Co van Kessel: Bangkok Chinatown Tuk-Tuk and Walking Tour
Highlights
- Walk the old Thai-Chinese communities and street art alleys
- Tuk-tuk rides along Chinatown's Dragon road
- Quiet shrines, temples and markets off the main circuit
- Street food tastings from shops, stalls and markets
Description
This four hour morning combines the two classic ways to move through Chinatown: your own feet and Bangkok's three-wheeled icon, the tuk-tuk. You start on foot in the old Thai-Chinese communities, walking historic passages and alleys past street art and family-owned shops. For more background and practical advice, see our Bangkok Chinatown guide.
Pricing
Adult
Age 12-99
THB 2,650per person
Child
Age 3-11
THB 1,988per person
Infant
Age 0-2
Free
per person
Highlighted reviews from travelers
See all reviews →- 08:00
Meet at River City Bangkok
Meet on the ground floor outside the mall entrance, to the right of the main entrance. The tour departs at 08:00.
Explore the old Thai-Chinese quarter on foot, through historic passages and alleys lined with street art, family-owned restaurants and shops that have traded from the same shophouses for generations.
Graze your way through the district, sampling some of the world’s most celebrated street food from stalls, shops and markets along the route, with drinks included at family-run pop-and-mom shops.
Climb into Bangkok’s iconic three-wheeler and ride Chinatown’s Dragon road through its most colourful streets, hopping between older, less famous shrines, temples and markets that the big-bus tours skip.
Swing past the flower market before the tuk-tuk drops you back at River City Bangkok, about four hours after setting out.
Included
- Experienced local guide
- Tuk-tuk rides
- Street food and local snacks from shops, stalls and markets
- Drinks
- Accident insurance
Not included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (the tour starts and ends at River City Bangkok)
- Alcoholic drinks
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
- Tips for the guide (optional)
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Sunglasses, hat and sunblock
- Camera or smartphone
- Copy of your passport (for insurance)
- Raincoat (optional; one is provided if needed)
This tour starts at a fixed meeting point. Please make your own way there.
River City Bangkok
River City Bangkok is the riverside complex in Si Phraya, just off Charoen Krung Road; any taxi or Grab driver knows it by name. Coming by river, get off at Si Phraya pier next to the Royal Orchid Sheraton and walk a couple of minutes, and from BTS Saphan Taksin you can pick up the Chao Phraya Express boat at Sathorn pier. Please arrive 15 to 30 minutes before the 08:00 departure, so by around 07:30-07:45.
This one starts early on purpose: check-in at River City Bangkok by about 07:30 to 07:45 for the 08:00 departure, which puts you in Chinatown while the streets are cool and the morning trade is in full swing.
The four hours alternate between the two speeds of the district: walking legs through the old Thai-Chinese passages and street art alleys, then tuk-tuk hops along the Dragon road to the next pocket of shrines and markets. Street food tastings and drinks are spread through the whole morning, so treat it as a rolling breakfast.
You are back at River City around midday with the afternoon free. Comfortable walking shoes are the one thing to get right.
FAQs
Please arrive 15 to 30 minutes before departure so there is time to check in before the tour heads out.
Tours run rain or shine. In light rain ponchos are handed out; in a heavy downpour the guide finds shelter and waits it out, usually no more than about 30 minutes.
Yes, children are welcome. Children under 12 join at the child price and infants ride along free.
Light, comfortable clothing with shoulders covered works best, especially at temple stops. Closed shoes or sports sandals are safer than flip-flops.
Yes. Cancelling or moving your booking to another date is free up to 24 hours before the tour starts, and anything you have paid is refunded in full. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded. If we have to cancel, for example for weather or safety, you can move to another date or take a full refund.
Group departures run with a small minimum number of guests. If your departure cannot go ahead, we will contact you to move you to another time or refund you.
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Reviews
Based on 52 reviews
- Hyun-Jae JeongAugust 14, 20265.0
Cold drinks arrived at exactly the right moments. We tasted a crisp snack while a market lane came to life around us.
- Ilmārs LiepiņaAugust 9, 20265.0
Our guide introduced old Thai-Chinese communities with real warmth. We walked through a lane too narrow for the tuk-tuk to follow. Family shops made the route feel personal rather than staged. This was our introduction to Chinatown beyond the night scene. Morning vendors were still arranging fruit as we passed. really well orgnaised.
- Khairulnizam SallehAugust 1, 20265.0
Cold drinks arrived at exactly the right moments. We tasted a crisp snack while a market lane came to life around us. The 08:00 start let us experience Chinatown as shops opened. Comfortable shoes still mattered for the alley sections. The guide explained a mural we would otherwise have walked past. This was our introduction to Chinatown beyond the night scene. A delicious and energetic way to meet old Chinatown.
- Dinh-PhucJuly 17, 20265.0
Cold drinks arrived at exactly the right moments. We tasted a crisp snack while a market lane came to life around us. The 08:00 start let us experience Chinatown as shops opened. My green backpack fitted easily.
- Gundega ZiediņšJune 11, 20265.0
Street art stops added modern stories to the historic neighbourhood. A chilled drink helped after a sunny market stretch. Street-food tastings were varied and thoughtfully paced. My partner is vegetarian and the guide checked each tasting carefully. A family shop owner showed us a specialty prepared that morning.