Jim Thompson's House, Bangkok

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This sight is a very easy walk from the National Stadium sky train station - around 5 minutes. Ignore any idiots who tell you it is closed, or offer to take you on a 20 baht tuk tuk ride. It is open daily from 9am to 5pm. Entry is 100 baht and you have to go around on a guided tour.

The house belonged to Jim Thomson an American businessman and designer who settled in Bangkok just after World War 11 and helped revitalise the Thai silk industry. The village where his workers made the silk was just on the other side of the canal from his home.

Thompson brought the houses that made up his home from different parts of Thailand. All the houses are traditional Thai wooden houses. They are built without nails, the pieces of the houses slot together.

As well as being famous for revitalising the Thai silk industry Thompson is famous for suddenly and mysteriously disappearing while taking a stroll in the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. There are many theories about his disappearance: was he deliberately killed? Did he stage his own disappearance. no-one knows.

There is a lovely cool cafe at the sight. There was also a free exhibition above the Jim Thompson shop which displayed many silk dresses, showed a film about Thompson's life and disappearance and had many interesting news clippings from the dates he lived in Thailand. These included stories about the disputed temples Thailand and Cambodia are currently fighting over, but from when the dispute arose around 50, 60 years ago; a horrible story about a Chinese man who killed and ate Thai children and became a kind of Thai bogeyman with mother's threatening their children that he would come and eat them if they did not go to bed right now and reports about con men ripping off tourists and the need to do something about it from the 1950s. Worth a look.

I recently visited Jim Thompson's House and recommend that you try the restaurant. The food is great and it is a lovely atmosphere. This makes a great tourist attraction into a fantastic one!

Take time to look around the house on one of the guided tours and enjoy your afternoon. After viewing the house and hearing the history, make sure you have a look in the Jim Thompson store and view the world class Thai Silk collection!

Hope you all enjoy the outing. More info can be found at:
Thaistyle World Travel Guide

In the Bangkok Travel Guide

Jim Thompson's house makes for a good excursion. This dwelling combines six teak buildings which represent the best of traditional Thai architecture. Most of the houses are at least two centuries old and were easily dismantled and brought to the present site, some from as far away as the old capital of Ayutthaya. He adhered to the customs of the early builders in most respects. The houses are elevated a full story above the ground and the roof tiles were fired in Ayutthaya employing a design common centuries ago. The red paint on the outside walls is a preservative commonly found on many old Thai buildings. The chandeliers were came from 18th and 19th century Bangkok palaces.

Jim Thompson was an American who volunteered for service in the U.S. Army, campaigned in Europe, and came to Asia as part of the force that planned to liberate Thailand. However, the war ended before the operation. He arrived in Bangkok a short time later as a military intelligence officer attached to the O.S.S. After leaving the service, he decided to return and live in Thailand permanently. While in Thailand, Jim Thompson, and he devoted himself to reviving the craft of hand-weaving silk. He contributed greatly to the industry's growth and to the worldwide recognition of Thai silk. His dwelling showed a great love of Thai culture. Thompson disappeared after going on a walk in the Cameron Highlands in Pahang, Malaysia, on March 27, 1967. He was never found, and there are many theories for his disappearance.

The hours of admission are 09:00am to 5:00pm everyday. In order to see the house you must go on a guided tour with the last one at 4:30pm. It costs 100 baht (2006).

Exploring the house of ex-CIA agent which had interest in Thai silk and Asia cultures. His absence (or in other word "missing") after having lunch at Cameron Highland, Malaysia still a mystery nowadays! Then the story of James Harrison Wilson Thompson a.k.a Jim Thompson became a legend.
Entrance fee: 100 Baht

It's prohibited to take pictures at the main building also upstairs. But taking at both the left and right sides in the first floor is allowed. Here I feel in an unique Asia museum! Nice place, enjoyable and I forgot the time just passing by :)

Visit Jim Thompson's house for a little flavour of old Thailand in the heart of Bangkok. Jim Thompson was an expat American who did a lot for the Thai silk-producing industry. He disappeared in mysterious circumstances in Malaysia, but his business is still going (there's an outlet in the World Trade Centre), and his lovely old-fashioned teak house he had constructed is now a tourist attraction. They take you round fairly quickly on the (mandatory) guided tour, but you can linger in the small but pleasant garden afterwards, and look at some of the artwork on show in the former servants' quarters. There's also now a pleasant but pricey cafe and gift shop (selling Jim Thompson silk) in a new building next to the house - there's no pressure to visit this or buy anything, though.

The entry fee is 100 baht, and it opens at 9am with the last guided tour at 4.30pm.

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Since his disappearance in 1967, little has changed in the home that was the 'talk of the town' and the 'city's most celebrated social center'. Even today, the charming Thai style house continues to be a key stop for visitors to Bangkok.
The house consists of a complex of six traditional Thai-style houses, teak structures that were purchased from several owners and brought to the present location from various parts of Thailand. Construction of the Thai house was completed in 1959

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Jim Thompson House

A small museum in the heart of Bangkok. The architecture is the first think that u see here, a Thai style house.


Information
Name: Jim Thompson House
Theme: Thai style house, Museum
Location: Near Siam
City: Bangkok
Pictures in the web: Jim Thompson House
Last Visit: September 2006


My Photos
First Photo: Jim Thompson House