A perfect weekend in Yaowarat, Bangkok's Chinatown
48 hours of gold shops, shrine alleys and the best street food strip on earth.
Start Saturday at Wat Traimit's golden Buddha, wander the dried-goods alleys of Sampeng, and refuel with bird's nest soup or kuay jab pepper broth. As neon flickers on, join the queues along Yaowarat Road — grilled seafood, chestnut roasters and dessert carts serving bua loy until late. Sunday, take the river boat from Ratchawong pier and finish with dim sum in a century-old shophouse. Go hungry, carry small notes, and embrace the queues — they mark the best stalls.