Minburi

**Jarrowelvis** · 16th February 2008 23:05

A few questions that I hope you can help with. I’m not in LOS yet and struggling to find out any useful information.

I’m going to be moving out to live in Minburi, an area I’m not familiar with at all. I don’t even have a good map here. The one thing I do know is that it’s a long way out from central Bangkok.

I won’t have a car so what will be the quickest and easiest way to get to get to central Bangkok? (Siam Square / Anywhere on BTS or MRT / Sukhumvit Road). Would it be best to get a taxi to On Nut or Ekkamai? Even the Thailand Cultural Centre MRT? Or is it best to taxi it all the way?

I know that the Saen Sap canal boats will get me to Pratunam from The Mall at Bang Kapi. How far is The Mall from Minburi? How far is Pratunam canal boat stop to BTS?

My reason for wanting to get to these areas is mainly for nightlife. How much would a taxi to central (?) Minburi be to downtown Bangkok? How long would it take if the road were relatively clear late on?

So many questions… cheers for any help or advice. Its genuinely appreciated.

**natalie8** · 17th February 2008 00:13

I lived near Minburi for my first few months in BKK. The canal boat does not go there. The closest stop would be The Mall Bang Kapi. If you're near the Minburi market, there are alot of vans that go into town, but it's a bit of a long hike.

**Jarrowelvis** · 17th February 2008 01:13

Thanks Natalie.. I imagine that I will be living close to Minburi market... how long does it take to get to The Mall at Bang Kapi from here? How long does it take for the vans to get into town?

**Qwerty2** · 17th February 2008 08:03

It depends on the traffic & the time of day. Travel time from Minburi to The Mall Bangkapi should be about 20 - 45 minutes - though I've never made the trip on a weekday, so it might be longer. If you walk all the way through The Mall to the boat dock in the back, you can catch a boat to Pratunam - near World Trade Center or Central World Plaza, as they call it now. The boats take 35 minutes. There is never a traffic jam on the water, so that time doesn't vary. From Pratunam it's about 10 -15 minutes to Siam Square etc...

Say about 1.5 - 2.5 hours total travel time by public transport from Minburi to central BKK - total cost about 40-50 baht.

A taxi will take about 45 minutes to 1.5 hours & should cost about 150 - 250 baht, depending on how long you sit in traffic.

**Cyrille** · 17th February 2008 10:19

If you're living in Minburi you'll have to accept it will put a bit of a limit on your nightlife in the centre of town.

It's not just the distance - a lot of cabbies will be unwilling to go at chucking out time.

Best to travel in only ocasionally and split the fare with some mates.

**natalie8** · 17th February 2008 13:16

Minburi has some advantages, such as wide open spaces, lots of greenery, it's quiter than the city and you can rent a decent house for the price of an apartment in BKK. Those are the good points, but as some other posters have mentioned it can be a real b1tch getting into central BKK.

The area around The Mall Bang Kapi is pretty good for local restaurant, bars and markets. If you hook up with some of your new neighbours, they can show you around.

**Topper** · 17th February 2008 13:46

There is also Fashion Island just on the outskirts of Minburi.

Getting downtown should be fairly quick and easy....get on the outer ring road heading towards the airport, but take the turn into Bangkok. From Fashion Island to ABAC Ram takes all of 15-20minutes and about 170B (30B toll fare). From there you could continue down Rama 9 or stay up on the highway and go all the way downtown. Piece of cake!

I lived near Fashion Island for about 4 years ...ain't much going on out there at night, thats for sure!

**Jarrowelvis** · 17th February 2008 14:42

Thats very useful information from everyone of you. Its hard getting the lay of the land when youre not actually there, so Im grateful for all your replies. Cheers.

**natalie8** · 17th February 2008 16:09

Originally Posted by Jarrowelvis

Its hard getting the lay of the land when youre not actually there

Very true!

**po3try** · 8th July 2010 10:33

Is this info still the same? Is Minburi farang friendly? As in a mcdonalds/pizza/shopping mall/cinema/nice bar to drink in?

The only map I have doesn't go that far and I really don't want to move all the way to Bangkok just to find I'm living in the middle of nowhere, again.

Any advice appreciated

**8ball** · 8th July 2010 10:46

Originally Posted by po3try

Is Minburi farang friendly?

Not really,,,,no

burgers n pizzas can,,,,,,,nice bar (if u mean a bar wiv other palefaces),,,,,no

**happynz** · 8th July 2010 10:51

Has this service started yet?

from the Bangkok Post
NEW CANAL BOAT ROUTE TO OPEN
Published: 10/05/2009 at 12:00 AM
City-run boat services from Saen Saeb to Min Buri will start next year.
BEAT THE TRAFFIC JAM: .

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's (BMA) Traffic and Transportation Department is building piers in preparation for launching the service.

Jumpol Sampaopol, the department director, said 14 out of 16 piers along the Saen Saeb canal have been completed.

The last pier will be at Sri Bunruang temple near Min Buri market.

Mr Jumpol said the last two piers would be the largest.

The BMA has also planned to develop three park-and-ride areas for boat service passengers.

They will be under the Eastern ring road, the parking lot of Big C Min Buri and Bampen Nua temple. Commuters will be able to park their cars and catch a boat into central Bangkok.

Mr Jumpol said the extension of boat services in the Saen Saeb canal has been developed in line with the Tourism and Sports Ministry's plan to promote boat-related tourism business along the route.

The BMA and the Association of Thai Boat Operators encouraged local people to set up an association of Saen Saeb operators to run services along the route.

Mr Jumpol said his department will select private operators to run the services if local people could not form an association to offer services themselves.

**po3try** · 8th July 2010 10:57

Originally Posted by 8ball

Not really,,,,no burgers n pizzas can,,,,,,,nice bar (if u mean a bar wiv other palefaces),,,,,no

Cheers 8ball.

**markle** · 8th July 2010 12:33

Just on taking the boats as that was my preferred method when I lived/ worked in Ramkhamhang.
Be prepared to get splashed by klong water from time to time
When the canals are up in the rainy season they often don't run (can't get under the bridges)
avoid sitting, stand at the back.