUILDING IN THAILAND (Bangkok's best view?!)

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The website provides details on the location, height, and intended use of Thailand's tallest structures. It features both finished and under-construction structures, emphasizing the nation's quick urbanization and expansion of the real estate market. In general, the website is a resource for anybody interested in Thailand's architecture and skyline.

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There is no shortage of skyscrapers in Thailand. They come in all shapes and uses as developers look for ways to launch projects that are unique and tall. Most of the tallest buildings in Thailand can be found in Bangkok. The expansion of Bangkok's Skytrain and MRT public transportation routes has seen skyscrapers pop up alongside these lines over the past few years instead of being clustered in specific areas.

Additionally, some developers have opted to build towers close to the Chao Phraya River where cheaper land prices allowed them to be more grandiose when it comes to size and facilities.

See the tallest buildings in Thailand

Tallest Building

Magnolias Waterfront Residences

Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Height: 318 meters (1,043 feet)

Completed: 2018

The 70-storey Magnolias Waterfront Residences is now the tallest building in Thailand with its 379 residential units providing residents with some breathtaking views of the Chao Phraya River as it winds through Bangkok. The superluxury residential tower is part of the much-hyped ICONSIAM complex, which is also home to The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, the fifth tallest building in Thailand. Unlike some other Bangkok skyscrapers, the design of Magnolias Waterfront Residences is relatively plain and the project isn't as well-known as some other tall towers in the Thai capital.

The Icon

King Power MahaNakhon

Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Height: 314 meters (1,030 feet)

Completed: 2016

While Magnolias Waterfront Residences surpassed King Power MahaNakhon in height by four meters, the latter has become a Bangkok icon thanks to a unique design - which is supposed to capture the look of pixilation - and multitude of features. These include Thailand's first Ritz Carlton Residences, an Orient Express hotel and a rooftop observation deck. King Power MahaNakhon is visible throughout Bangkok with its unique façade making it easily recognizable to both locals and visitors alike.

Tallest Hotel

Baiyoke Tower II

Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Height: 309 meters (1,014 feet)

Completed: 1999

Now 20-years old, Baiyoke Tower II was among the first wave of skyscrapers to appear in Bangkok during the aftermath of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. The 88-story hotel cuts a somewhat lonesome figure as the tower rises from its surroundings outside the central business district. Baiyoke Tower II remains the tallest hotel in Southeast Asia and room rates are surprisingly affordable, but access to other facilities, such as the 360-degree revolving roof deck, will cost you.

The One

One Bangkok

Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Height: 436 meters (1,431 feet)

Expected completion: 2025

One Bangkok is a mixed-use development that will be home to five grade A office buildings, five luxury and lifestyle hotels, four retail and leisure centers, three ultra-luxury residential towers, civic areas and a lot more. The project's signature tower will be Thailand's tallest building once completed in 2025. Work has begun on the project although details remain scarce. The 436-meter skyscraper is expected to have office space and a hotel as well as some retail facilities.

The Future

Grand Rama 9 Tower

Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Height: 615 meters (2,018 feet)

Expected completion: TBD

Despite first being announced in 2014, work has yet to begin on the Grand Rama 9 Tower in Bangkok that would be one of the tallest skyscrapers in the world when finished. Plans call for a 6-star hotel, a lot of office space and an observation deck. The project's original developer, Grand Land, was purchased by the property development company owned by retail giant Central Group in 2018. The firm is expected to relaunch Grand Rama 9 Tower in the near future with the originally planned height still intact.

The Outsider

Reflection Jomtien Beach Pattaya

Location: Pattaya, Thailand

Height: 234 meters (768 feet)

Completed: 2013

Reflection Jomtien Beach Pattaya is the tallest building outside of Bangkok. Constructed during the Pattaya property boom of the early 2010s, the project dominates the Jomtien Beach area of Pattaya. Despite standing 55 stories, Reflection Jomtien Beach Pattaya only has 102 units as Major Development, the company behind the project, opted for a low-density approach. This allows the residences to have several unique design features, like floor-to-ceiling windows, that maximize views.

About the author

Cheyenne Hollis is Editor-in-Chief at Dot Property Group and Thailand Property. He has more than eight years experience covering real estate in Southeast Asia and China. You can reach him at [email protected]

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Where are the tallest buildings in Thailand? - Thailand-Property

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There is no shortage of skyscrapers in Thailand. They come in all shapes and uses as developers look for ways to launch projects that are unique and tall. Most of the tallest buildings in Thailand can be found in Bangkok. The expansion of Bangkok's Skytrain and MRT public transportation routes has seen skyscrapers pop up ...

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The website provides a database of Thailand's high-rise structures, including finished, ongoing, and proposed constructions. It offers images and renderings in addition to details about each building's height, number of floors, and architectural features. For individuals who are interested in Thai architecture and urban development, the website is a useful resource.

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The website is about Bangkok, Thailand's Mahanakhon building, which houses an observation deck and rooftop bar called Mahanakhon Skywalk. It offers details about the Skywalk experience, such as ticket costs, operating hours, and what to anticipate when on the observation deck. It serves as a helpful resource for anyone who want to visit the Mahanakhon Skywalk because it also discusses the architecture and background of the structure.

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Thailand's Tallest Building

The design of the building is the brainchild of the German architect Ole Scheeren, who also had a hand in the creation of the singular Beijing radio-television tower.

This avant-garde building, with its pixellated design, was inaugurated in 2016, following a five-year-long construction process. At 314 meters (1,030 feet) tall, the King Power Mahanakhon is the tallest building in the country, beating the 204-meter-tall (670-foot) Baiyoke tower.

