Take a Child to Government House
On the second Saturday of January, the courtyards and parade grounds of Bangkok's official institutions fill with families. Children's Day — Wan Dek — is a national observance, and the capital marks it by doing something unusual: opening the doors of the state to its youngest citizens. Take a child to Government House or Parliament House, where special events are organised for the day, and you'll spend the morning among Thai families who have come to see the places where the country is run. Military bases belonging to the Army, Navy and Air Force also host activities, and these are among the most popular stops of the day for Bangkok children.
The Prime Minister sets a theme and slogan for each observance, which shapes the year's programming. In 2016, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's slogan was "Good children are diligent and crave for learning, for a bright future" — expect the day's events to reflect whatever message the government has chosen. The wider purpose is consistent: activities that emphasise children's role in national development.
Museums That Open for Free
Several of Bangkok's institutions mark the day with free or half-price admission for children. Museum Siam, the Thai Red Cross Museum and Dusit Zoo are among the venues that organise special events and reduced entry. Plan a route that strings two or three together rather than trying to cover everything — the city's families have the same idea, and the queues at the most popular sites build through the morning.
- Museum Siam — special Children's Day programming and reduced admission for children.
- Thai Red Cross Museum — special events with free or half-price entry for children.
- Dusit Zoo — one of the venues offering free or half-price admission on the day.
- Government House and Parliament House — open for special events organised for children.
- Army, Navy and Air Force bases — activities hosted by the armed forces.
When to Go
Wan Dek falls annually on the second Saturday of January, which puts your visit in Bangkok's cool, dry season — the most comfortable stretch of the year for walking between venues and standing in outdoor crowds. Because the date is fixed to a Saturday, the city's children are out of school and the events run at full capacity. Arrive at the major sites early; the day is built around families, and the free-admission venues draw the biggest numbers.
Eating Your Way Through the Day
Children's Day is a family day out, and Bangkok's food culture follows the crowd. Build your day around the venues you choose and eat where the families eat — the market stalls and shophouse restaurants near Dusit Zoo and around the government quarter fill with parents and children between activities. Keep the day flexible: the sources describe the venues and the admission offers, not a fixed programme of markets or parades, so let the crowds and the queues guide where you stop for lunch rather than planning a specific stall in advance.
A Day Built Around the Institutions
The most reliable way to experience Wan Dek is to treat the day as a tour of the city's civic and cultural institutions, all within reach of one another. Start at Museum Siam, where the special Children's Day events give context to the day's theme, then move on to Government House or Parliament House while the morning is still cool. In the afternoon, head to Dusit Zoo or one of the military bases, where the activities are designed for children and the atmosphere is at its most festive. The Thai Red Cross Museum makes a quieter stop if the crowds at the larger venues become too much.
Because the Prime Minister's slogan changes each year, check the current theme before you go — it will tell you what the day's programming is likely to emphasise, and it's a small window into how Thailand thinks about its children. Book accommodation near the Dusit district or the old city to keep the day's travel short, and plan to start early. The second Saturday of January comes around once a year; a little forward planning puts you in the courtyards of Government House with the rest of Bangkok's families.