Koh Samui Sunset

The Very Best Tips for Your Thailand Trip | Thailand Travel Blog

  • ▸ Start Here
  • Packing
  • Koh Samui
    • The Koh Samui Guide
  • Thailand
  • About
    • Contact

Jim Thompson: Thai Silk + Unsolved Mystery

Updated October 27, 2017

Pin247
Share16
WhatsApp
Tweet
Shares 263
Jim Thompson in Thailand: Thai Silk, and Unsolved Mystery – Why The Jim Thompson House Museum is the No. 1 Must-Visit Spot in Bangkok. Click through to read more about planning your visit and about Jim Thompson's story: http://www.kohsamuisunset.com/jim-thompson-thailand/
Jim Thompson in Thailand: Thai Silk, and Unsolved Mystery – Why The Jim Thompson House Museum is the No. 1 Must-Visit Spot in Bangkok. Click through to read more about planning your visit and about Jim Thompson's story: http://www.kohsamuisunset.com/jim-thompson-thailand/

Jim Thompson in Thailand: Thai Silk, and Unsolved Mystery – Why The Jim Thompson House Museum is the No. 1 Must-Visit Spot in Bangkok. Click through to read more about planning your visit and about Jim Thompson's story: http://www.kohsamuisunset.com/jim-thompson-thailand/

Travelling to Thailand, you might hear Jim Thompson’s name in one of two contexts: (A) while shopping, or (B) visiting Bangkok attractions. Yet the question isn’t so much ‘who is Jim Thompson’ as ‘what happened to him?’. Thompson was an American expat credited with reinventing the Thai silk industry and, in 1967, he just – vanished. Like Amelia Earhart, there are theories as to what happened (cough-CIA-cough), yet his mysterious disappearance remains unsolved.

Some links below contain affiliates

Jim Thompson in Thailand

The Jim Thompson mystery

Jim Thompson in Thailand: Thai Silk, and Unsolved Mystery – Why The Jim Thompson House Museum is the No. 1 Must-Visit Spot in Bangkok.

Jim Thompson: The Unsolved Mystery

▸ VIEW ON AMAZON

Jim Thompson’s huge range of interests and influence suggest a fascinating biography. Whether your interests lie with architecture, history, design or a total mystery, his story adds great insight to Thailand then and now.

The Jim Thompson House, Bangkok

Jim Thompson House: Bangkok, Thailand

While living in Bangkok in the post-war era, Thompson led a debonair and high-flying life. His house, today a museum, is an icon of leading Thai style and architecture. If spending any time in Bangkok, I highly recommended you visit his former home, “The House that was the Talk of the Town”.

Visiting Jim Thompson House

Jim Thompson Thailand: The Jim Thompson House in Bangkok, Thailand

You must join a guided tour to walk around the interior of the house (available in every language under the sun), however you’re free to explore the beautiful gardens on your own at your leisure – and they’re incredible. The garden are the only part of the house you’re allowed to photograph – the house and its art collection have enough light to battle in strong Thai UV.

To tour the house, you’ll take off your shoes and leave other belongings behind in a locker. Another reason why these shoes will be your most convenient option for exploring Bangkok!

English tours are, unsurprisingly, amongst the most popular and there might be a wait of 30 minutes or so until one is available. If you’re in a hurry (or just hate tours), you might notice that the next Japanese tour begins in 10 seconds and remember that – miraculously – you speak Japanese. You won’t win friends, you (probably) won’t learn anything, but you won’t have to wait. (Has this been tried and tested? I’ll never tell).

To arrive an expert in all things Jim Thompson:

Jim Thompson in Thailand: Thai Silk, and Unsolved Mystery – Why The Jim Thompson House Museum is the No. 1 Must-Visit Spot in Bangkok.

  • The House on the Klong: Jim Thompson
  • The Ideal Man: The Tragedy of Jim Thompson and the American Way of War

You’re free to wander the garden area at your leisure, where demonstrations are given in silk-weaving. If you love plants or photography, you could be here a while… The finished silk product is (of course) available in an on-site Jim Thompson shop. If there’s a better Bangkok souvenir – I can’t think of one! The restaurant is a fantastic spot for lunch or just a well-deserved dose of mango sticky rice!

When to visit?

The Jim Thompson House is great destination at mid-day, as the gardens provide full shade. Make sure to wear lots of mosquito repellent, as the house is beside a klong (a Bangkok canal) – mosquito Disney Land.

To plan your visit:
  • Jim Thompson House visitor information
  • nearby hotels

TIP! If you pick up a free Bangkok map at the airport, note that the large ‘Jim Thompson’ attraction is the flagship store and not The Jim Thompson House Museum (they’re nowhere near each other).

Jim Thompson Thailand: The Jim Thompson House in Bangkok, Thailand

Jim Thompson Thailand: The Jim Thompson House in Bangkok, Thailand

Jim Thompson House: Bangkok, Thailand

▲ The Jim Thompson House restaurant is really good – highly recommend!

