English (UK) 
Français (France) 
Nederlands (nl-NL) Embark on a luminous journey through the nightly vibrance of Bangkok in under 10 minutes. Wander through bustling markets that tantalize the senses with fresh ingredients at every turn. Immerse yourself in the bustling Chinatown, one of the world's oldest, revealing a cultural tapestry rich with stories untold. Savor the quintessential street food, where each dish serves up a unique narrative. All of this under Bangkok's star-studded canopy. Be mesmerized by the famed flower market, where each bloom sings of timeless beauty. Open your palate to an unforgettable culinary adventure, where history and the present converge in a flavorful dance. Join us, for Bangkok is more than a destination, it's an experience. Our video is a tantalizing tour through Bangkok's night markets: a world of flavors waiting to be explored.
This film was made on the basis of photos and videos taken during the trip Laos and Bangkok 2022
A click on this icon above displays the list of chapters of this film about Thailand. A click on a dot goes directly to a chapter.
Reading the text below will help you better understand the natural context of the images in this video.
Chapters:
01:02 • flower market
03:39 • other markets
04:58 • Chinatown
06:27 • streetfood
Markets
Throughout Southeast Asia, fresh ingredients are essential for lovers of local food. Thailand is no exception. People are used to buying their ingredients from local markets.
In Bangkok, there are markets on every street corner and at any time of the day or night. There is even a floating market which we however did not visit for fear of being disappointed by the comparison with the floating markets of the Mekong delta in Vietnam which seem to have better kept their authentic character and have not sacrificed their souls to the needs of tourism. Perhaps we were wrong, but it was also the power of the engines of the longtail boats on the Chao Phraya (large river that crosses Bangkok) compared to that much more modest of the Mekong delta that held us back...
Bangkok is a city where you could spend weeks without having visited all these local markets which sell everything, but mainly fruits and vegetables. You can also find all kinds of meat, fish and seafood there. But we only stayed there for two days, Bangkok being only a stopover on our trip, the final goal of which was Laos.
Bangkok's flower market is very famous, but here again we felt a little disappointed. This large market struggles to compete with the flower markets that we had the opportunity to visit in India for example. Virtually all the flowers are wrapped in plastic, which is a bit disturbing in this period of awareness of the ecological disaster that this material can cause. This does not detract from the dexterity of the florists who compose magnificent floral pieces and flower necklaces often intended for temples.
Chinatown
Chinatown is a must if you want to see the heart of Bangkok. A very lively district with its many merchants, Bangkok's Chinatown is one of the oldest in the world. Founded during the construction of the city in 1782 to accommodate the immigrant Teochew population which would quickly grow to become the majority ethnic group of the city.
At the time of its founding, Chinatown was a wild space outside the city walls, but it would quickly grow to become Bangkok's main commercial center during the 19th and 20th centuries. However, nowadays with the displacement of economic activity, Chinatown has lost its importance. The district is becoming a showcase of Chinese (mainly gastronomic) culture.
street food
In this film, also images of street food which is so popular with locals and which many tourists wonder what is on their plate or bowl.
The food that can be bought in the street is very varied and ranges from skewers of meat, fish or seafood to insects, excellent soups and many fritters of all kinds.
Spoken comments in the film:
The city of Bangkok is famous for its markets and street food vendors. In addition to the many neighborhood markets which are often nocturnal, there is the large flower market and also the floating market, which we did not have the opportunity to visit. We didn't stay long enough to explore them all, but here's a little insight into this important commercial activity in this great city.
Chinatown, founded at the same time as the city of Bangkok in 1792, was for the past two centuries the main commercial center of the city. However recent developments in the city have shifted economic activities elsewhere, reducing Chinatown to a showcase of Chinese culture, primarily gastronomic culture.
What's the weather like in Bangkok?
about the place, Bangkok:
The capital of Thailand, Bangkok, changed its name in 2022. Not sure that the name of Bangkok will disappear from memory when we know that the new name appears in the Guinness Book of Records to be the longest name for a capital ( if not of a city) in the world. Since 2022, the official name of Bangkok has become Krung Thep Maha Nakhon. The complete name is however Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit.
An important megalopolis, Bangkok, a city of more than 10 million inhabitants (nearly 15 if we include the entire metropolitan region), has two airports.
However, the city remains very fragile, because it is a regular victim of deadly floods. This explains why for decades there has been talk of moving the capital of Thailand to a safer city. The phenomenon of global warming will perhaps be in a decision-making in this direction.
Music:
- YouTube video library - Disappointment, (© Dissappointment by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100481
Artist: http://incompetech.com/)
- YouTube video library - People Watching
Disclaimer: Despite its appropriateness, copyright issues prevent the use of thai traditional music in "Bangkok, Street food and markets • Thailand", hence the use of royalty-free music. Despite our careful selection, some might regret this decision, which is necessary to avoid potential lawsuits. Although difficult, this decision is the only viable solution.
