It was finally my time to go to Chiang Mai. I was excited about it, but I still had a lot of time left in Bangkok that morning. Actually, I still had plenty of time even until the afternoon because I booked an overnight bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.
It was a good decision since the travel time was around 10 hours, so why not spend that long journey sleeping? Plus, it also saved me one night of accommodation, right? Smart move.
Since I still had plenty of time to chill in Bangkok, I decided to go somewhere nice where I could walk around, shop a little, and of course, eat. That’s when I decided to visit IconSiam. CHECK THE BEST HOTELS IN BANGKOK
If you don’t know IconSiam, it is probably one of the grandest malls in Bangkok. It’s not just your usual shopping mall. It’s a massive riverside lifestyle destination along the Chao Phraya River, filled with luxury brands, local shops, restaurants, cafés, attractions, and beautiful spots where you can simply walk around and enjoy the view.
But what really made me want to visit IconSiam was the food.
On the ground floor, there’s a cultural food zone called SOOKSIAM, and this was honestly one of the most interesting parts of the mall for me. SOOKSIAM feels like an indoor Thai floating market, but with air-conditioning, cleaner walkways, and a more comfortable mall setting. It brings together food, handicrafts, souvenirs, local products, and cultural touches from Thailand’s 77 provinces. CHECK THE BEST HOTELS IN BANGKOK
It’s like getting a small taste of different parts of Thailand in one place. You’ll see stalls selling Thai street food, local snacks, desserts, drinks, souvenirs, and handmade products. Some areas even have vendors selling from boat-style setups, which gives it that floating market vibe.
I decided to try some pork BBQ and, of course, Pad Thai. Again, I’ve mentioned this many times about Thai food, but I’ll just keep on repeating it. Haha. I love the layers of flavors, herbs, and spices in Thai food. They have such a wide variety of ingredients and flavors, and somehow, everything just works together. CHECK THE BEST HOTELS IN BANGKOK
After eating, I decided to explore the other floors of the mall with all the shops. I bought something from Muji, then I found a shop called Loft where I picked up some nice pasalubong for my family and friends.
I ended my IconSiam adventure with a nice drink, a lemon juice from Taning. Yes, that’s the brand name of the lemon juice. CHECK THE BEST HOTELS IN BANGKOK
It was a simple but really nice way to spend my last few hours in Bangkok. I got to eat good food, walk around a beautiful mall, buy a few things, and just enjoy the city without rushing. IconSiam gave me that perfect mix of modern Bangkok and traditional Thai culture, especially with the SOOKSIAM experience.
Honestly, it was a nice little send-off before another adventure. Bangkok had already given me good food, random walks, night markets, and small travel moments to remember. And now, after one last mall and food trip, I was ready to head to Chiang Mai and see what the next part of my Thailand journey had in store for me.
Nex on the The Weekly is about my travel from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. Stay tuned.
*A new The Weekly story is published every Thursday at 7:00 AM Philippine time.
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About IconSiam
IconSiam is one of those places in Bangkok that feels more than just a mall. Yes, it has all the luxury brands, restaurants, cafés, and shops you’d expect from a huge shopping center, but the whole place feels like a travel destination on its own.
It is located beside the Chao Phraya River, so aside from shopping and eating, you also get that nice riverside view of Bangkok. There’s something special about malls in Bangkok, honestly. They don’t just build places where people can shop. They create these massive spaces where you can walk around, take photos, try food, relax, and just spend hours without getting bored.
IconSiam is a good example of that. One moment, you’re looking at luxury stores and modern interiors, then a few steps later, you’re inside SOOKSIAM, which feels like an indoor version of a Thai floating market. For travelers, I think this is what makes IconSiam worth visiting. You get the modern side of Bangkok, but you also get a little taste of local Thai culture in one convenient place.