The tower contains more than 200 apartments, a hotel with more than 150 rooms, various luxury shops, bars, restaurants, and of course, a spectacular viewing platform.

Mahanakhon SkyWalk

As well as its height, the MahaNakhon tower also is home to one of the most impressive viewpoints in the world, the MahaNakhon SkyWalk.

The platform occupies the upper floors of the building, including the rooftop itself. This rooftop offers unbeatable views of one of the world's most vibrant cities and is home to the skywalk bar, the perfect place to enjoy Thai nightlife.

For the bravest, the rooftop has a section with a glass floor, and although with some other buildings, this trick can be a little disappointing, in this case, it's the real deal!

An absolute must-see

Having visited hundreds of skyscrapers all over the world, it's safe to say that this one is not only one of the best in Bangkok, but one of the best in the world, if not the best.

The SkyWalk viewpoint is the very image of modern Bangkok, something you notice from the very outset, with the digital experience of screens in the elevator during the 50-second express ride.

Unmissable. Get your ticket here.

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MahaNakhon - The tallest skyscraper in Thailand

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The design of the building is the brainchild of the German architect Ole Scheeren, who also had a hand in the creation of the singular Beijing radio-television tower. This avant-garde building, with its pixellated design, was inaugurated in 2016, following a five-year-long construction process.

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A database of skyscrapers in Bangkok, Thailand, is available on the internet. Each building's height, year of completion, architect, and developer are included, along with pictures and maps. The website is a helpful tool for people interested in the design and development of the city because it also allows sorting and filtering of the database by numerous criteria.

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Video that talks about the international land disputes, Siam, plants and Thai elephants of Thailand 

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Video that talks about the international land disputes, Siam, plants and Thai elephants of Thailand 

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A video that explains about various different topics in a intricate way.

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The website offers advice on visas, transportation, food, accommodation, and culture for those who are just starting off traveling to Thailand. Additionally, it includes suggestions for places to go and things to do in the nation as well as guidance on how to keep safe and healthy while traveling. Overall, it's a useful tool for anyone organizing a trip to Thailand.

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Fertile valleys such as the Mun and Chi provided ideal conditions for more permanent settlements and a relatively advanced early civilisation became quickly established; UNESCO describe World Heritage-listed Ban Chiang as the most important early site in Southeast Asia. The local abundance of salt - a vital commodity at the time - was also a big plus for trade.

The picture that emerges in Isaan by the beginning of the first millennium CE is of a series of autonomous chiefdoms based around rice and livestock farming and with extensive trading networks stretching into what is today Vietnam and central Thailand and south to coastal settlements on the Gulf of Thailand. The population at this time would have been predominantly of the Mon/Khmer ethnic group.

Inevitably some of these chiefdoms grew more powerful than others and the early Khmer proto-city state based around Wat Phu in southern Laos was to have the most influence on the region. The decline of the Mekong Delta-based Funan civilisation to the south allowed what was probably formerly a satellite kingdom to assert itself, and rulers of the ancient city of Shrestapura near Wat Phu began expanding their territory south down the Mekong, westwards up the Mun and Chi valleys and south over the Dandreks into northern Cambodia.

In the mid-sixth century Bhavarvarman established the city of Bhavapura at what is today known as Sambor Prei Kuk in north central Cambodia while his brother Mahendravarman attempted to exert control over the southern Isaan area from his power base at Wat Phu, though it probably wasn't until the reign of the powerful King Ishanarvarman (611-628) that anything resembling an empire was established. (We say probably quite regularly since much of the early history of this region is still fiercely debated by scholars.)

This early polity included the Mekong Valley, north from Cambodia's Tonle Sap and the lower Isaan region and indeed the name Isaan is thought by some historians to mean " land of Ishana ", derived from the Sanskrit name of the king Ishanavarman.

Throughout the Angkor and pre-Angkor (or Chenla) periods, northeastern Thailand was an important province of the empire as testified to by the abundance of ruins from that period found right across Isaan. A royal road led from Angkor to the northern capital at Phimai and modern towns such as Surin, Buriram and Khorat plus sites such as Phnom Rung/ Muang Tam were important cities. Several of Angkor's rulers were certainly from northern families.

Throughout this period Isaan remained predominantly Mon/Khmer in ethnic make-up and it wasn't until as late as the 13th century that Thai and Lao (from the greater Tai ethnic group) began migrating into the area from southern China and northern Vietnam. Their migration coincided with the decline in the Angkor civilization so as Thai groups began to increase their influence over western Cambodia, Lao groups moved into the Mekong Valley and northern and eastern Isaan.

This was to form the basis of the region's ethnic mix we see today, with the Khmers reduced to the southern districts of Ubon, Si Saket, Surin and Buriram provinces and Thais with a greater presence in western regions such as Khorat. Apart from Thai and Sino-Thai populations in the urban areas, much of the remainder of the northeast is inhabited by Lao people and indeed it's a frequently heard and true comment that there are more Laotians in Thailand than there are in Laos. (Other important minorities in the region include the Mon/Khmer Suai people of Surin and Si Saket.)

Politically however the region has swayed between Lao and Thai control with the borders only being defined (and as at Preah Vihear still occasionally disputed), during the French Indochina protectorate period of the 1860s. Until then the Lao provinces east of Khorat, including much of what is now Laos itself, was ruled from Bangkok.

