Jim Thompson's House, Bangkok

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There is so much information here about Jim Thompson that I don't think its wise for me to repeat myself. In summary there was once a guy who contributed greatly to Thailand in terms of culture and trading and then he dissappeared/died. Now his house has become a tourist attraction for a small fee. Simple enough, no?

this is one of my favorite place in bangkok. too bad, when i was there, a group of school children in uniform were there. it was a bit too crowded.
the house is old but well maintenance. most furnitures are antique and arrange symmetrical in the room. each room and each furnitures tell story.
you can't take any photo inside the house but outside is ok. there will be a tour guide explaining everything.

the silk shop and a restaurant are also available there

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Jim Thompson House was the home of James H.W. Thompson, a self-made American entrepreneur and the founder of the world renowned Jim Thompson Thai Silk Company.

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.

With his natural flair for design and color, and driven by his single-minded dedication to reviving the craft, Thompson soon gained worldwide recognition for his success in rebuilding the industry, for generating international demand for Thai silk.

For his invaluable contribution to the growth and development of the Thai Silk industry, Jim Thompson was awarded the Order of the White Elephant, a decoration bestowed upon foreigners for having rendered exceptional service to Thailand. Thompson's success story in Thailand has become one of the most popular postwar legends of Asia.

During the Easter weekend in 1967, Thompson disappeared while on holiday with friends in Cameron Highlands, a northern Malaysian resort. There he set out for a walk in the surrounding jungle but never returned. An extensive and extended search failed to reveal any clues about his disappearance. Thus began the Jim Thompson legend.

The current Jim Thompson House serves as a showcase of how he had lived while in Thailand. Originally trained as an architect, Thompson fell in love with the rustic design of the Thai House and built his own quarters in a similar style, although there is a distinct fusion of traditional American living as well.

The museum is open from 0900-1700 (last guided tour starts at 1630 though) daily. The admission fee is 100 baht and you will need to join the guided tour as you are not allowed to freely wander within the house. They have some of the best guides around and the tour was a very pleasant as well as being enlightening.

Do note that indoor photography is not allowed, as with shoes.

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The Jim Thompson House & Museum is a worthwhile sightseeing destination in Bangkok.

Jim Thompson was an American, rumored to be a CIA agent, who fell in love with Thailand. Thompson is credited with revitalizing the Thai silk industry and even was awarded the highest honor for a foreigner, the Order of the White Elephant.

The story of Thompson's life and the mystery of his disappearance all add to the allure of the wonderful collection of Thai artifacts in his home. Thompson was not just a collector but he was also seeking to preserve Thailand's history from destruction.

The house & museum are open for guided tours from 0900 to 1700. The tour takes approximately 30 minutes and costs 100TBH.

To get to Jim Thompson's House, take the BTS Skytrain to National Stadium. Use Exit 1, walk down the stairs, then when you reach the bottom, turn around 180 degrees (Notice I said stairs, not escalators, as usually the escalators are up-riding. Should the escalators be down-riding, then don't turn 180 degrees when you reach the bottom of the escalators). Take the 1st turning on your right, Soi Kasemsan 2, and walk straight down to end of this road and you'll find the house on your left hand side.

It's a quick walk from the station (opposite side of the road from the giant MBK shopping mall), only about 5 minutes.

Open 09:00 to 17:00 everyday with the last guided tour at 16:30 (you can only visit the inside of the house with a guided tour)
Admission: 100 Baht

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Open Mon-Sat 9:00-17:00. The former home of Jim Thompson ; the mand who revitalized the Tahi silk industry after WWII, is located at Soi Kasemsan 2, off Rama I Road opposite the National Stadium. In 1967 he disappeared in Cameron Highlands of Malaysia under mysterious circumstances. now preserved as a private museum, the Thompson's house is an excellent example of traditional Thai domestic architecture while indside is displayed Thompson's impressive collection of oriental anitiques. What an impressive house !
I think you won't miss it when you travel Bangkok !

This is a great way to spend an hour and easy to get to by yourself. Jim Thompson's House is a short walk from the Skytrain and the MBK Shopping Mall. The House is built next to a canal and is a number of traditional Thai teak house with amazing gardens. What makes it worth visiting is that it is a little sanctuary away from the traffic and noise in the middle of Bangkok. Worth visiting and taking a walk around and all has a Jim Thompson Silk Shop.

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Jim Thompson was an American silk trader who established in Bangkok and it seems that he really aprehended Thai culture and architecture. He was the founder of the Thai Silk Company and his house is now a kind of shop-museum. The garden is particularly charming with beautiful flowers and ponds. Guided tour is compulsory: you cannot visit the house without following the tour. We didnt care much for the tour, except from being the only way of visiting the house (well, the houses, in fact. There are several connected teak buildings): our guide gave us a monotonous speech, which she has learnt by heart, which we found hardly understable. But the whole place deserves a visit. You can reach the house by Skytrain, National Stadium stop. Entrance fee is 100 baths for adults and it opens from 9. to 17, although the last tour is at 16.30. Beautiful stuff on the shop, but there are at least one outlet in Bangkok of the same brand (at Sukhumvit Road) with cheaper prices.
Jim Thompson era un comerciante de sedas norteamericano que se establecio en Bangkok y parece que realmente se empapo de la cultura y arquitectura thai. Fue el fundador de la Thai Silk Company y su casa es ahora una especie de tienda-museo. El jardin es particularmente encantador, con preciosas flores y estanques. La visita guiada es obligatoria (no hay en espanhol): no se puede visitar el interior sin guia. No recomendaria el tour, salvo porque es el unico medio para visitar la casa (las casas, en realidad son varios edificios de teca conectados entre si): nuestra guia dio un discurso monotono, aprendido de memoria, hasta el punto que resultaba dificil entenderla. Sin embargo, el conjunto merece una visita. Se puede llegar a la casa en el Skytrain, bajando en National Stadium. La entrada cuesta 100 b (2 euros, aprox) y abre de 9 a 17, aunque la ultima visita guiada sale a las 16.30. Cosas muy chulas (seda) a la venta en la tienda, pero recordad que hay un outlet de la misma marca en Sukhumvit Road donde tienen productos a precios mas reducidos.