As April dawns upon the streets of Bangkok, the city braces itself for the annual water-soaked extravaganza known as Songkran. It’s the Thai New Year! You know what that means, Songkran Shenanigans in Bangkok! Well, either one of two possibility are going to happen. Either you stock up in time on Food & Drinks, lock the door and dare not to go outside for a few days or you embrace the craziness on the street to its fullest! While the festival is traditionally celebrated with reverence and cultural rituals, some areas in Bangkok add their own unique spin to the festivities. Get ready for a hilarious and unforgettable journey into the watery mayhem of Songkran in Bangkok’s notorious nightlife hot spots!
Silom Road
The BMA will shut off Silom Road from Rama 4 to the Narathivas crossing. That means you will have the sidewalks, six traffic lanes and plenty of Sois to go absolutely bonkers! Several tens of thousands of party animals will be armed to their teeth with Water Guns, powder and spare water bottles and care not a blink if you are in the way or not. Just go with the flow! If you get splashed with some ice cold water just smile and shoot back! This is one of the craziest places to be on Songkran. Music everywhere, people everywhere, an endless water fight that will make you very tired at the end of the day. Don’t forget your neon pink sunglasses and the waterproof pouch for your mobile phone!
When on Silom for Songkran don’t forget to hit the Sois as well! When it gets to full on Silom or you want to escape the constant water slashes for a short while, head into one of the Sois. They will still be lively as there is nowhere to escape the party, but the frenzy will be much less. Try Patpong or Silom Soi 4. The Bars and Restaurants which are not closed for Songkran will have their own little splash away going on which is also fun and enjoyable. Soi 2 can get very crowded and crazy where as Sala Daeng will give you space and time to wind down. No matter if you are a foreigner or Thai, you will never forget Songkran on Silom Road.
Khao San Road
The Songkran Part on Khao San Road is legendary! In every part of the world you will find somebody, who has been in that fight or has heard cool stories about it. Mostly young folk with plenty of water ammunition and chalky powder roam the area around Khao San and party all day long. Known as the backpacker hub of Bangkok, Khao San Road transforms into a massive water battleground during Songkran. Expect an explosion of water guns, buckets, and hoses as locals and tourists alike join in the spirited water fights. The atmosphere is electrifying, with music blasting from every corner, colorful costumes, and street vendors offering traditional Thai snacks and refreshing drinks to keep the party going.
Efforts have been made by the authorities to contain the craziness at Khao San in recent years. With little effect I might add. The party in the area is as vibrant as ever! Watch out for Pick-Ups sneaking up on you only to drench you in cold water or the Farang on the other side of the street aiming his Water Gun at your sexy bottom. Water will hit you from all directions and you didn’t even see it coming. If you want to avoid crazy this Songkran, then Khao San Road is not the place to be for you. On the other hand, of you want a fun party you know where to go. Songkran Shenanigans in Bangkok at its best!
Bangkok’s Red Light Areas
What is going on at Nana, Patpong and Soi Cowboy during Songkran? Well, maybe you guessed it already: party time and water fights! While the Bars themselves are safe heavens (no play water inside!), you will get wet on the way going there. Nana Plaza usually is off limits for water fights, but you will get soaked the moment you step out of the Taxi. Lower Sukhumvit and Soi Nana especially turn into a fun battleground. Not as crazy as Silom or Khao San Road, but still excellent if not even better fun! Another big advantage is, that both toilets and booze supply are always close by. What goes in has to come out eventually.
Patpong is not any different apart from the party animals spilling over from Silom Road. scantily-clad dancers armed with water guns, patrons soaked to the bone, and the sound of laughter echoing through the place. One year I made it to arrive dry at my favorite Bar only to get my Vodka Tonic spilled over my lap by accident. So, you can’t really escape it somehow. Soi Cowboy is also partying all night long, just a little bit quieter than somewhere else. The street is narrow and Owners don’t want their places wrecked during Songkran. However, the Ladies in all these areas will all be on red alert and they sure look great in that dripping wet, white T-Shirts and Hot Pants! It’s business as usual with a special twist to it, which can be a refreshing change.
Party everywhere
If you ask me, I spend my Songkran Shenanigans in Bangkok at different kind of places. Sure, Silom and Khao San are great fun, but I’m an old fart now and can’t keep up with the Millennials and Gen X folks. I prefer the likes of Sukhumvit Soi 7, Soi 7/1 or Soi 8 for example, where the water also keeps coming for three days but without the thousands of wannabe water Warlords at your throat. Big drums filled with water make sure, that your and the Girls Water Guns never run out of ammo. Some Ladies wear traditional Thai dresses which look just as silly as your Nike Shirt once totally soaked. The vibe in these Sois is different. Less battleground, more fun and dancing!
Did I mention no play water inside? Well, some Clubs turn this rule around. They even hire big foam machines to fill every last centimeter of the place with fun. Have a look on the various Internet blogs or check the Facebook event page. You will find plenty of places advertising their Songkran Party. Picture a scene straight out of a comedy movie: dancers slipping and sliding on stage, patrons ducking for cover behind makeshift barricades, and the occasional water gun duel between rival groups.
A word of advice…
Maybe you got the idea by now. You will get wet. Everywhere. Taking that into consideration it might be a good idea not to wear your best suit and those expensive shoes during the Songkran Shenanigans in Bangkok. Your phone, cigarettes, lighter and wallet better go in one of these water proof pouches if you want to use them ever again. Nobody will give a rodents-ass if you complain, most likely you will just get drenched again for good measure. Pace yourself with the drinking! Songkran and booze belong together like Kermit and Miss Piggy. But it’s no fun if the party is over before it is in full swing.
In conclusion, Songkran in Bangkok is a one-of-a-kind experience that combines the traditional festivities of the Thai New Year with the wild energy of the city’s nightlife scene. So, if you’re looking for a memorable and hilariously wet celebration, head to your favorite place during Songkran and prepare to dive into the madness headfirst. Just remember to pack your water gun and a sense of humor – you’re in for a soaking good time!