Jim Thompson Thailand: The Jim Thompson House in Bangkok, Thailand

▲ Thompson’s house is on a klong (a river canal) and he used to travel around Bangkok by boat

Life in 1960s Bangkok

In the same vein, ‘Mai Pen Rai Means Nevermind‘ offers an honest and hilarious insight into this period of Bangkok expat life and quite what Thailand was like in Thompson’s day.

Jim Thompson silk

Jim Thompson House: Bangkok, Thailand

▲ “Baby silk” is surely the technical term for this

Jim Thompson House: Bangkok, Thailand

▲ Thompson is credited with reinventing the Thai silk industry after WWII

While in Thailand, you’ll see Jim Thompson’s high-end range of Thai silks and fabrics (scarves, accessories, cushions, home goods, etc) in airport shops and boutiques throughout the kingdom. Of course, silk wall-hangings and such like are available across Thailand but these? Crème-de-la-crème. (And who doesn’t love a souvenir with a story?)

More Bangkok questions?

Jim Thompson in Thailand: Thai Silk, and Unsolved Mystery – Why The Jim Thompson House Museum is the No. 1 Must-Visit Spot in Bangkok.

Nancy Chandler’s Map of Bangkok + Lonely Planet Bangkok (2018 edition)

Also: If you’re excited about buying Thai silk, here’s more good news – shopping is a near-religion in Thailand. Here are the best things to buy. Enjoy!


Photo credit to David McKelvey, Twang-Dunga x2, x3, x4 and smalljude via Flickr Creative Commons. Further images used under license from Shutterstock.com

Pin247
Share16
WhatsApp
Tweet
Shares 263

Don't miss these Thailand tips ...

  • The Best Things to Buy in Thailand: Where, What + How to Shop – Ready to shop? Thailand has designer goods, silks, antiques, snacks, souvenirs – and $2 T-shirts galore. Here are the best things to buy in Thailand...| Click through to read more: http://www.kohsamuisunset.com/best-things-to-buy-thailand/
    The Best Things to Buy in Thailand
  • Thailand Packing Tips: An A-to-Z List of Tips for Your Thailand Packing - click through to read more: www.kohsamuisunset.com/thailand-packing-tips-1/ | A tidy, A-to-Z list of my best Thailand packing tips: 26 great suggestions for packing the perfect tech, toiletries, shoes, clothes, travel guides and more
    A to Z: Your Complete List of Thailand Packing Tips
  • Do's and Don'ts in Thailand: 10 Easy Tips for Perfect Manners in Thailand – Discover the 5 things you should never do in Thailand, plus 5 great ideas for how to be a polite visitor in Thailand. Easy, straightforward etiquette advice! Click through to read more: http://www.kohsamuisunset.com/dos-donts-in-thailand/
    5 Things You Should Never Do in Thailand
The Koh Samui Guide: The best-selling Koh Samui travel guide available for you to instantly download and start planning your perfect trip right this second: https://www.thekohsamuiguide.com/ | Koh Samui, Thailand
▸ SEE INSIDE!

Welcome to 14 years of Thailand travel expertise, packing tips & essential advice for your Thailand travel! ▸ Start here…


Time for Thailand?
Links contain affiliates

How-To Guides
▸ How to prepare for Thailand?
▸ What to wear in Thailand?
▸ Where to stay on Koh Samui?

How to Prepare for Thailand? The Full List!
What to Pack for Thailand? Clothes, Shoes & Gear to Pack for Thailand Find out what clothes, shoes and useful travel gear to pack for Thailand – plus what to know about packing electronics, toiletries and the perfect carry-on.| Click through to read more: http://www.kohsamuisunset.com/packing/
What to Wear in Thailand? Learn the Thai Dress Code – Find out exactly what to wear in Thailand: in Bangkok, at the beach, at Thai temples, and more. Plus, get fabric, footwear and expert Thai dress code tips. Click through to read more: http://www.kohsamuisunset.com/what-to-wear-in-thailand/
Do's and Don'ts in Thailand: 10 Easy Tips for Perfect Manners in Thailand – Discover the 5 things you should never do in Thailand, plus 5 great ideas for how to be a polite visitor in Thailand. Easy, straightforward etiquette advice! Click through to read more: http://www.kohsamuisunset.com/dos-donts-in-thailand/
What Do You Need for Thailand? 15 things you need for Thailand – including everything you definitely need, and things that you might. From staying safe in Thailand, to enjoying the beach – here's your total list. Click through to read more: http://www.kohsamuisunset.com/what-do-i-need-for-thailand/

Perfect packing
Links contain affiliates

Get Thailand travel tips delivered to your inbox

Copyright © 2008-2018 kohsamuisunset.com / disclaimer ▸ Thailand travel blog + packing tips