The vibrant, noisy, congested and ultimately intriguing city of Bangkok is the gateway to Thailand and SouthEast Asia. Drawing millions of visitors each year, Bangkok has evolved as a cosmopolitan, world-class city. Headquarters of multinational corporations rub shoulders with tin shacks lining crowded lanes. If one word could sum up Bangkok, it would possibly be “contradiction.”

          Bangkok has something for just about everyone, from backpackers loitering around Kaosan Road to billionaires holding court at the most exclusive hotels. Chock full of temples, ruins and ancient history, there are enough historical sites and exotic spectacles to keep a tourist busy for weeks.

          Shoppers have a multitude of choices. Open-air markets spring up spontaneously in every neighborhood each evening. The enormous Chatuchak weekend market is but one of several permanent warrens of small shops and stalls selling everything imaginable and a few things you never could imagine.

          Scattered throughout the city are shopping malls offering bargains of every type. High tech shoppers, wholesale garment buyers and tourists looking for a fabulous souvenir have endless choices. Then there are the retail palaces clustered around Siam Square and along the Sukhumvit SkyTrain line. Paragon, Zen and Central department stores all have their marble and brass homages to commerce stuffed to the rafters with luxury goods and upscale restaurants.

          With its central location in SouthEast Asia and its reputation for warm and caring people, it’s no surprise that Bangkok has become a hub for medical tourism. High quality medical care and physicians with western medical training combined with a low cost of care has created the perfect environment for inexpensive, high quality treatment. The medical industry and tourism board have combined forces to create a compelling package of services for anyone looking for medical services who also wants to get the most for their money.