The Siamese had little choice but to agree to French terms which designated the Mekong River as the border and while allowing Bangkok to retain control of Lao provinces west of the river demanded the removal of all Thais and vestiges of Thai control east of the river. The Thais withdrew, taking a large amount of the population over the Mekong with them, which is why today any map will show you a string of large riverside towns on the Thai side and a sparsely populated Lao side.

In recent times the Isaan provinces and people have become thoroughly integrated into mainstream Thai culture and society but in the next post we'll look at the distinctive music and of course famous cuisine of the region, which in particular help to maintain an Isaan identity in 21st century Thailand.

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Thailand's Isaan region has been occupied since at least 6,000 years ago, when hunter gatherer tribes first migrated over the Phetchabun ranges from central Thailand, archeological work at such sites as Ban Non Wat in the Mun Valley in Khorat, Nok Nok Tha

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he website provides an overview of Thailand's political landscape, highlighting the 2014 military takeover and the accompanying crackdown on political dissent and opposition. It emphasizes the country's fight for democracy, including demonstrations against the leadership and the monarchy's function.

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Thailand (History): Rewind to the 1932 Siamese Revolution - Europe Solidaire Sans Frontières

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On 24 June 2018 at Thammasat University, Tha Prachan, the Thai Academic Network for Civil Rights (TANC) and the 24 June Democracy Group held a (...)

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The website gives a brief overview of the Ayutthaya Kingdom's history, which spanned from the 14th to the 18th century and was centered in the historic Thai city of Ayutthaya. The city's architecture, cultural significance, and ultimate demise as a result of invasion and conflict are all highlighted.

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Escape the current capital of Thailand to visit the old one: Ayutthaya. The historical city is about 70 kilometers from Bangkok, and it is filled with delicious food, a laid-back city vibe, and most importantly and noteworthy of all, the ancient ruins found throughout. Here, a brief history of these intriguing remains found in Ayutthaya.

Sukhothai was the first Siamese capital of Thailand and was founded in 1238. Ayutthaya was later founded in 1350, but it did not become a thriving city until about 1378. It remained the flourishing capital for about 400 years (until 1767). Sukhothai took a back seat to the thriving new capital and was, for the most part, forgotten. It was put back on the map by Rama I, when he used ancient Sukhothai artifacts to enrich and decorate his temples in Bangkok during the Chakri dynasty.

Ayutthaya remained the capital for so long for a number of reasons. For one, it was home to an extensive trading port that welcomed international merchants, many of whom were from Europe. The city was a memorable one to these travelers because of the many temples and palaces found here. In addition to trading, the waterways that surrounded the city were useful in terms of protecting it, creating a watery fortress of sorts.

The city was named by the same man who made Ayutthaya the capital: King Ramathibodi. Ayutthaya was named after a magical kingdom from Thailand's national epic, the Ramakien.

The old capital of Thailand came to a brutal end when it was attacked by the Burmese. Much of the city was devastated by fire, and those who were not killed were taken by the Burmese and forced into slavery. The city fell in 1767. Most of the city was destroyed, and what is left of these relics and temples are still found in Ayutthaya today, of which there are about 50.

All of the ruins found in Ayutthaya today took about 150 years to complete in total. Many of the palaces were made of wood which did not withstand the fires that destroyed the capital - which is why mainly stone temples remain. The temples have their own Siamese style, but many of the temples' construction drew upon inspiration from other influences, including Sri Lanka. There are also instances of Khmer architecture, as the capital started out as a Khmer military and trading outpost. These ruins were discovered in 1991, and they were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Since then, the ancient city has been squeezed into busy Thailand travel itineraries and makes a great day trip for those who have a few days in Bangkok.

The Victory Monument bus station is no more, so visitors will have to head to the MRT Subway Station Mochit or the BTS Skytrain Station Mochit to get to the northeastern bus terminal. It is here they will find buses to Ayutthaya. Visitors can also take the scenic train ride from the Hua Lamphong Station off the Hua Lamphong MRT Subway Station. Really adventurous travelers can opt to visit via boat, as well.

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A Brief History of the Ancient Ruins of Ayutthaya in Thailand

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Escape the current capital of Thailand to visit the old one: Ayutthaya. The historical city is about 70 kilometers from Bangkok, and it is filled with delicious food, a laid-back city vibe, and most importantly and noteworthy of all, the ancient ruins found throughout. Here, a brief history of these intriguing remains found in Ayutthaya.

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History of Thailand from Different time period 

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History of Thailand from Different time period 

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The website provides a summary of Thailand's history, covering the different kingdoms and dynasties that have ruled the nation, from prehistoric times to the present. It gives an accessible summary of the country's extensive and intricate past and covers significant Thai historical events and individuals.

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Prehistory The earliest known inhabitation of present-day Thailand dates to the Paleolithic period, about 20,000 years ago. Archaeology has revealed evidence in the Khorat Plateau in the northeast of prehistoric inhabitants who may have forged bronze implements as early as 3000 B.C. and cultivated rice during the fourth millennium B.C.

Early History In the ninth century B.C., Mon and Khmer people established kingdoms that included large areas of what is now Thailand. Much of what these people absorbed from contacts with South Asian peoples-religious, social, political, and cultural ideas and institutions-later influenced the development of Thailand's culture and national identity. In the second century B.C., the Hindu-led state of Funan in present-day Cambodia and central Thailand had close commercial contact with India and was a base for Hindu merchant-missionaries. In the southern Isthmus of Kra, Malay city-states controlled routes used by traders and travelers journeying between India and Indochina (present-day Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam).

Nanchao Period (650-1250) Located on the southwestern border of China's Tang empire (A.D. 618-907), Nanchao served as a buffer for and later rival to China. The Tai, a people who originally lived in Nanchao, migrated into mainland Southeast Asia over a period of many centuries during the first millennium A.D.

