The largest and least populated of Bangkok’s districts, Nong Chok is a place of sprawling streets and leafy parks, where traditional Thai village life can still be observed within the confines of the capital. Named after a variety of lettuce that’s grown throughout the area, Nong Chok offers plenty of rural landscapes where you’d be forgiven for thinking that you weren’t in Bangkok at all.
Things to do in Nong Chok
Perhaps the greatest of all of Nong Chok’s attractions is Nong Chok Park. Built in 1987, the park’s crowning glory is a stunning walkway covered entirely by a roof of banyan trees. There’s also a children’s playground and large lotus-covered pond brimming with koi carp.
The Nong Chok Youth Centre building is located in the park and offers a range of activities, such as yoga and swimming, as well as a large gymnasium. Children and adults alike can use the indoor basketball and badminton courts, partake in taekwondo and yoga class or create art in the first-floor studio.
Not far from the park is the Nong Chok museum, which charts the history of the area from its origins as a farming village right up to the modern day. The museum in particular looks at the area’s Muslim community, who make up 85% of Nong Chok’s population. Using a range of artefacts, such as examples of ancient farming equipment, the experience tells Nong Chok’s story in a captivating, in-depth manner.
The most important religious building in Nong Chok is the Aulhusna Mosque, which is Thailand’s primary place of worship for the Muslim community. The mosque is home to the Central Islamic Council of Thailand who welcome curious visitors.
Getting around Nong Chok
Located on the outskirts of Bangkok, Nong Chok is an ideal springboard for exploring the surrounding countryside by either hiring a car or organising a private driver. To get to the centre of Bangkok, it’s best to take either a private or shared taxi, which take around one hour depending on traffic. Combine culture with transport by riding in a traditional tuk-tuk, which is very effective over short distances.