Chinatown
could be considered part of downtown as it lies in the bend of
the Chao Phaya River, south of the Democracy Monument area. The
main traffic artery of Chinatown is Yaowarat Road. As any
Chinatown anywhere in the world, the Chinatown of Bangkok is characterized
by an above average density of population.
As a shopping
area, especially for foreign visitors, Chinatown is widely
overrated. While there are some bargains available, the selection
and more so the quality of consumer goods is inadequate
by Western standards. Most of the items to be found are not only
cheap but also rather cheapish. For those who have
never seen a Chinatown, it's worthwhile to go there once for a
stroll.
There seems
to be much more traffic congestion in Chinatown than in
the actual downtown a few kilometers to the north, and the smell
of the area is one of car exhausts and sometimes open sewers.