Sukhothai Period (1238-1438) In 1238 a Tai chieftain, Sri Intraditya, declared his independence from Khmer overlords and established a kingdom at Sukhothai in the Chao Phraya Valley in central Thailand. The people of the central plain took the name Thai, which means "free," to distinguish themselves from other Tai people still under foreign rule. The Kingdom of Sukhothai conquered the Isthmus of Kra in the thirteenth century and financed itself with war booty and tribute from vassal states in Burma (today Myanmar), Laos, and the Malay Peninsula. During the reign of Ramkhamhaeng (Rama the Great, r. 1279-98), Sukhothai established diplomatic relations with the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368) in China and acknowledged China's emperor as its nominal overlord. After Ramkhamhaeng's death, the vassal states gradually broke away; a politically weakened Sukhothai was forced to submit in 1378 to the rising new Thai Kingdom of Ayutthaya and was completely absorbed by 1438.
During and following the Sukhothai period, the Thai-speaking Kingdom of Lan Na flourished in the north near the border with Burma. With its capital at Chiang Mai, the name also sometimes given to this kingdom, Lan Na emerged as an independent city-state in 1296. Later, from the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries, Lan Na came under the control of Burma.

Ayutthaya Period (1350-1767) The city-state of Ayutthaya was founded in 1350 and established its capital in 1351 on the Chao Phraya River in central Thailand, calling it Ayutthaya, after Ayodhaya, the Indian city of the hero Rama in the Hindu epic Ramayana. In 1360 Ramathibodi (r. 1351-69) declared Theravada Buddhism as the official religion and compiled a legal code based on Hindu legal texts and Thai custom that remained in effect until the late nineteenth century. Ayutthaya became the region's most powerful kingdom, eventually capturing Angkor and forcing the Khmer to submit to Thai suzerainty. Rather than a unified kingdom, Ayutthaya was a patchwork of self-governing principalities and tributary provinces ruled by members of the royal family who owed allegiance to the king. The king, however, was an absolute monarch who took on god-like aspects. This belief in a divine kingship continued until the eighteenth century. The kingdom became increasingly sophisticated as new social, political, and economic developments took place.
In 1511 Ayutthaya received its first diplomatic mission from the Portuguese, who earlier that year had conquered the state of Malacca to the south. Ayutthaya concluded trade treaties with Portugal in 1516 and with the Netherlands in 1592 and established commercial ties with Japan and England in the seventeenth century. Thai diplomatic missions also went to Paris and The Hague. When the Dutch used force to extract extraterritorial rights and freer trade access in 1664, Ayutthaya turned to France for assistance in building fortifications. In addition to construction engineers, French missionaries and the first printing press soon arrived. Fear of the threat of foreign religion to Buddhism and the arrival of English warships provoked anti- European reactions in the late seventeenth century and ushered in a 150-year period of conscious isolation from contacts with the West.
After a bloody dynastic struggle in the 1690s, Ayutthaya entered what some historians have called its golden age-a relatively peaceful period in the second quarter of the eighteenth century when art, literature, and learning flourished. The rising power of Burma led to a Burmese invasion of Ayutthaya and the destruction of its capital and culture in 1767. Only a Chinese attack on Burma kept the chaotic Thai polity from Burmese subjugation.

Thon Buri Period (1767-82) The Thai made a quick recovery under the leadership of a half- Chinese military commander, Phraya Taksin. Taksin had escaped from the besieged Ayutthaya and organized resistance to the Burmese invaders, eventually driving them out. Taksin declared himself king and established a new capital at Thon Buri, a fortress town across the river from modern Bangkok. By 1774 Taksin had annexed Lan Na and reunited Ayutthaya in 1776. He was deposed and executed in 1782, however, by his ministers, who invoked interests of the state over Taksin's claim to divinity.

Early Chakri Period (1782-1868) Another general, Chakri, assumed the throne and took the name Yot Fa (Rama I, r. 1782-1809). Yot Fa established the ruling house that continues to the present. The court moved across the river to the village of Bangkok, the kingdom's economy revived, and what remained of the artistic heritage of Ayutthaya was restored. The Kingdom of Bangkok consolidated claims to territory in Cambodia and the Malayan state of Kedah while Britain annexed territory in an area that had been contested by the Thai and the Burmese for centuries. Subsequent treaties-in 1826 with Britain and in 1833 with the United States- granted foreign trade concessions in Bangkok. The kingdom's expansion was halted in all directions by 1851.

The reign of King Mongkut (Rama IV, r. 1851-68) marked a new opening to the Western nations. To avoid the humiliations suffered by China and Burma in their wars with Britain and the resulting unequal treaties, Bangkok negotiated and signed treaties with Britain, the United States, France, and other European countries between 1855 and 1870. As a result, commerce with the West increased and, in turn, revolutionized the Thai economy and connected it to the world monetary system. Foreign demands for extraterritoriality convinced Mongkut that legal and administrative reforms were needed if Siam (as the Thai kingdom was officially known from 1855 to 1939 and from 1946 to 1949; prior to then, the Thai traditionally named their country after the capital city) were to be treated as an equal by the Western powers. Monkut's death in 1868 postponed further reforms, however.

