Soi Mitrakham
the Vietnamese legacy in Bangkok

Soi Mitrakham is located between Soi Samsen 11 and Soi 13 off Samsen Road near the National Library. It's home of the largest and oldest Vietnamese community in Bangkok.

In 1834 the Immaculate Conception Church was rebuilt to cater for the increasing Vietnamese population in the area. Locally the church was called Bot Ban Yuan (Vietnamese village church) 

In 1851, King Rama IV or King Mongkut granted land to Catholic Church to built St Francis Xavier Church which has become the center of the community in the area.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there were more Vietnamese immigrants to Thailand. These immigrants, opposing French colonialism, fled to Thailand and settled in the northeastern provinces along the Mekong River.

One such Vietnamese was Ho Chi Minh, father of the Vietnamese Revolution.

The predominantly Catholic population in this soi is evident in the number of mission schools in the area, St Francis Xavier Convent, St Gabriel College and the Conception Convent.

Don't expect to see Vietnamese restaurants, shops and signboards when you visit the area. It looks like any other neighborhood in Bangkok.

Sunday street market outside the St Francis Xavier Church

After generations, the Vietnamese community here is well integrated into Thai society, holding Thai citizenships, though still practicing their traditions mixed with Thai customs.

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How to get there

Soi Mitrakham is not shown in street signs; the community is in the area between Samsen Soi 11 and Soi 13.

The network of lanes extent all the way to the Chao Phraya River.

By MRT Blue Line

Take the MRT Blue Line to BL9 Bang Pho, from the station take a taxi to Soi Mitrakham.

By bus

If you're coming from the city, you'll reach the National Library and St Gabriel's College on your left before you get to Soi Samsen 11.

The following bus services from the city pass Samsen Road.

Non air-conditioned service No. 65 (red and cream) from Sanam Luang

Air-conditioned services

• No. 16 (yellow) from Surawongse Road - Siam Square
• No. 50 (yellow) from Lumpini Park - Mah Boon Khrong 
• No. 505 (blue) from Lumpini Park - Central World Plaza. 

There are no convenient river piers in the Soi Mitrakham area.

Soi Mitrakham is another old community that adds to the multi-cultural and multi-religious fabric in modern Bangkok.

For other Bangkok Communities. 

Churches in the area

Immaculate Conception Church



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