Vans @ Victory Monument

The number of public vans commuting between Bangkok and upcountry has grown significantly in recent years and they provide tourists with a convenient option of travel around Thailand.

These vans, available up the road at Victory Monument, now connect not just neighbouring Ayuthaya and Rachaburi but provinces further afar – Trat, Phitsanulok and Uthai Thai – all in all some 25 destinations nationwide and, with their timely departure and arrival, have won the hearts of a wide cross-section of the commuting public and weekend travellers. You can literally travel anywhere.

One advantage with public vans is that they save you the trouble of having to travel to the outskirts of the city, where the inter-provincial bus terminals are located (e.g. Ekkamai), before you can catch a bus or air-con coaches to take you wherever you are going. Best of all, the vans listed below are only a 10 minute walk from the Siam City Hotel, Bangkok!

                                    

DESTINATION                         SERVICE HOURS                     TIMETABLE                 PRICE (BHT)

Fashion Mall

Angthong                                 5:00am-8:00pm                      every 30 min               80

Ratchaburi                              5:00am-8:00pm (Mon-Thu)    every 60 min               100

                                                5:30am-9:00pm (Fri/Sat)        every 20 min               100

Ratchawithi

Kanchanaburi & Lat Ya           7:00am-7:30pm                      every 60 min               140

Lopburi                                    5:00am-8:00pm                      every 20 min               110

Nakhon Nayok                         5:30am-8:00pm                      every 60 min               100

Nakhon Ratchasima                6:00am-8:00pm                      every 60 min               190

Pak Thong Chai                       6:00am-8:00pm                      every 60 min               190

Petchaburi                               4:30am-8:00pm                      every 30 min               120

Cha Am                                   4:30am-8:00pm                      every 30 min               160

Hua Hin                                   4:30am-8:00pm                      every 30 min               180

Century Plaza

Chachoengsao                         5:30am-8:00pm                      every 60 min               100

Phanom Sarakham                  5:30am-8:00pm                      every 60 min               100

Chonburi & Phanat Nikhom    5:30am-8:00pm                      every 40 min               100

Lopburi                                    5:30am-8:00pm                      every 60 min               120     

Kanchanaburi                          5:30am-8:00pm                      every 30 min               110

Petchaburi                               5:30am-8:00pm                      every 20 min               100

Prachinburi                             5:30am-8:00pm                      every 60 min               100

Ratchaburi                              5:30am-8:00pm                      every 40 min               100

Suphanburi                              5:30am-8:00pm                      every 30 min               120

Underneath Expressway (East Side)

Chonburi & Pattaya                6:00am-8:00pm                      every 40 min               150

Nakhon Ratchasima                8:00am-6:30pm                      every 1.30 hrs             300

Bua Yai                                    8:00am-6:30pm                      every 1.30 hrs             300

Nakhon Sawan                        5:00am-8:00pm                      every 60 min               170

Phichit                                     8:00am-6:30pm                      every 1.30 hrs             300

Phitsanulok                              7:30am-5:00pm                      every 2 hrs                  280

Damnoen Saduak                    8:00am-7:30pm                      every 60 min               90

Sa Kaeo & Aranyaprathet       6:00am-6:30pm                      every 50 min               220

Uthai Thani                             3:00am-8:00pm                      every 30 min               180                 

Underneath Expressway (West Side)

Nakhon Nayok                         6:15am-6:30pm                      every 15 min               110

Khun Dan Dam                        6:15am-6:30pm                      every 15 min               110

Nakhon Sawan                        5:00am-7:00pm                      every 60 min               170

Sam Roi Yot                             5:00am-8:00pm                      every 60 min               300

Kuiburi                                     5:00am-7:00pm                      every 60 min               240

Aranyaprathet                         6:00am-6:00pm                      every 60 min               230

Samut Songkhram                   6:00am-8:00pm                      every 30 min               70

Suphanburi & U Thong            6:00am-8:00pm                      every 45 min               130

Trat                                         5:00am-7:00pm                      every 60 min               320

Victory Point

Kanchanaburi                          5:30am-8:00pm                      every 30 min               110

Ratchaburi                              5:30am-8:00pm                      every 30 min               100

Pattaya                                    6:00am-8:30pm                      every 15 min               100

Ban Phae                                 7:00am-7:00pm                      every 60 min               160

WHAT’S WHAT

Angthong = Municipal Market

Aranyaprathet = Rong Klue Market

Ban Phae = Samet Island

Damnoen Saduak  = Floating Market

Kanchababuri = River Kwai

Lopburi = Train Station

Nakhon Nayok = Nakhon Nayok Hospital

Nakhon Sawan = Tha Thong Market & City Hall

Pattaya = Siam Bayshore Resort & Siam Bayview Hotel

Ratchaburi = Big C & Floating Market

Trat = Chang Island & Ao Thammachat Ferry

King Power Duty Free Mall

Covering 10,662 sq. m spread over two floors, the King Power Duty Free Complex really is a shopping Mecca for bargain hunters and quality product aficionados. I am now going to let the Complex’s own exuberant website extol the virtues of its premises: “Whenever stopping over in the Land of Smiles or visiting longer on this ancient soil there is only one location you need visit to meet with merchants who've gathered from around the globe. On offer are the most precious and choicest goods at a not to be missed modern monument to sophistication - King Power Complex.”

Translated, this means that if you still want the convenience of duty-free shopping without the rush and hassle of doing it at the airport, you can shop at your leisure here anytime during your stay. Best of all it’s located just a 5 minute walk away from the Siam City Hotel, Bangkok. You pay for the items at the shop, then pick them up at the airport (or simply take them with you) when you leave. With a broad range of brands like Burberry, Coach, Chanel, TOD's, BOSS, Montblanc, Lacoste and Benetton available, the choice really is unlimited. There is also a large selection of food stuffs, like traditional Thai biscuits, children’s toys, cosmetics, watches and luggage on offer. For those feeling peckish there is a cafe, Asian Corner, inside the mall or next door is located Ramayana Restaurant, serving up delectable Asian favourites in a more formal setting.

IMPORTANT: You must have your passport and an airline ticket on hand to buy,. Also, you need to make your purchase at least eight hours before leaving the country. Open daily 10am-9pm.

Getting there: The Mall is located at 8 Rangnam Rd, near the Victory Monument BTS. From the Siam City Hotel, turn left and head up Si Ayuthaya Rd. Go straight for about 100m, past the 7/11, until you see signs pointing into the King Power Duty Free Complex. Walk up this small street for another 150m and the Duty Free Mall (recognisable by its large glass dome) is on your left-hand side. For more details, go to www.kingpower.com.