Reign of Chulalongkorn, Reforms, and War (1868-1932) Real reform occurred during the reign of Chulalongkorn (Rama V, r. 1868-1910). After his formal enthronement in 1873, he announced reforms of the judiciary, state finance, and the political structure. An antireform revolt was suppressed in 1874, after which Chulalongkorn embarked on less radical approaches. In time, he ordered the gradual elimination of slavery and corvée labor. He introduced currency- based taxes and a conscription-based regular army. In 1893 a centralized state administration replaced the semifeudal provincial administration. The regime established European-style schools for children of the royal family and sent government officials, promising civil servants, and military officers to Europe for further education. The first railroad line was opened between Bangkok and Ayutthaya in 1897 and extended farther north in 1901 and 1909. To the south, rail connections were made in 1903, linking with British rail lines in Malaya.
During this time, British and French colonial advances in Southeast Asia posed serious threats to Siam's independence and forced Siam to relinquish its claims in Cambodia, Laos, and the northern Malay states. Although much diminished in territory by the 1910s, Siam preserved its independence, and the kingdom served as a buffer state between the British and French colonies. During this time, anti-Chinese sentiments came to the fore. About 10 percent of the population was Chinese, and ethnic Chinese largely controlled many government positions, the rice trade, and other enterprises, much to the resentment of the native Thai.
Siam joined the Allies in declaring war against Germany during World War I (1914-18) and sent a small expeditionary force to the European western front. These actions won Siam favorable amendments to its treaties with France and Britain at the end of the war. Siam also gained, as spoils of war, impounded German ships for use in its merchant marine. Siam took part in the Versailles peace conference in 1919 and was a founding member of the League of Nations.

The Emergence of Constitutional Rule (1932-41) A bloodless coup d'état in 1932, engineered by a group of Western-oriented and nationalist-minded government officials and army officers, ended the absolute monarchy and ushered in a constitutional regime. The first parliamentary elections were held in November 1933, confirming Minister of Finance Pridi Phanomyong's popularity, but Luang Plack Phibunsongkhram (Phibun) used his considerable power as minister of defense to assert the superior efficiency of the military administration over the civilian bureaucracy. In 1938 Phibun succeeded as prime minister, with Pridi continuing with the finance portfolio. The Phibun administration promoted nationalism and in 1939 officially changed the nation's name from Siam to Muang Thai (Land of the Free), or Thailand. Foreign- owned businesses (mostly Chinese-owned) were heavily taxed, and state subsidies were offered to Thai-owned enterprises. The people were encouraged to emulate European-style fashions. Betel chewing was prohibited, and opium addicts were prosecuted. Irridentist claims for lost territories in Cambodia and Laos were revived amidst new anti-French sentiment. Phibun cultivated closer relations with Japan as a model for modernization and a challenge to European power.

Thailand During World War II (1941-44) After World War II broke out in Europe (1939- 45), Japan used its influence with the Vichy regime in France to obtain territorial concessions for Thailand in Laos and Cambodia. The war for Thailand began in earnest on December 8, 1941, when Thai and Japanese troops clashed on the Isthmus of Kra. Bangkok acceded to Japan's demands that its troops be permitted to cross the isthmus to invade Burma and Malaya. In January 1942, Phibun signed a mutual defense pact with Japan and declared war against Britain and the United States. Seni Pramoj, the anti-Japanese Thai ambassador to Washington, refused his government's orders to deliver the declaration of war, and the United States refrained from declaring war on Thailand. Seni organized a Free Thai movement, and, with U.S. government support, Thai personnel were trained for anti-Japanese underground activities. In Thailand, Pridi ran a clandestine movement that, by the end of the war, with Allied aid had armed more than 50,000 Thai to resist the Japanese. During the early war years, Phibun was rewarded for his cooperation with Tokyo with the return of further territory that had once been under Thai control. Japan stationed some 150,000 troops in Thailand and built the infamous "death railway" across the River Kwai and through Thailand using Allied prisoners of war. The Allies bombed Bangkok during the war, and public opinion and the civilian political leaders forced Phibun out of office in June 1944.

Civilian Government (1945-47) Shortly after the war, Seni Pramoj briefly served as prime minister. In May 1946, a new constitution was promulgated. It called for a bicameral legislature with a popularly elected lower house and an upper house elected by the lower house. The name Siam was officially restored. The 1946 elections set the stage for Pridi's accession to the prime minstership. However, two weeks after the election Pridi was accused of being implicated in the untimely death of King Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII, r. 1935-46), and he resigned and left the country. The new king, Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX, r. 1946- ), who was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1927, had spent the war in Switzerland and returned there after a brief first visit to Thailand in 1945. He did not return to Bangkok to take up his kingly duties until 1951, following a government-engineered coup.

