Asia Travel Guide

More than a thousand sex-related businesses operate in Bangkok: they dominate Thanon Sukhumvit’s Soi Cowboy (between sois 21 and 23) and Nana Plaza (Soi 4), but most are concentrated in Patpong , the city’s most norious zone between the eastern ends of Silom and Suriwong roads. Here, girls cajole passers-by in front of lines of go-go bars, with names like French Kiss and Love Nest, while insistent touts proffer printed menus detailing the degradations on show. If you do venture inside one, be warned that you’ll be charged exorbitant prices for drinks, and will have to face a scary bouncer if you refuse to pay.

In amongst the bars there’s a night market which mainly sells fake designer clothes - and attracts all sorts to the strip after dark, including demure tourists of both sexes. But Bangkok’s nightlife is not all seedy and depressing: Silom 4 (ie Soi 4, Thanon Silom), just east of Patpong 2, hosts the capital’s hippest bars and clubs , and nearby Silom 2 is the centre of the city’s gay scene. For a more casual drink, join the Thai youth and yuppy couples who pack out the music bars concentrated around Soi Langsuan and Soi Sarasin on the north side of Lumphini Park.

In Banglamphu bars tend to be backpacker-orientated or style-conscious student hangouts, while many of the downtown music bars attract both farang and Thai drinkers.

Some of the best traditional culture shows , featuring classical Thai music, dance and costumes, can be enjoyed at Baan Thai restaurant on Soi 32, Thanon Sukhumvit (performances at 9pm), and the outdoor restaurant in Silom Village on Thanon Silom (8pm). The Vieng Thai Hotel on Thanon Ram Bhuttri in Banglamphu (tel 02/280 5392) stages classical Thai music performances in its restaurant on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Thai boxing matches can be very violent, but are also very entertaining . Sessions usually feature ten bouts of five three-minute rounds and are held in the capital every night of the week at the Rajdamnoen Stadium, next to the TAT office on Rajdamnoen Nok (Mon & Wed 7pm, Thurs 5pm & 9pm, Sun 2pm & 6pm), and at Lumphini Stadium on Thanon Rama IV (Tues & Fri 6pm, Sat 5pm). Tickets go on sale one hour beforehand and start at B230.