Jim Thompson House

“Not only do you have beautiful things, but what is rare, you have arranged them with faultless taste,” wrote Somerset Maugham in a letter to Jim Thompson, whose former home is now a not-to-be-missed museum. The self-made American entrepreneur came to Thailand in the late 1940s, after World War II. In subsequent years, Thompson single-handedly revived Thai silk weaving, a craft that had been slowly dying out. Not only did he revitalize an industry that runs strong to this day, he also championed socially responsible business practices, letting his female weavers work from home (where they were able to watch their children) and giving the core group of his weavers shares in his Thai Silk Company. Thompson disappeared under mysterious circumstances in Malaysia in 1967. There are lots of theories of what happened to him; be sure to ask your guide.

Thompson was a major collector of Southeast Asian art, and many of his unique finds from Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia and Laos are displayed in the house, which he began building in 1958. The complex is made up of several typical Thai houses that were taken apart and moved from Ayutthaya, the ancient capital. It’s a stunning oasis of beauty and serenity and the second-most-visited attraction in Bangkok (trumped only by the Grand Palace). Open 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Tip: You can visit the interior of the home only on a guided tour. When you purchase your ticket, you are given a place on the next tour given in your language. During the unavoidable wait, you are encouraged to hang out in the boutique; a nicer way to while away the time is to have a coffee at the gorgeous little café and restaurant on the property.