Down the quiet soi by the canal
The first surprise is how calm it is. The house sits at the end of a small lane off Rama I Road, opposite the National Stadium, with a canal running along the back. Two minutes from some of the biggest shopping malls in Bangkok, and you are suddenly among old wooden houses, tall trees and the sound of water.
That lane is also why a private van helps. Drivers who do not know it tend to stop on the main road, and you walk the rest in the heat. Your driver brings you down to the museum entrance and picks you up from the same spot, so the only walking you do is through the garden. If anyone in your group finds long walks hard, that alone makes the day much easier.
Teak houses, silk and an unsolved story
Jim Thompson was an American who settled in Bangkok after the war and helped bring Thai silk to the rest of the world. He built his home from several traditional teak houses brought in from other parts of Thailand and filled it with Asian art and antiques. Then, on a holiday in Malaysia's Cameron Highlands, he walked out and was never seen again — a mystery people still write books about.
Today the house is a museum, and the rooms are seen with a guide, which makes it a good choice for anyone who likes a story with their sightseeing. There is a silk shop and a café on site, and the garden is a pleasant place to wait if part of your group is done before the others.
- Shoes come off inside the houses, so wear something easy to slip on
- Bring mosquito spray — it is a green, leafy garden beside a canal
- Plan the house first and shopping after, while everyone still has energy for the history
Turn it into a Siam afternoon
A van Pattaya to Jim Thompson House is charged at our central Bangkok fare: ฿1,900 one way for the whole Toyota Commuter, up to nine people and eight bags, tolls and fuel included. Smaller cars start from ฿1,200 for two or three people. Allow two to two and a half hours for the drive, more on a weekday afternoon.
Because the museum is so close to MBK Center, Siam Square and the big Siam malls, many visitors make a whole afternoon of the area before heading back. If you want the driver to wait, or to drop you at a hotel or a second stop, the price is agreed in chat before you go. A Van Pattaya to Jim Thompson House booking needs no deposit; you pay in cash at the end. For other trips into the city, see our Pattaya to Bangkok page.