Bangkok Communities
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Bangkok communities are a rich diversity of various groups living and working in harmony, providing yet another fascinating facet in a tour of Bangkok legacies. These communities are identified by their ethnic groups descended from the early immigrants or by their trades and professions handed down through generations.
Communities identified by their ethnic groups.
The largest of these communities is the Thai-Chinese community in Yaowarat Chinatown.
Odean Gate – gateway to Chinatown
Another of the Bangkok communities is the Thai-Indian community in Pahurat Little India an area west of Yaowarat. This is the business area of Thai-Indians, mostly Sikhs who engage in the textile trade.
Textile market in Pahurat
The prominent landmark in this area, dubbed Little India of Bangkok, is the Sikh temple, Gurdwara Siri Guru Singh Sabha with its golden dome.
The golden dome
Please see map to Paharat for a Bangkok street map of the major attractions in Little India.
The Thai-Vietnamese form an old Bangkok community in Soi Mitrakham in the Samsen Road area. This Little Saigon, a predominantly Roman Catholic community has established a church and three schools in their area.
To get to this old Vietnamese community in Samsen Road, please see the map to Soi Mitrakham.
The Mons, an old civilization from the Irrawaddy basin in Burma, is one of the oldest Bangkok communities. Since the 16th century, they have been suffered constant aggression from the Burmese.
In 1571, King Naresuan granted the Mons refuge in Thailand. Subsequently more Mons settled along the Chao Phraya River. In the reign of King Rama I, the Mons raised an army to defend Kanchanaburi against the Burmese, during which a Mon reached the rank of general with the title Chao Phraya.
The Mons have lived in various parts of Bangkok since; Bangkradi in the Bang Khun Tien district, Ko Kred, an island in the Chao Phraya River in Nonthaburi just outside Bangkok.
The Muslim Thai-Chams, a community of weavers, live in Ban Krua Nua, along the Saen Saab Canal opposite the Jim Thompson house. These were the weavers who provided the early silk fabrics that set Thompson off on the road to fame.
Other Thai-Muslim communities are also found along the Bangkok Yai and Bangkok Noi Canals on the Thonburi bank of the Chao Phraya.
The Portuguese were the first Europeans in Thailand arriving during the Ayutthaya period in the 16th century. What's left of their community is the Santa Cruz Church on the Thonburi bank of the Chao Phraya River.
For the location of this old Portuguese church by the pier, please see the map to the Santa Cruz Church.
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Y! MyWebBangkok communities identified by their generations old trades
The alms bowl makers' community in Boriphat Road is one example. This centuries old community is situated at the junction of Boriphat and Bamrung Muang Roads, near the foot of Wat Saket, the temple on the golden mount.
The Pracha Narumid community of wood craftsmen in Soi Pracha Rat 24 in the Bang Sue district is noted for their exquisite wood carvings and carpentry. Once a year a wood handicraft street fair is organized to promote the products of these craftsmen.
To visit the Pracha Narumid community, please see the map to Soi Pracha Rat 24.
In sharp contrast are the Khon mask makers of the Saphan Mai community in Soi Prachachuen 18, which is a shadow of its former self.
The Thai bronzeware makers in Baan Bu in Bangkok Noi near the community museum of the same name are an older and hopefully more enduring community. To visit the bronzeware factory please see the map to Bangkok Noi Museum.
The Ban Laos community of bamboo flute makers descendants of an old community from Laos, has preserved their traditional skills in making woodwind instruments to this day.To visit this community, please see the map to the bamboo flute makers.
The different Bangkok communities reflect Thai openness and tolerance over the centuries, which have resulted in the cultural richness and diversity so prevalent in Bangkok today.
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