Why go à BANGKOK?

Bangkok is a city of contrasts. Every evening, street vendors toil for a living in the shadow of skyscrapers; 4x4s with tinted windows criss-cross the avenues, while roaring long tailszip along the khlongs of the working-class districts. Rattanakosin, the historic city, with its temples rich in history and teak houses from another era, lives to the rhythm of the monasteries not far from the ultra-modern shopping malls of Siam Square and the trendy rooftop bars of Sukhumvit. It's also a mecca for world cuisine. But Bangkok is more than just the sordid clichés that tarnish its image, nor is it just a stopover on a budget traveler's Asian itinerary. This fascinating city alone could be worth a trip to Thailand, as it reflects the many facets of this vast country.