Return to Military Rule (1947-73) The civilian government's failure eventually led to the restoration of the Phibun military faction. Phibun had been arrested in 1945 as a war criminal but was released soon afterward. A coup in November 1947 ousted the civilian leaders, and Phibun took over as prime minister in April 1948. During his second government (1948-57), Phibun restored the use of the name Thailand, reintroduced legislation to make Thai social behavior conform to Western standards, improved secondary education, and increased military appropriations. Phibun's traditional anticommunist position led to Thailand's continued recognition of Taiwan, and he supported the French in their actions against communist insurgents in Indochina. Thailand also provided ground, naval, and air units to the United Nations (UN) forces fighting during the Korean War (1950-53; Thai forces continued to serve in South Korea until 1972). Phibun brought Thailand into the new Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) in 1954. In 1955 SEATO's headquarters was established in Bangkok, and Thailand offered the United States the use of Thai military bases. In an attempt to generate popular support for himself, Phibun articulated a policy of democracy, but he was deposed in a bloodless coup in September 1957.
Military-controlled government continued between 1957 and 1967. There was talk under Prime Minister Sarit Thanarat of a "restoration" of the king, and a strong popular affection for the monarchy arose. The regime emphasized the kingdom's Buddhist heritage in an effort to gain support from monks for government programs. Anticommunism continued to influence Thailand's foreign affairs, and in 1961 Thailand, the Philippines, and newly independent Malaya (since 1963, Malaysia) formed the Association of Southeast Asia (ASA). In 1967 Thailand became a founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a broader regional cooperative organization that replaced the ASA. At the same time, Prime Minister Thanom Kittikachorn decided to shorten the timetable for the country's transition from the military-dominated leadership structure to a popularly elected government.
In June 1968, a new constitution was proclaimed, but martial law, which had been imposed in 1958, remained in effect. Party politics resumed in 1968, and Thanom's United Thai People's Party carried the February 1969 National Assembly elections. The new government, however, had to respond to numerous issues: a Muslim insurgency in southern Thailand, communist guerrillas operating in jungle areas north of the Thai-Malaysian border, the successes of communist forces in Vietnam and Laos, and other regional unrest and protests against the government. In November 1971, Thanom carried out a coup against his own government, thereby ending the three-year experiment in parliamentary democracy. The constitution was suspended, political parties were banned, and the military took full charge in suppressing opposition.

Transition to Democratic Rule (1973-76) The stern moves by the Thanom regime led to popular dissatisfaction among university students and organized labor, accompanied by growing anti-U.S. sentiments. Some feared Thanom would even overthrow the monarchy and establish a republic. In a demonstration on October 13, 1973, some 250,000 people pressed their grievances against the government. The following day, troops fired on the demonstrators, killing 75 of them. King Bhumibol took a rare direct role, forcing the cabinet's resignation; Thanom and his close colleagues were allowed to leave the country secretly. Thammasak University president Sanya Dharmasakti was appointed interim prime minister, and it was he who fully credited the student movement with bringing down the military dictatorship. A new constitution went into effect in October 1974, providing for a popularly elected House of Representatives. The elections were inconclusive, and conservative Seni Pramoj eventually formed a government that lasted less than a month. His brother, Kukrit Pramoj, then put together a more acceptable centrist coalition that lasted until January 1976. Seni returned as prime minister but only until October 1976, when violent student demonstrations were suppressed by security forces, and Seni was ousted. A military junta took control of the government, declared martial law, annulled the constitution, banned political parties, and strictly censored the media.

Military Rule and Limited Parliamentary Government (1976-92) The new government, led by Prime Minister Thanin Kraivichien, a strident anticommunist, was more repressive in many ways than the earlier military regimes. Strict censorship continued, and the regime tightly controlled labor unions and purged suspected communists from the civil service and educational institutions. As a result, many students joined the communist insurgency. Thanin was replaced in 1977 by General Kriangsak Chomanand. He promulgated a new constitution in December 1978 with a popularly elected House of Representatives and an appointed Senate, but the military controlled cabinet and Senate appointments. Economic instability, however, brought down the Kriangsak government in March 1980. The new prime minster, who was the commander in chief of the army and minister of defense, General Prem Tinsulanonda, came to power by consensus among key politicians. He gave civilians a greater role in government by appointing civilians to his cabinet. A coup attempt in 1981 weakened Prem's government, and there was continual dissension among the civilian members of the government. Despite student and farmer demonstrations, Prem was reappointed as prime minister in April 1983. He survived a coup attempt in September 1985 and elections in July 1986. Prem was succeeded as prime minister following elections in July 1988 by General Chatichai Choonhavan, the leader of a multiparty coalition. The following years saw a series of military-led governments, efforts to reform, coups, new elections, and coalition party politics. Reforms were introduced in the business sector, the government allowed increased foreign investment, and relations with Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam improved. Charges of corruption and abuse of power abounded, however, and Chatichai was removed from power in a bloodless coup in February 1991.

