Thong Lo

Thong Lo (Thai: ทองหล่อ, RTGS: Thong Lo, pronounced [tʰɔ̄ːŋ lɔ̀ː]; also spelled Thong Lor), officially named Soi Sukhumvit 55, is a road and neighbourhood in Watthana District, Bangkok, Thailand. Thong Lo literally translates as 'molten gold'.^[1] Its name comes from that of a naval officer, Thonglo Khamhiran, a member of the Khana Ratsadon (People's Party), a 1932 revolutionary group. He owned land and houses in the area. In pre-World War II Thailand, the area along Sukhumvit Road to the Bang Na District was suburban Bangkok and quasi-rural. Much of the area was occupied by the navy.^[2]

Thong Lo

Thong Lo runs from the Thong Lo BTS Station on Sukhumvit Road north to Phetchaburi Road. Originally housing car dealerships and dowdy shops, during the early-2000s it became increasingly trendy.^[3][4] New boutiques, restaurants, and cocktail bars sprang up,^[5] creating a demand for new condominiums in the area, partially driven by a significant Japanese expat community.^[6] In 2017, to the dismay of many, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) cracked down on the neighbourhood's street food vendors.^[7]

Transport

• Thong Lo BTS Station on the Sukhumvit Line of the Bangkok Skytrain is at the intersection with Sukhumvit Road.
• Khlong Saen Saep Express Boat – Thong Lo pier is at the bridge crossing Khlong Saen Saep, at the opposite end of the street, near the New Phetchaburi Road intersection.
• The planned Grey Line (Bangkok Rapid Transit) is projected to run along Thong Lo.