# Rangsit

Rangsit (รังสิต) is an exurb about 40 km north of Bangkok.

## Understand

Effectively a suburb of Bangkok, Rangsit is directly north of Bangkok on Phahonyothin Rd, 20 km from Don Mueang Airport.

## Get in
### By train

Rangsit is the northern terminus of the SRT Red commuter line from Bang Sue. Most northbound long-distance trains also stop here.

### By bus

Local buses 29, 34, 39, 59, 95, 504, 510 and 522 will get you from Bangkok to Rangsit Future Park (8 baht in the basic non air-con buses, 18-22 baht for air-con). You can catch most of these from the bus stop next to BTS Mo Chit station. The journey takes 30–60 minutes depending on the traffic and bus (the orange 5xx services are faster).
Nearly all central, north and northeast-bound long-distance buses stop next to Major Bowl Shopping Centre, Which is right next to Future Park Shopping Mall as a hub from Rangsit in or out of the main city of Bangkok, and often almost half the bus gets off. And with reason: it's still another hour from here to the city, so this is an excellent place to hop out, stretch your legs, and get a decent meal.

### By taxi

A taxi to central Bangkok will cost at least 300 baht. Always insist on using the meter. In the midnight hours a "service charge" may be required, but one shouldn't have to pay over 50 baht extra.
Taxis to and from Suvarnabhumi Airport approximately cost 380 baht, Although the touts outside will try and get you to pay 1,000-1,500 baht, wait in the taxi line outside the airport and you should be fine.

## See

* National Memorial (อนุสรณ์สถานแห่งชาติ), Viphavadi Rangsit Rd (On Vibhavadi Rangsit Rd slightly beyond Don Mueang Railway Station at the intersection of Viphavadi Rangsit Rd and Phahonyothin Rd), ☏ +66 2 532 1021. M-F 09:00-16:00. Covering an area of 38 rai, the National Memorial is under the responsibility of the Armed Force Education Department, Supreme Command Headquarters. There are wall paintings depicting historic events in Thai history from the Sukhothai period to the Rattanakosin period, replicas of royal decorations, bas-reliefs of the establishment of the city and models recounting historic battles in Thai history. A speaker is available for a group visit, but advance contact is required. Free admission.
* National Science Museum.
* Royal Thai Mint (on Phahonyothin Rd, 3km north of Future Park).
* Wat Phra Dhammakaya. Humongous hypermodern temple home to the controversial Dhammakaya (Thammakai) cult/sect, dubbed the Thai version of the Church of Scientology. The size of the complex can hardly be overstated: crowds on special events can number in the hundreds of thousands, and the unreal scale of everything makes it appear like a science fiction movie set built by Albert Speer. As you enter, you'll first see the golden dome of the Memorial Hall of the sect's founder, Phramonkolthepmuni. Behind it lies the aircraft-hangar-sized Meditation Hall, and once you've walked through it (which takes a solid 15 minutes of hiking!) you'll spot the main event, the stupendous Maha Dhammakaya Cetiya. This is a golden UFO-shaped chedi covered with "one million" (in 300,000 outside and 700,000 inside) golden Buddhas, in the centre of a massive square and surrounded by the concrete platform of the Meditation Amphitheatre. There are free shuttle services from Victory Monument and Sanam Luang in Bangkok starting at 07:00 on Sundays only; otherwise, find the elusive shuttle bus 1008 from Rangsit market, or just take a taxi from Future Park (80-100 baht one way). The temple is free to all and open daily, but devotees gather the first Sunday of each month and there are English-language meditation retreats several times a year. Dress decently (women must cover shoulders and legs) and try to pick a cloudy or cool day because there's a lot of walking to be done.

## Do

* Dream World (ดรีมเวิลด์), ☏ +66 2 533 1152. M-F 10:00-17:00; Sa-Su, holidays: 10:00-19:00. At km7 of Rangsit-Ongkharak Rd, this large amusement park houses a European-style plaza, miniature land of major world legends, and offers exciting rides, shows, and games. 450 baht.
* Golf: several courses are in this area, for instance Bangkok GC have two.

