Bangkok, known in Thai as Krung Thep, or Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, is the capital and largest city of Thailand, with an official 1990 census population of 8,538,610. Bangkok is located on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River, near the Gulf of Thailand.
Bangkok is one of the fastest-growing, most economically dynamic cities in Southeast Asia. Local people like to think that it is emerging as a regional centre to rival Singapore and Hong Kong, but it suffers from major infrastructure and social problems as a result of its rapid growth. The World Meteorological Organization has dubbed Bangkok the world's hottest city. It is also one of the world's most popular tourist destinations.
As of the 2004 census, there are 6,500,000 registered residents in the city. Daytime population swells by over 2 million people. More than 50% of Bangkokians have some Chinese ancestors. Recently, Bangkok has experienced a large influx of foreign immigrants, long-term residents, and expatriates. The number of expatriate executives stood at 65,000 as of Nov, 2005 and additional number is increase in an average of more than 1,800 permits per month. Long-term foreign residents include 250,000 Chinese (citizen of China), 30,000 Japanese (the largest community in any Asian city outside Japan), 100,000 Indians (35,000 Sikh) of whom more than 80% have Thai citizenship, 6,000 Americans, 45,000 Europeans (the second largest number in any Asian city after Singapore), 15,000 Taiwanese, 7,000 South Koreans, 6,000 Nigerian, 8,000 people of Arabic countries, 25,000 Malaysians, and 4,000 Singaporeans.
Bangkok is the economic center of Thailand. In 2005, it produced a GDP(PPP) of about USD 220 billion, which accounts for about 43% of the country's GDP. Its GDP(PPP) per capita is roughly USD 20,000. The Stock Exchange of Thailand is located in Bangkok with over 400 listed companies and combined market capitalization of about 5 trillion Baht (USD 120 billion) as of 5 January 2006.
Bangkok International Airport, commonly called "Don Muang", the busiest in South-East Asia, is located north of the city, now already enclosed by urban areas. Construction for the new Suvarnabhumi Airport (pronounced Suwannaphum), in the Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan Province to the south-east of the city started in 2002; it is scheduled to be opened in 2006. Once the new airport is completed, all international traffic and Thai's domestic traffic is expected to go there and Don Muang will be used for low cost and charter flights only. There is also a railway station at Don Muang for destinations to the north and northeast.
An elaborate network of canals (khlong) gave the city the nickname "Venice of the East" at a time when all transportation was done by boat. Today almost all have been filled in and converted into traffic-filled streets. However, many do still exist with people living along them and markets being conducted there as well. A notable one is the floating market in Taling Chan district.
For travel by train, most passengers begin their trips at Hua Lamphong at the southern end of the Metro. Here, trains connect Bangkok to Malaysia to the south, Chiang Mai and beyond to the north, and Khon Kaen and beyond to the northeast.