A Three-day Guide to Exploring Bangkok's Culture and Cuisine

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Pham Viet Quan  (范越君)Pham Viet Quan (范越君)11 months ago
A Three-day Guide to Exploring Bangkok's Culture and Cuisine

After a month exploring Central Vietnam, I continued my travels to the vibrant city of Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. Thailand is a welcoming destination for travelers, and all you need to enter is a valid passport. Although Bangkok lacks the stunning natural beauty of mountains and rivers, it compensates with its rich culture, bustling night markets, and an abundance of street food that is worth trying. One of the best things about Bangkok is that you can enjoy Michelin-starred cuisine at prices similar to regular eateries.

Day 1 - Landing and Exploring

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After landing at Bangkok's airport, I headed straight to the sky train station located just below the airport. It's best to have cash on hand while traveling around Bangkok. In my three-day stay, I spent about 3 million Vietnamese Dong on food, transportation via buses and Grab rides. If possible, use a Grab card, so you won't need cash and can focus more on exploring and dining.

Suvarnabhumi Airport
999 หมู่ 1 Tambon Nong Prue, Amphoe Bang Phli, Chang Wat Samut Prakan 10540, Thailand

I stayed at a hotel that was around 5km from the city center, and it took me about 20 minutes to reach it via metro from the airport. As soon as I arrived, I tried the local dish of rice and deep-fried fish cakes close to my hotel. The dish was familiar to me, similar to the hủ tíu or cơm tấm I enjoy in Saigon.

With some energy left, I took a stroll to the Jodd Fairs night market, which was around 3 km from my hotel. I planned on taking a bus, but it never arrived after waiting for half an hour. As luck would have it, I saw the bus pass by just after walking 20 meters. The Jodd Fairs night market is well-known in Bangkok, and you can try various dishes here, from coconut ice cream to spicy Thai pork ribs, at an average price range of a few dozen to a few hundred Baht.

fyn park hotel | โรงแรม ฟินพาร์ค
495, 10-11 Thanon Ratchawithi, Khwaeng Thanon Phaya Thai, Khet Ratchathewi, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400, Thailand

Jodd Fairs
Thanon Phra Ram 9, Khwaeng Huai Khwang, Khet Huai Khwang, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10310, Thailand

Day 2 - Breakfast and Temple Hopping

We started our morning with a visit to On Lok Yun, a coffee shop that has been in business for 80 years. The cafe serves light breakfast options like bread, scrambled eggs, and a few options of milk tea and coffee. We arrived around 9:30 am and were fortunate enough to secure a table immediately. After we finished, we noticed a long line outside the shop.

On Luk Yun
72 Charoen Krung Rd, Khwaeng Samphanthawong, Khet Samphanthawong, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
Wat Arun
158 Thanon Wang Doem, Khwaeng Wat Arun, Khet Bangkok Yai, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10600, Thailand
Thai Niyom Cuisine
888/28-29 Mahatun Plaza, Ploenchit Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand

Bangkok's bus system can be confusing when it comes to fares. Each station has different prices, and ticket officers may not understand English. Our tip is to read out the station's name or your destination, and they will likely understand where you want to go.

We chose to visit Wat Arun, a temple known for its unique architecture, colorful mosaics, and grandeur. As we approached the temple, we were amazed by its towering spires, intricate design, and the tranquil aura that surrounded it. We spent a few hours exploring the temple grounds, learning about its history, and taking photographs of its grand architecture.

Day 3 - Coffee and ChinaTown

Before I savored my morning coffee, I stopped by a famous noodle shop that was already bustling with people waiting in line at 9am. For only 15k baht, I had a small but delicious bowl of noodles. Then, I visited a Thao Dien-like area with many cozy cafes, only 100m away from Metro Ari. This area had a gentle and tranquil ambiance, perfect for taking pictures with a cinematic color tone. Although the coffee at the café I went to was good, it was a bit overpriced, and I found it quite cliché. Therefore, if you have a chance to visit this area, skip that café and explore the surrounding ones instead.

NANA Coffee Roasters Ari
24, 2 Soi Ari 4, Khwaeng Samsen Nai, Khet Phaya Thai, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400, Thailand

For lunch, I tried the famous duck rice dish at a local eatery that was mentioned in many old travel guides. The duck was tender, and the rice was easy to eat, but the portion was a bit small. However, the area had many fruit stands that made me want to try everything, so I bought a portion of guava and had a stroll in a nearby park while enjoying the fresh fruit.

Prachak Roasted Duck
1415 Charoen Krung Rd, Khwaeng Silom, Khet Bang Rak, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10500, Thailand

In the afternoon, I headed to ChinaTown, which was quite a challenge to get to because of the traffic, but it was worth it. The street was lined with many food vendors, and it was hard to choose what to eat. I ended up trying two dishes, fish soup and sam bo luong, a refreshing dessert made from jelly, longans, and other ingredients.

China Town
PGR5+4W6 ถ. เยาวราช Khwaeng Samphanthawong, Khet Samphanthawong, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand

Back at my hotel, I ordered some tasty and easy-to-eat dishes like shrimp salad, fried rice, and vermicelli. They were perfect for a night in, especially if you're too tired to go out.

As a street photographer, I found Bangkok to be an excellent destination to capture beautiful and contrasting pictures. The best time for photography is before 10am and after 3pm when the light is perfect for shooting. To achieve high contrast in my photos, I underexposed them by -1/3 EV or used the average metering mode on my Fuji camera, which creates a clear difference between the bright and dark areas. If you're planning to visit Bangkok, make sure to bring your camera and explore the city's stunning culture, food, and people.

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