Bang Pu - บางปู

Less than an hour outside Bangkok in the upper part of the Gulf of Thailand lies Bang Pu, "place of crabs”. A brutalist pearl full of seagulls and seafood. It was established in 1937 by Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsongkhram and has since been popular as a recreational place for Bangkokians and retired military officials since it is maintained by the Quartermaster Department of the Royal Thai Army. 

The resort temporarily closed down in the aftermath of the Japanese Imperial Army’s landing at Bang Pu, less than two hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, in order to pass through Thailand and invade British-held Malaya and Burma during the Pacific War. Since then, Bang Pu has undergone significant development in the last century, transitioning from a small fishing village into an important industrial and commercial area for Bangkok.

However, the area still retains small pockets for leisure, and the main attraction is the large flocks of seagulls that migrate from Siberia every year. The seafood restaurant Sala Sukjai, situated at the end of Suk Ta Pier, is a popular weekend destination. Meanwhile, birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts equipped with binoculars and zoom lenses wander around, attempting to catch a glimpse of the new arrivals.