04-07-2025
Footloose in Bangkok: From temples to trendy nightspots
An evening street scene in Bangkok's Chinatown, an old quarter where real magic awaits curious wanderers. (All photos by Tom Vater except where indicated)
TOM VATER
BANGKOK -- Over just two centuries, Bangkok, known to its inhabitants as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (the City of Angels), has undergone a dazzling transformation from a sleepy settlement of palaces and temples to a pulsating metropolis that is home to more than 11 million people.
Kaleidoscopic, sometimes chaotic, yet friendly and never boring, the Thai capital has emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic as a safe and vibrant metropolis. Tourists are back, drawn by the allure of historic architecture, world-class cuisine -- from sizzling street food to Michelin-starred plates -- chic rooftop bars, buzzy speakeasies and sunset river cruises.
