My girlfriend says go down to the river but could not tell me where (???). Any suggestions on the largest groupings of Thai costumes? Thank you.

Maybe you didn't manage to convey to your gf exactly what you want to see. The festival takes place anywhere there is water. In Pattaya that means the beach, in Bangkok it could be any klong or the Chao Prya river, in many towns it's the local lake or the largest klong.

It is a current, contemporary ceremony in which almost all Thais participate . Any involvement with Traditional Dress will not be the "genuine" article but will be a staged event for the benefit of some group of dignitaries or for tourists. If that's what you want then head for the river, maybe at the north-western end of Khao san road..keep going to the river.

so even Thai GFs cannot get the message across what Riley here so well explained/ There are some TAT or big hotel sponsored-and paid entry- ''celebrations'', where you'll sure to see the trad. dresses-made especially for you as tourist-as likely you have not yet passed that stage. Towns like Sukhothai are e ven better fitted. North end of what is NOT Ksr-but closeby at Pra Athit/Pra Sumen-Santichai Park/Fort likely sees most bekpek clothes farang and modern clothed Thai. BTWthose ''trad'' dress is the same as Thai-stewardesses wear

Sanrak market near Chatuchak park at 6pm. See you there!

http://www.eugenegoesthailand.com/?p=18934

We ended up at Benjasiri park next to Emporium. We were early and enjoyed ourselves but the crowds piled in afterwards. Here was a photo from the BTS as we left. Wow!

Edited November 28, 201213 yr by beachroadlover2