Multiparty Democracy (1992-2006) In March 1992, with a new constitution in force and new elections held, General Suchinda Kraprayoon, one of the February 1991 coup leaders, became prime minister and leader of a five-party coalition. When those parties withdrew their support, Suchinda resigned in May 1992, and Anand Panyarachun, a civilian who had served as acting prime minister between March 1991 and March 1992, was named prime minister. Anand embarked on new reform measures, but he was replaced after the September 1992 elections by Democratic Party (Phak Prachatipat) leader Chuan Leekpai, the head of a four-party coalition. Chuan's government pushed through constitutional amendments that provided for more wide- ranging democratic practices, enlarged the House of Representatives, reduced the size of the appointed Senate, lowered the voting age from 20 to 18 years of age, guaranteed equality for women, and established an administrative court. In January 1985, the Thai Nation Party (Phak Chat Thai) won the largest number of House seats, and its leader, Banharn Silapa-Archa, headed the new coalition government. In March 1996, Banharn appointed the members of the new Senate; unlike earlier Senates, most members were civilians instead of military officers. The failure of his coalition, however, led to new elections and a new six-party coalition government in November 1996 led by General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, head of the Phak Khwam Wang Mai (New Aspiration Party).
Chavalit made key economic portfolio appointments to his cabinet, but he failed to implement the austere fiscal policies needed to revive a weak economy. In mid-1997 a major financial crisis ensued, the baht-Thailand's currency-was devalued, the Central Bank governor resigned, and widespread protests took place. The government announced austerity measures, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) intervened, but the economy continued to deteriorate. Despite a new constitution promulgated in October 1997, confidence in Chavalit continued to slide, and elections in November returned Chuan Leekpai to the prime ministership as head of a seven-party coalition. This transfer of power without military intervention, from one elected leader to another, represented a major breakthrough in the development of democratic processes in Thailand. The baht continued to devalue, however, and social unrest recurred. By the summer of 1998, the economy had become more stable, although investigations into banking practices continued to uncover mismanagement and irregularities. With assistance from the IMF, Thailand gradually regained macroeconomic stability.
The first-ever elections to the Senate were held in 2000, and, in January 2001 one party-the Phak Thai Rak Thai (Thai Loves Thai Party)-won an absolute majority in the House of Representatives. Because of widespread allegations of illegal election practices, new polling took place in February in some constituencies. The Thai Rak Thai, having merged with another party since the January election, still won the absolute majority of seats, but a coalition government- with the New Aspiration Party and Chat Thai-was established. Police Lieutenant Colonel Thaksin Chinnawat became prime minister. The Thai Rak Thai was further strengthened in 2002 when it absorbed many members of the New Aspiration Party.
Thaksin set out to stabilize several problematic areas. One was to launch a major antidrug campaign. Some 2,275 people were killed in a three-month period ending in April 2003, and the government claimed to have eradicated 90 percent of Thailand's drug problem. In October 2004, the government launched a second antidrug campaign. Another problem confronting the kingdom was terrorist violence, primarily in the south. In 2002 several police officers were killed, bombs were detonated when the minister of interior toured the violence-prone area, and five schools suffered damage from arsonists. The Thai military attributed these actions to a group thought to be an al Qaeda affiliate and arrested suspected members of Jemaah Islamiah (Community of Islam) in June 2003. They confessed to plotting attacks on embassies in Bangkok and tourist sites. Further arsons and bombings occurred, and attacks on police and army bases in 2004 heightened the terrorist threat. In 2004 alone, more than 500 people died as a result of insurgent and terrorist violence in the south. This loss of life was exacerbated when a massive tsunami hit the Andaman coast on December 26, 2004, killing more than 5,300 Thai and foreigners and leaving another 2,900 reported missing.
In February 2005, the Thai Rak Thai won a 75 percent majority in the House of Representatives elections, and, for the first time, a single-party government was formed. The following year, however, there were mass protests calling for Thaksin's resignation over corruption issues. He called for early parliamentary elections in April 2006 that were boycotted by the major opposition parties and declared unconstitutional in May. Amidst growing protests, Thaksin continued as prime minister until September 19, 2006, when military forces staged a successful coup and set up a military-controlled regime.

Source: Library of Congress

Mural painting in a temple in Chiang Mai.
Photo © nationsonline.org

Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), King of Thailand and Head of State is venerated by most of all Thais, images of him are omnipresent throughout the country, even on screens of ATMs you can see his portrait.
Photo © 2009 nationsonline.org

Modern Bangkok at night.
Photo © 2009 nationsonline.org

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Prehistory The earliest known inhabitation of present-day Thailand dates to the Paleolithic period, about 20,000 years ago. Archaeology has revealed evidence in the Khorat Plateau in the northeast of prehistoric inhabitants who may have forged bronze implements as early as 3000 B.C. and cultivated rice during the fourth millennium B.C.

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Compares the Modern History to the Ancient History 

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Compares the Modern History to the Ancient History 

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The website gives a brief overview of Thailand's history, highlighting significant occasions and eras like the introduction of Buddhism, the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya periods, and King Rama V's reign. It also covers the effects of modernisation and globalization on the nation.

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Modern History

The Thai people established their own states in the early 20th century, with the Ayutthaya kingdom showing itself to be the most dominant for a time. The states were all constantly threatened by the Khmers, Burma, and Vietnam, not to mention the presence of the French and British who were vying for colonies in Southeast Asia at the time. When European colonial powers threatened in the 19th and 20th centuries, Thailand managed to escape as the only country not to fall under colonial rule. This was due to a compromise between the French and British to keep it as a neutral territory between them. The Siamese Revolution was sparked by young military personnel and other civil workers in 1932. This event ended the absolute monarchy of the Ayutthaya Kingdom and established a constitutional monarchy that was largely overseen by military personnel. Civilian and military factions bickered over power in the newly established government, and fear of communism and ultra-nationalism caused instability amongst them. Thailand endured sixty years of military rule, oftentimes with no clear direction or leader aside from the top general.

The current military leaders at the time of World War II opted to ally Thailand with Japan to avoid becoming a victim in its path. During the postwar era, Thailand maintained close ties with the United States, avoiding adherence to the communist influences that many of its neighbors embraced. A democratic government was established in 1992 which has resumed to the present day.

Ancient History

A number of indigenous Mon-Khmer and Malay civilizations used to live in the region now known is Thailand. Yet little is known about the area prior to the 13th century since literary sources are scarce and most of the knowledge we have today is taken from archeology only. Thailand's cultural influences have included the culture and religions of India, the Kindgom of Funan, and the Khmer Empire. The "Indianized" kingdoms - what is now central Thailand, Srivijaya, and Cambodia - contributed to the flow of Buddhism from India to what was known as Siam. Other influences throughout the centuries included the Maurya Empire, the Pallava dynasty, and Gupta Empires of India.