## Learn

Rangsit hosts over a dozen higher education institutes, including:
* Asian Institute of Technology, Phahonyothin Rd. Thailand's equivalent of MIT has its main campus in Rangsit, 6km north of Future Park. Get there on buses 29 and 39.
* Muay Thai Institute (Down Pahonyothin Rd from Future Park, next to Night Stadium nightclub). The MTI trains both Thai and foreign students (instruction in English) in Thailand's national martial art of muay Thai. Basic, intermediate, advanced, and professional muay Thai skills courses are available, as well as general training for fighters. Rooms are available in the institute.
* Rangsit University. In the centre of the small community of Muang-Ake, RU is one of Thailand's largest universities and home to an international college with English language instruction.
* University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC). Places international students at Rangsit University.

## Buy

* Future Park Rangsit (ฟิวเจอร์พาร์ค รังสิต), Phahonyothin Rd. In Rangsit, the future seems to mean huge shopping malls. Here you can find Robinson and Central department stores, Big C and Tops hypermarkets, a Major Cineplex Future Park Rangsit cinema, Office Depot and HomePro outlets, all packed tightly together. Future Park contains five floor: Basement Floor (B), Ground Floor (G), 1st floor, 2nd floor, and 3rd floor. Future Park itself is divided into several Park such as Gourmet Park (Floor B,G) which has many restaurants, bakeries and coffee shops; Fashion Park (floor G,1) which has clothing stores; Banking Park (2nd floor, near Central Department Store) where several banks are located; Campus Park (3rd floor) where tutorial schools and education centres are located; Digital Park (3rd floor) which has shops selling computers, mobile devices, electronics, and movie and game CD, DVDs; Alive Park (Ground Floor) outside the store, have some coffee shops (Starbucks and Cake Walk) and a clothing store. Alive park also has indoor domes where several events and a concert (usually on Sunday) are held. Forest Park has no store but contains a lot of trees and playgrounds to take a break from shopping. A musical fountains show is performed in the evening.
* IT Zeer Rangsit (ไอที เซียร์ รังสิต), 99 Phahonyothin Rd, ☏ +66 2 534 324. A centre for the sale of computers, mobile phones, and other electronics.
* Major Bowl. Large shopping mall with a large selection of local merchants owning stores and large food court. The best place for Thai department stores.
* Rangsit Markets. Open every day, closing about 21:00 each night. Basically a huge flea market with street vendor after street vendor selling his wares. If you like the local food and aren't shy of the local cuisine and traditional Thai wares this is your place.

## Eat

* Gyudon Express (Just before Viphavadi Rangsit Soi 16 (Soi Chokechai Ruammitr)). An authentic quick-service Japanese restaurant specializing in rice bowls topped with beef (Gyudon).
* Rangsit Boat Noodle (ก๋วยเตี๋ยวเรือรังสิต) (Along the Rangsit canal). On the west side of Future Park Rangsit is the Rangsit-Nakornnayok Rd. There are several boat noodle shops in the stationary boats floating in Rangsit canal along the road. Some also serve steaks and other Western food too.
* Talad Thai (ตลาดไท) (Across from Thammasat University on Phahonyothin Rd), ☏ +66 2 908 4490. 24 hours. One of Asia's largest fresh produce markets, Talad Thai is designed to be spacious and convenient. It is divided into the areas of the Orange Building, a tangerine market, the Mixed Fruits Building, selling many kinds of fruits from farmers from all over the country such as mangoes, cantaloupes, santols, custard apples, guavas, papayas, sapodillas, jujubes, melons, etc. There is also the Flowers, Decorative Plants and Plant Cuttings Market. The Fresh Market is a place selling every kind of consuming products such as beef, pork, duck meat, chicken, fish, seafood, vegetables, fruits, and grocery stores. On the second floor, there are groceries. The Flowers Market offers various kinds of flowers and decorative plants such as roses, orchids, gerberas, wreath-making shops, and shops selling offerings for monks. Moreover, in communities and villages, there are OTOP handcrafted products such as mini Sam Khok water jars as souvenirs, artificial lotus flowers, and leather bags. (updated Oct 2022)