Khlong Toei, Bangkok

Khlong Toei is the district south of lower Sukhumvit, around the port and the old market area near Rama IV Road. It is working-class and largely residential rather than a tourist zone, with only a few venues listed. Its position next to Sukhumvit means a short taxi ride from Asok or Phrom Phong.

Quiet and local. The listings show a small handful of bars, three massage shops and one nightclub, so there is no busy strip. Expect a mostly Thai crowd, craft-beer spots and neighborhood venues instead of tourist bars. It makes a change from Sukhumvit, but it is not a place to plan a whole night around.

No. No red-light hub is listed for Khlong Toei, and the district has no gogo bars or beer bars. The adult side is Roze Nuru Massage and a couple of other massage shops. For a classic red-light scene, Soi Cowboy and Nana Plaza on lower Sukhumvit are close by.

Eight places in all: 4 bars, 3 massage shops and 1 nightclub. The bars include 3 Bears Craft Brewery, Bar 23, Sugar Ray and temps hazy hours, the massage shops are Roze Nuru, sazanka spa&massage and Thanya Health Massage, and the club is BACCARAT. It is a small, mixed list.

Khlong Toei is smaller, quieter and more local. Sukhumvit lists 275 places with gogo bars, beer bars and street freelancers, while Khlong Toei lists 8. Use Khlong Toei for a craft beer or a massage if you are passing through, and Sukhumvit for the actual night out.

Stay on lower Sukhumvit, which is nearby, rather than in Khlong Toei itself, because the area has little nightlife and few hotels aimed at visitors. A craft beer here can open the evening before you head to Asok or Nana. The nearest red-light hubs are a short ride away.

By MRT to Khlong Toei station or by taxi or Grab from lower Sukhumvit. Local traffic around the market and port can be heavy at rush hour. After the trains stop around midnight, use a Grab or Bolt car and confirm the fare in the app.

Choose where you walk after dark. The area is working-class, and some streets are quiet and poorly lit, so stay on the main roads and travel by taxi or Grab rather than on foot late at night. Check what a massage shop offers before going in, and keep your phone out of sight.