From about the 10th to the 14th centuries, Thailand saw a period of Khmer domination over a large portion of what is now Central Thailand, as well as a southward expansion of Thai tribes. Thai city states gradually became independent as the Khmer Empire weakened. The Lanna - based in Chiang Mai, Sukhothai, and Ayutthaya Kingdoms, among others, ended up wrestling amongst each other for control. The Kingdom of Ayutthaya ended up being successful in retaining its independence from other countries and city states. Ayutthaya maintained independence for about 400 years before falling to the Burmese as other city states had previously done. The state of Thonburi, located in the region that now contains Bangkok, was taken back by General Taksin in 1768. From his capital of Thonburi, Taksin used his power throughout Thailand to liberate the city states from Burmese control and reunite them. The resulting country was then called Siam. The Lanna kingdom was also effectively liberated and retained its own form of independence in Northern Thailand.

Thailand's diplomacy skills led them to enter into various treaties with western nations during the period starting in the late 18th century. Thai relations were built particularly with Britain and France. Many say this diplomatic strategy may be the only reason that they retained control during a time of such heavy western colonization in the region.

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Modern History The Thai people established their own states in the early 20th century, with the Ayutthaya kingdom showing itself to be the most dominant for a time. The states were all constantly threatened by the Khmers, Burma, and Vietnam, not to mention the presence of the French and British who were vying for colonies in Southeast Asia at the time.

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Thailand's geography, topography, and its climate 

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Thailand's geography, topography, and its climate 

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The website contains details on Thailand's geography. The article gives information about Thailand's geographic location, landscape, and climate. The article also discusses Thailand's climate, which is influenced by the country's tropical position and the monsoon winds that have an impact on the nation's weather patterns.

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Thailand, which has about the same land area as Spain or France, consists of two broad geographic areas: a larger main section in the north and a smaller peninsular extension in the south. The main body of the country is surrounded by Myanmar (Burma) to the west, Laos to the north and east, Cambodia to the southeast, and the Gulf of Thailand to the south. Peninsular Thailand stretches southward from the southwestern corner of the country along the eastern edge of the Malay Peninsula; Myanmar extends along the western portion of the peninsula as far as the Isthmus of Kra, after which Thailand occupies the entire peninsula until reaching its southern border with Malaysia at roughly latitude 6° N.

Relief

Thailand's landscapes vary from low mountains to fertile alluvial plains dotted with rice paddies to sandy beaches set amid the equatorial latitudes of the Asian monsoons. The country is divided into five distinct physiographic regions: the folded mountains in the north and west, the Khorat Plateau in the northeast, the Chao Phraya River basin in the centre, the maritime corner of the central region in the southeast, and the long, slender peninsular portion in the southwest.

The northern mountains, the southeastern continuation of the uplift process that formed the Himalayas, extend southward along the Thai-Myanmar border and reach as far south as northern Malaysia. Long granitic ridges were formed when great masses of molten rock forced their way upward through the older sedimentary strata. Peaks average about 5,200 feet (l,600 metres) above sea level. Mount Inthanon, at 8,481 feet (2,585 metres) the highest in the country, is in northwestern Thailand, near the historical city of Chiang Mai. The city is overshadowed by Mount Suthep, site of a famous Buddhist shrine and the royal summer palace. Some of the rugged limestone hills contain caves from which remains of prehistoric humans have been excavated.

The northeast is coterminous with the Khorat Plateau, a vast tableland bounded by the Mekong River on the north and east. It was formed by uplifting along two perpendicularly arranged crustal faults-one trending north-south in the west and the other east-west in the south. As a result, the underlying sedimentary rocks were tilted rather than uniformly uplifted. This tilting created ranges of low hills and mountains along the western and southern edges of the plateau: the Phetchabun and Dangrek (Thai: Dong Rak) mountains, respectively. The escarpments of these uplands overlook the plain of the Chao Phraya basin to the west and the Cambodian plain to the south. Surface elevations on the Khorat Plateau range from about 650 feet (200 metres) in the northwest to some 300 feet (90 metres) in the southeast. The terrain is rolling, and the hilltops generally slope to the southeast in conformity with the tilt of the land.

Situated between the northern and western mountain ranges and the Khorat Plateau is the extensive Chao Phraya River basin, which is the cultural and economic heartland of Thailand. The region, sometimes called the Central Plain, consists of two portions: heavily dissected rolling plains in the north and the flat, low-lying floodplain and delta of the Chao Phraya in the south. It was formed by the outwash of immense quantities of sediment brought down from the mountains by the Chao Phraya's tributaries, which produced vast fan-shaped alluvial deposits.

The generally rolling countryside of the southeast has high hills in the centre and along the eastern boundary with Cambodia. Notable peaks are Mount Khieo, which rises to 2,614 feet (797 metres), and Mount Soi Dao, which attains a height of 5,471 feet (1,668 metres). The hills, reaching nearly to the sea, create a markedly indented coastline fringed with many islands. With their long stretches of sandy beach, such coastal towns as Chon Buri and Rayong and some of the islands have become popular year-round tourist resorts.

The southwestern portion of the country consists of a peninsula with a mountainous spine and a gently sloping sandy coastline. Higher mountains reaching about 4,900 feet (1,500 metres) line the peninsula on the west and contain narrow passes linking Thailand and Myanmar. These ranges separate the Andaman and South China seas as the peninsula narrows near the Malaysian border. Off the rugged and much-indented west coast lie numerous large islands, including tin-rich Phuket Island, which, with other islands such as Samui and Phiphi, have become tourist destinations, surpassing in popularity Hua Hin, the old coastal resort located in the northern part of the peninsula.

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Thailand - Mountains, Rivers, Coastline: Thailand, which has about the same land area as Spain or France, consists of two broad geographic areas: a larger main section in the north and a smaller peninsular extension in the south.

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Main Topic: Traveling to Thailand (Bangkok)

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Main Topic: Traveling to Thailand (Bangkok)