Easily one of the most curious and renowned tourist attractions in Bangkok has to be the Jim Thompson House. Jim Thompson was an architect and supposed OSS (now CIA) agent that settled in Bangkok after WWII. He took notice of the region’s silk weaving industry and established the Thai Silk Company to market its products. His company became a success thanks to its offerings of luxuriously crafted fabrics and home décor that appealed greatly to the global market. The company did much to help poor weavers, even from the countryside, make an income for themselves without needing to relocate to Bangkok.

He was also an avid collector of Southeast Asian art and built up an impressive collection of pieces from Thailand, Cambodia, China, and Laos. He also had a great appreciation for traditional and original Thai architecture that inspired him when building his home. In 1959, he sought out enough parts of old upcountry homes to create six reassembled Thai-style teak houses in his compound. They were to make up his home and a place to showcase his art collections. He however added some unique flourishes to these buildings like Victorian chandeliers and internal staircases that were the opposite of what traditional Thai homes used.

Thompson mysteriously disappeared while on a trip to Malaysia in 1967. Despite all the rumours and conspiracy theories surrounding his disappearance, the site has come to be recognised as part of the heritage of the land. Guided tours are offered through Thompson’s home in which one can discover the many artefacts, antiques, and art pieces that he brought back from his travels. Surrounded by lush greenery, the other structures are also still in use, now hosting such facilities as the Jim Thompson Centre for the Arts, a silk shop, a restaurant, and the William Warren Library.

The Jim Thompson House is less than a 15-minute drive from S15 Hotel in Asoke. This Bangkok luxury boutique hotel is handily located along Sukhumvit Road, providing easy access to various parts of the city and its environs. On your next trip to Bangkok, enjoy serene luxury accommodation in the midst of the busy city, with numerous entertainment and cultural attractions just minutes away.