Khlongtoei District

SUB DISTRICTS: Khlong Toei, Khlong Tan, Phra Khanong

AREA: 13.00 sq km (5.00 sq mi)

POPULATION: 102,945 (2017)

POSTCODE: 10110

Khlong Toei is quite an industrial part of Bangkok due to its importance of being a port. The area is one of the oldest parts of the city and it dates back to the 9^th Century. Its location was deemed perfect for a port and it regularly serviced towns and cities that were upstream of the Chao Phraya River.

Khlong means canal and Khlong Thanon Trong was a canal and road parallel built in 1857 by King Mongkut. In time sections of this canal became known as Khlong Toei (canal of pandam).

The district does have very good transport links an there are BTS stations at Asok and Nana, which link to the MRT stations at Sukhumvit. The MRT also has stations in Khlong Toei at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center and Sukhumvit.

Khlong Toei is full of historical and new places of interest, such as the glitzy shopping mall The Emporium, the wonderful Benjasiri Park, and the famous Klong Toei Market.

The district is also home to the Stock Exchange of Thailand, Chuvit Garden, Benakitti Park, the infamous Nana Plaza, the Eastern Bus Terminus at Ekkamai.

Another less reputable area in Khlong Toei is the slum that is situated south of the expressway. It is home to over one hundred thousand people and is the oldest and largest slum in Bangkok.

Khlong Toei is a district of contradictions, from the world-class resort condominiums to the slums, and from the high-end classy malls to the less than savory red-light district.

Khlong Toei is Bangkok in a microcosm and encapsulates what the Big Mango is all about.