Samphanthawong District

SUB DISTRICTS: Chakkrawat, Talat Noi

AREA: 1.416 km2 (0.547 sq mi)

POPULATION: 24,150 (2017)

POSTCODE: 10100

The Samphanthawong District is considered Bangkok’s Chinatown. Ithas the distinction of being the smallest of the 50 Bangkok districts while being the most densely populated. The district started as a Chinese community and was previously part of the Phra Nakhon District and then became a district in its own right when the capital was esablished.

Wanit Road was previously called Sampheng Lane and was the main road of the district until Yaowarat Road was established in 1892 during the time of King Chulalongkorn. This historic road endures as the heart of Bangkok’s Chinatown.

The are the district occupies was previously three different amphoes, Sam Yaek, Chakkrawat and Samphanthawong. In 1915 districts were overhauled and 25 new districts were put in place covering inner Bangkok. It is thought that the district took its name from Wat Samphanthawongsaram.which  was near the original district office. The current district office is located on Yotha Road in the sub-district of Talat Noi. Samphanthawong officially became a district in 1972.

Yaowarat Road is only about 1.5km long but it is decorated with Gold Shops, Chinese restaurants and many other types of shops focused on selling such goods as traditional medicine from China. The road features a gate built in honour of the 72’nd birthday King Bhumibol.

The district is home to a mixture of Buddhist and Chinese temples. Probably the most famous of the CHinese temples is Wat Mangkon Kamalawat or Wat Leng Noei Yi. This is just on the border of the district.