Bangkok's Talad Noi Neighborhood

Take the regular river taxi (not a longtail tour you'll inevitably be be asked to buy) and get off at this pier and walk out to the main road. If you'd rather not come via boat, then just get a taxi to take you to the Sheraton and you'll end up here too.

Circle around to the other side of the Sheraton Hotel and take the ferry across the river for 5 baht. This market is mostly for the ladies - shoes and clothes - but it has some good food (especially the fresh-baked bread!) and is always busy with shoppers seeking good deals, and plenty of photo ops. If you want to swank it up a bit, stop into the Millennium Hilton right next door to the market for tea, brunch, or just a nice glass of wine on the patio.

It's set up to snare bus and boatloads of tours that come through here, but this large mall has some great shops selling antique maps, art, and furniture. At the very least, it's good for browsing in some air-conditioning after getting sweaty in the market.

The original structure was built in 1786 by Portuguese traders on land donated by King Rama I, but the existing building dates to 1898. Note the red brick 'piazza' outside where the markets used to set up, a very European feature not often seen in Asia. The church is usually open, and you can take pictures of its beautiful interior.

Get your camera ready for this little stretch of road. Motorcycles whiz by as the clanking of tools and buzzing of drills erupt from every shop. Piles of engine parts stacked higher than an average man line the street, and you might even see a colorful parrot or songbird in a beautiful wooden cage. This neighborhood has been repairing things for centuries - Chinese junks, steamboat engines, horse carts, and now car engines.

This large, red Chinese gate is a good landmark if you get lost - it signifies the 'head' of Yaowarat, the long road that is the 'dragon' snaking through Chinatown.

Home to the famed Golden Buddha, which was 'lost' under a covering of plaster for a few hundred years until a construction accident cracked it open, it was given a new home in 2008 with this shiny new temple. Ignore the tuk-tuk touts outside trying to rip you off - buy a ticket inside.

There is also a museum on the lower floor that details the history of Chinatown - a fascinating look into the area's history.

Admission
Adults: 40 baht
Children: 40 baht

Hours
Daily 8:00am-5:00pm

Address
Thanon Mittaphap Thai-China
Talat Noi, Samphanthawong,
Bangkok 10100, Thailand

Phone: 02 225 9775

Back underground to air-conditioned goodness and off to continue your adventure!