A travel guide

A travel guide

Read a travel guide about Bangkok to practise and improve your reading skills.

Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and do the exercises.

Preparation

Reading text

Whether you're travelling to the islands or the mountains of Thailand, you're likely to spend at least one night in its capital city on the way. Bangkok might be noisy and polluted but it's also an exciting city with plenty of things to see and do. Why not make it a longer stay?

Where to stay

The Khao San Road was a famous traveller spot even before Leonardo di Caprio's character in the film The Beach stayed there. But it's noisy, not very pretty and not very Thai. For something more authentic, Phra Kanong offers an alternative place to stay, with its fantastic street markets where everyday Bangkok people eat, work and live. It's not as convenient for the main tourist sites, but it has a Skytrain station so you can be at the Grand Palace in 20 minutes.

How to get around

Bangkok's traffic can be a nightmare. Sure, you can easily take a taxi – if you want to spend hours stuck in traffic jams – but there are two much better ways to get around the city. To explore the temples and historical sites, catch an express boat river taxi or a longtail boat along the Chao Phraya river and the canals. For the modern part of the city, the Skytrain is a fast, cheap way to travel from the river to the shopping malls and nightlife of Sukhumvit, and the famous Chatuchak street market.

Where to eat

The simple answer is: everywhere! Thai street food is among the best in the world, and for around $5 you can eat a filling and delicious meal. Some food stands have little plastic seats where you can sit and eat and they cook the same dish over and over, like fried chicken on rice or Pad Thai noodles. Head for Chinatown – Yaowarat Street – and choose whatever looks most interesting from the many excellent Chinese and Thai restaurants and food stands.  

What to do

After you've seen the main sites like the Giant Buddha at the temple of Wat Pho and the spectacular Grand Palace, and shopped at Chatuchak market, check out the snake farm and watch the live snake show. You can even touch a snake yourself if you want to!

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Average: 4.1 (197 votes)

Submitted by tomoka on Mon, 27/07/2020 - 08:15

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I would like to visit Bangkok. I have a reason for feeling this way. To begin with, I often watch traveling videos on YouTube. And, I notice Bangkok is so attracted place. The reason why is that the landscape of market in Bangkok is so beautiful. Therefore, in there, I want to see the landscape and take pictures. Furthermore, I hear the food there are in Bangkok is so tasty. So, I wanna eat them if I visit there. In addition, Bangkok is the place where I want to go someday. This reason makes me think I would like to visit Bangkok.

Submitted by Naru Yasuda on Sun, 26/07/2020 - 15:30

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I want to go to Bangkok. Because I think it has a lot of good points. First, many people said Bangkok is asleep country. It is because Bangkok has a lot of places, foods, shops, views and so on. So if we were went to Bangkok, we should enjoy all days and you will have a good experience. Second, it has a beautiful view. It has many gold buildings. I think it looks like Aladdin’s world. I like Aladdin very much. So, I want to see this beautiful view at once. For these reasons, I want to go to Bangkok

Submitted by NANAKA on Mon, 13/07/2020 - 09:09

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Hello! I haven't been to Bangkok in Thailand yet. I have a friend from Thailand . I heard from her that Thailand is cheerful country and pro-Japanese. I'm also interested in original cultures. But I'm worried because the country has very poor sanitation. Moreover, I don't like ethnic food and coriander. I've tried so many times, but I still don't eat it. Coriander tastes like medicine. If I have a chance to visit abroad, I'd like to go to other country. Sorry.

Submitted by Risa on Tue, 07/07/2020 - 08:08

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I would like to go to Bangkok someday. I have never go there up to the present. My aunt often goes there. She always gave souvenir for my family. In most cases, the souvenir is spices or foodstuffs. I’m bad at this taste. But, my parents like it. If I can overcome Bangkok’s local food in the future, I want go to there with my parents. My knowledge of Bangkok is shallow idea, But I know there has a lot of temple. There temples are so beautiful, gorgeous and colorful. I think Japanese temples are frugally than Bangkok. So, I want to see many temples with own eyes. I searched about Bangkok as my interest. There has a lot of sightseeing place, such as cruising, market and pool. If the coronavirus ends, I want to make up a plan for travel to Bangkok. 

Submitted by Dr.Mohamed A. Zein on Sat, 27/06/2020 - 13:43

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Yes, I would like go ...I want really to see and enjoy different culture, food and places. If I have money I will visit that place

Submitted by Dr Doaa Mahmoud on Sat, 27/06/2020 - 13:36

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Yes, of course. I'd like to visit Bangkok as I like travelling to new places and countries. If I have money, I will think

Submitted by laiiiilerrrr on Wed, 17/06/2020 - 06:04

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Yes I would like to visit Bangkok because it is one of the world’s most visited city. The country also have many interactive places from the unbeatable street food to the temples, markets and over-the-top luxury.

Submitted by Riko on Mon, 15/06/2020 - 03:40

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I would like to visit Bangkok someday. I think there are many places for sightseeing and interesting foods. I'm interested in culture of Thailand. Also, I want to see the snake farm and watch the live snake show. Of course, I want to touch a snake. I have impression of Bangkok that is a lively capital. Thailand is not far from Japan, so I want to go to Bangkok.

Submitted by ryota on Sun, 14/06/2020 - 16:32

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I would like to visit Bangkok in Thai. I have never been to Bangkok before. I am very interested in other culture. So I want to know Bangkok's food culture, custom, and so on. I want to eat Thai's street food. According to this article, Thai's street food is among the best in the world, and for around 5$.I don't have a lot of money. One of my dreams is to eat a lot of delicious food with little money. Also, I want to go to a temple. I heard there are a lot of buddhist and a lot of temple in Bangkok. I think religion has a great influence on the origin of the culture of the country. For these reasons, I would like to visit Bangkok in Thai.

Submitted by Sharif Tayyebi on Sat, 13/06/2020 - 16:54

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I have heard and seen something interesting about Thailand, but I am not interested in traveling to Thailand. There are many reasons, but the most important one is that I don't know the language of this country. I know the importance of traveling to and other southern parts of Asia. All these countries have nice places for sightseeing, and their cultures are a lovely part of human's experiences. Therefore, if I can learn English fluently, then I will choose Thailand as a travel destination. I wish that I can very soon. Regards, Tayyebi