Whether you are a resident of Bangkok, or just passing through, go check out Baan Krua, one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods. Originally a plot of land rewarded to Cham Muslims from Cambodia and Vietnam who fought on the side of the Thai king. The neighborhood boomed in the 50’s and 60’s as Jim Thompson hired out the local weavers, and the residents constructed the Khlong Saen Saeb canal to connect trade to the Chao Phraya. However, after the weaving industry left Baan Krua, the neighborhood has suffered and is now considered a “slum” although it doesn’t differ much from other poor Bangkok neighborhoods. Except for a canal lined with potted greenery and drying laundry, the adjacent walls covered with street art, and the ancient hand-carved houses and tiny corridors that snake between homes. If you have an hour or two to kill, grab some street food and take in the sights during a stroll through Baan Krua.
How to Get There:
National Stadium BTS – Exit 1
or
Khlong boat to Tha Hua Chang
