Patpong - Bangkok’s Red Light District

Patpong go go bar Patpong is also known as Bangkok’s red light district. And it’s one of the most famous of its kind in the world. This is where Thailand’s Go-Go culture started. With an infamous reputation built in the 1970s and 1980s when the sexually explicit shows were the main attractions in the area, today Patpong is starting to become more about entertainment in general than just about sex.

Location

Patpong comprises two parallel streets between Silom and Surawongse Roads in Bangkok. To get to Patpong, take the SkyTrain and get off at Sala Daeng Station. Alternatively you can take the metro and get off at Si Lom Station.

A bit of history

Patpong got its name from the family that owns much of the area’s property. They purchased the area in 1946 when it was an undeveloped plot outside the city. The family built a street (now the main street, Patpong 1) and several shop houses. By 1968, several night clubs already existed in area but it got its reputation during 1970s and 1980s when it was famous for its sexually explicit shows.

What to do

Patpong is home to around 100 neon-lit strip bars where you can find anything from sex shows, pole-dancers who won’t say no to prostitution and even ladyboys.

While for men Patpong means prostitution and adult shows, for women it means market. During the night, the local market is filled with vendors and tourists looking for the next best thing to buy. The night market has been opened several years ago with this single purpose: to “soften” the adult edge of Patpong.

Most go-go bars in the area feature women dancing on the stage. Famous places include King’s Castle I and II, Sphinx and the Safari Bar. The transsexuals have their own bars and one of the most famous is King’s Corner.

In general, if you are looking for sex, you need to pay a fee at the bar, also known as “bar fine”. Then you can take the preferred dancer on a more private location. It’s advisable to be careful with the personal belongings especially after you pay the “bar fine”. The prices vary from place to place but in general a girl would cost you around 1,500 Baht plus the 325 Baht “bar fine” (about US$60 in total).

Patpong is not all about sex and shopping. Several good restaurants are also located in the area. Mizu’s Kitchen is highly recommended for its stake while Salasawan is well known for the affordable and good Thai cuisine.

Although several other entertainment areas exist in Bangkok, Patpong is the only one within the official entertainment zones decreed by the Thai government in 2004.