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Bangkok doesn’t do quiet, it hums, honks, pulses. Even its silences come laced with static. Which is why the BOTLC Book Fair feels almost suspiciously serene. From July 16-20 at 10am-6.30pm, the Bank of Thailand Learning Centre – all clean lines and soft light – becomes a kind of sanctuary for the overstimulated. Tucked beside the Chao Phraya, it offers not just books but the rarest thing of all: a pause.
This isn’t your average fairground frenzy. No jostling, no soundtrack engineered to keep you moving. Instead, it’s slow: a page turned, a thought held, a breeze that actually matters. You can wander through tables of titles without pressure, eavesdrop on a panel, then drift outside to sit with something dog-eared and deeply yours. There’ll be workshops, music, food if you need it – but the real draw is the rhythm, unhurried, unbothered.
Because yes, you’ll find books – but you’ll also find space – space to browse, to breathe, to sit with a novel by the water and forget your phone exists.
Here’s how it unfolds
- Book fair – Not just a shopping spree. It’s a curated sprawl of publishers, obscure titles, and enough paperbacks to make your tote bag ache in the best way.
- Book talk – Authors step into the spotlight, joined by influencers who know their Baldwin from their Barthes.
- Book walk – A wander through the Bank of Thailand Museum’s collection of currency, stitched with stories more telling than any economics textbook.
- Book sharing – Bring a book, take a book, leave a piece of yourself behind. No receipts, just trust.
- And the rest? Think hands-on workshops, low-key gigs and stalls selling snacks that will inevitably leave crumbs in your next read.
How to get there
By bus:
- Wat Sam Phraya stop: 3, 9, 30, 32, 33, 43, 53, 64, 65, 524
- Opposite Wat Sam Phraya: 3, 9, 30, 32, 33, 53, 64, 65, 516, 524
- Opposite Bank of Thailand: 3, 9, 30, 32, 33, 49, 53, 64, 65, 516, 524
- In front of Bank of Thailand: 3, 9, 30, 32, 33, 43, 49, 53, 64, 65, 524
By boat:
- Thewet Pier – Chao Phraya Express: orange flag, green and yellow flags
- Wat Sam Phraya Pier – Cross-river ferry (no flag)
Registration is opening soon. For more information, ring 02-356-7766.