Thailand Travel Guide

Muang Thong Thani ( เมืองทองธานี) is a satellite city of Bangkok located in Pak Krat district in southern Nonthaburi province. It consists almost entirely of a large housing estate owned by Bangkok Land PLC. Muang Thong Thani is best known for the location of Impact, a convention complex frequently used as the venue for expositions and entertainment events. Muang Thong Thani is bordered by Chaeng Wattana, Pracha Chuen and Tiwanon Roads, and is directly connected to the Bangkok Expressway.

Muang Thong Thani at Midnight

Muang Thong Thani is also the location of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University. Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University was established as a state university in order to provide the people with increased educational opportunities at university level. It is an open university, which uses a distance teaching system.

Sukhumvit Road is the longest street in Thailand, stretching from central Bangkok to the Cambodian border. It is the home of the Farang Ghetto (Sukhumvit Soi 1 and Sukhumvit Soi 63) where thousands of expats live, work, and play in the heart of Bangkok.

In Bangkok, Sukhumvit Road serves as one of the main arteries, and is often congested, often from dawn to way past nightfall. The Chalerm Mahanakhon Expressway has an exit at Soi 1. Thanon Ratchadaphisek crosses Sukhumvit at the Asok intersection. The Sukhumvit area of Bangkok is easily accessible on the Skytrain Sukhumvit Line, which runs from Mo Chit through the Silom Line interchange at Siam Square up to On Nut on Soi 81. The Bangkok Metro’s Sukhumvit Station interchanges with the Skytrain at Asok.

The areas of Soi Cowboy (between Soi 21 Asok and Soi 23) and Nana Entertainment Plaza (Soi 4) are notorious red light districts. Restaurants of all different levels of luxury and decor along the road, as well as hotels, shopping malls and the eastern bus station at Soi 63 Ekkamai.

Doi Saket is a rural farming area on the northern outskirts of Chiang Mai city. Rice fields on the valley floor mixed with orchards on the hillsides make up the majority of the crops grown. The village itself is located about 10 minutes drive from Chiang Mai Superhighway. The village has few industries, but aside from agriculture, benefits from tourists visiting to view the murals and Giant Buddha at Wat Phra Doi Saket.

Giant Buddha at Doi Saket

The countryside surrounding the village is beginning to sprout a few modern moobaan as the city grows north. Several small hamlets can be found along with the odd spa, which are becoming more common around rural Chiang Mai province.

Chinese cemetery northwest of Doi Saket Village.

There are 13 Tambon administrative organizations in Doi Saket.

1. Choeng Doi
2. San Pu Loei
3. Luang Nuea
4. Pa Pong
5. Sa-nga Ban
6. Pa Lan
7. Talat Khwan
8. Samran Rat
9. Mae Khue
10. Talat Yai
11. Mae Hoi Ngoen
12. Mae Pong
13. Pa Miang
14. Thep Sadet

Khao San Road is the first stop for backpackers as they “do Thailand”. Transforming itself in the late sixties and early seventies into a hangout area for the early backpackers as they travelled what was then a new path to adventure through Southeast Asia, and on to Nepal and India.

Today Khao San Road still draws the majority of new budget travellers to Thailand, but has become somewhat more commercialized, as has every backpacker haunt anywhere in the world.

Cheap accommodation on Khao San Road

There is plenty of low cost beds in this area. They vary in quality from month to month, and nothing is what you would call luxurious. Still, if you plan on using them to crash for the night only, all you need is a lock, and a clean mattress.

Sawasdee Khaosan Inn - One of many places using the name “Sawasdee” in the area. Give very specific details to your taxi driver. Reviews are mixed. 700 Baht per night.

Sawasdee Smile Inn (see what we mean) Again, mixed reviews but very inexpensive. Rates from 450 baht.

Sawasdee Krungthep Inn - Very cheap and the feedback we get from this establishment is actually not bad. They seem to take a bit more pride in the place than others in this price range. Rates from 450 Baht.

Sawasdee Bangkok Inn - Decent reviews overall, very popular place. Somewhat colourful (you’ll see what we mean). Rates from 570 Baht.

Sawasdee Banglampu Inn (Yes, this is the last one) This one is set back from the street a bit so it’s a little quieter at night. Reviews are fairly good, and it seems well kept. Rates from 700 Baht.

New World Lodge Hotel - Best reviews we get from that area, (a few blocks from Khao San) but a little more expensive. Money well spent in our opinion as the standards are much higher. Rates from 900 Baht