Here are 7 Interesting Facts About Bangkok That Would Make You Want to Visit

1. Red Bull Was First Created in Bangkok

Did you know that one of the well-loved energy drinks originated in Bangkok? Thai businessman Chaleo Yoovidhya concocted Red Bull in 1976 and built a multimillion empire out of it along with his Austrian business partner Dietrich Mateschitz. Today, Red Bull is sold by Austrian company Red Bull GmbH and has the largest market share in the energy drink category as of 2019.

2. The World’s Longest City Name

One of the interesting facts about Bangkok has to do with its name. While it is known as Bangkok among tourists, the city is called Krung Thep by its residents. This local name is just a shortened version of its full name, which consists of a whopping 169 characters in total! In case you want to know, Bangkok’s actual name is: Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahinthara Yutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udom Ratchaniwet Mahasathan Amonphiman Awatansathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukamprasit.

3. Largest Chinatown

Founded in 1782, the Chinatown in Bangkok is the largest of its kind in the world. More than a million Chinese live in this sprawling area, primarily from the Teochew lineage. Today, this prominent landmark has become a crossover of Chinese and Thai cultures where locals and tourists can revel in the mixture of sights, smells, and sounds emerging from the array of shops dotted across the vast area.

4. Home to One of the Widest Weekend Markets

It’s impossible to visit Chatuchak Market and get away empty-handed. With its extensive number of stalls that sell just about anything, this bustling market has something to offer to any visitor. It’s no wonder that Chatuchak Market is hailed as the world’s largest weekend market, attracting about 200,000 daily visitors on average.

5. It Has Third-Gender Toilets

Did you know that Thailand was among the first countries to have a toilet for the third gender? Although they aren’t very prominent, these bathrooms are meant to include Thailand’s transgender men, who are also known as ladyboys. Thailand may be a conservative country and is high on traditions, but some of its cities, particularly Bangkok, are slowly becoming more inclusive.

6. “Venice of the East”

Adding to the list of interesting facts about Bangkok is its moniker as the “Venice of the East.” Bangkok’s web of canals that crisscross that city were once a major platform for trade and commerce, giving birth to the famous floating markets of today.

7. Massage Capital of the World

Bangkok is an exciting city to explore but spending hours on long strolls can get tiring, too. Thankfully, the city is home to hundreds of massage shops where you can get that much-needed boost. You can enjoy a nice massage for an hour for as low as THB100 baht! But don’t forget to tip after you rejuvenate, though (anywhere between THB50 and THB100 is acceptable)!