Bangkok - Overview:
Bangkok, or Krung Thep (City of Angels) as it is known in Thailand, is the capital of Thailand and the country's cultural and administrative centre. It is situated near to the Gulf of Thailand on the Chao Phraya River and is one of the largest cities in the world, containing a population of over 6 million people and a further 4 million in the surrounding provinces. It is a truly cosmopolitan city offering a fascinating blend of the traditional East and the modern West, with a wealth of historic shrines and temples and traditional architecture to explore as well as modern skyscrapers, shopping plazas, excellent hotels and an active nightlife to enjoy.
The city is at the heart of Thailand's economy and attracts a large amount of foreign investment. Numerous multinational companies from a variety of industries have established themselves in the city including Compaq, Philips, Proctor and Gamble, Sony, Tesco, Toyota and Unilever.
Office rental costs in Bangkok compare favourably with other capital cities in the region. According to a report published in January 2002 by DTZ, one of the world's leading real estate advisory companies, average office occupancy costs in Bangkok are about $9.9 US per square foot per annum. In the same report the occupancy cost in Singapore was $42.50 US, while in Kuala Lumpur it was $13.4 US.
Bangkok is a travel hub for the whole Southeast Asian region with numerous international airlines flying to and from the city, most with direct flights from their country of origin. At present Bangkok International Airport is the country's main airport and offers daily flights to Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. It will soon be replaced by the new Suvarnabhumi International Airport being built approximately 30 kilometres east of Bangkok. When all phases of the new airport construction are completed it will be capable of handling 112 flights per hour and 100 million passengers a year.
The city is also served by Bangkok (Klong Toey) Port, which opened in the early 1950s and is located on the west side of the Chao Phraya River. It is well connected with road and rail systems and in 2002 handled nearly 2,500 vessels and 14 million tons of cargo.
The State Railway of Thailand runs efficient and inexpensive rail services linking the city with the rest of the country. Most trains leave Bangkok from Hua Lam Phong station and there are also limited western and southern routes from Thon Buri Station.
Getting around within the city is relatively easy, although traffic jams can be a problem, as there is an extensive network of buses and numerous taxis, motorcycle taxis and Tuk-Tuks (Three-wheeled open-air vehicles taking two passengers) available. There are also river taxis such as the Chao Phraya Express, which serves numerous landing stages on both banks of the Chao Phraya as far as the northern suburb of Nonthaburi. At the end of 2000 the new Sky Train went into service running above the city's business district.
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