The Tremendous Revival of Bangkok's Chao Phraya Waterfront

By Tony Perrottet

“I bought this boat to explore the river's hidden places,” said Jern, a Bangkok interior designer whose full name is Irinrat Prasongchaikul, as we chugged in her vintage cruiser across the terra-cotta-colored waters of the Chao Phraya River, or River of Kings. “Now we're experiencing a resurgence of Chao Phraya's golden age. The visit was a mix of glamour and Bangkok humor.