ThailandThis article has been translated from Russian language using an artificial intelligence-based translation algorithm. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the quality of the translation. You can read the original of this article in Russian here, and ask questions on the topic of our travel forum in English here.
Street names in Thailand most resorts are duplicated in English, but orientation without a map or navigator, and some skill, may be difficult. Not only can the spelling of the same street or landmark in English be very different (for example, Phahonyothin, Phahon Yothin, Pahon Yothin, Phaholyothin streets are the same thing, and this is not the most difficult case), but the addressing system in Thailand can also stump any cartographer. The information below will help you a little to understand the intricacies of Thai designations:
- Major streets in Thailand are designated as Thanon (often abbreviated as Th), for example - Thanon Sukhumvit. At the same time, in the English version, such streets are often indicated as Road or Rd, i.e. Sukhumvit Rd.
- There are usually small alleys adjacent to large streets perpendicular, at an angle or parallel, which are called Soi and they are simply numbered. I.e. Sukhumvit Soi 2 is not the name of the street, but simply the designation of lane No. 2 on Sukhumvit Street. Even and odd lanes are located on opposite sides of the street and are arranged in ascending order. But what's bad, neighboring rooms may be far from each other. For example, Sukhumvit Soi 39 and Sukhumvit Soi 40 are not opposite each other, but a few kilometers from each other.
- Even more confusing is the fact that many well-known Sois get their own names, and are designated differently in different sources, for example, Sukhumvit Soi 3 is also indicated as Soi Nana Nuea. And then it's even more difficult, because such Sois have their own Sois.
- House numbers are indicated at the very beginning of the address, then there is a large street, then the number of the alley Soi. For example, 125 Sukhumvit Soi 13 means house 125 on 13 lane on Sukhumvit Street.
- Sometimes house numbers are separated by fractions, for example 52/2. This is roughly similar to our buildings, i.e. 52/2 means house number 2 next to house number 52.
And finally, our subjective advice from our own experience: Thais, especially adults, do not navigate the map in any way. Showing them a map and asking for directions is useless, they don't even understand the cardinal directions (apparently, they weren't taught geography at all at school). Therefore, if you turn to them for help in finding a place, then just ask "How to get there" and listen carefully as they tell you the route. The answer usually follows an instruction of the type: "Go there to the first traffic light, turn left on it, go to the store of such and such and turn right there, etc."