Travel writer Roderick Eime explores the enormous shopping mall ICONSIAM.

Bangkok's newest mega-shopping mall, ICONSIAM, opened with great fanfare in 2019, just before the start of the global pandemic. The $1.5 billion complex likely gave investors sleepless nights as cities and travelers came to a near standstill for two years.

Despite the unfortunate timing, the opening took place and the huge retail, residential, hotel, exhibition and entertainment district was opened to the public "out of a strong desire to showcase all the greatness of the Thais and Thailand".

Enthralled by the superlatives used to describe this mega shopping center, I took the free ferry that departs from Sathorn Pier, right next to the Saphan Taksin BTS station on the opposite side of the Chao Phraya River.

The boat drops us off at the private dock at the foot of the towering residential towers, which have 70 and 52 stories respectively and rise ten floors above half a million square meters of retail space. That's equivalent to 90 football fields. The larger of the two towers, the Magnolias Waterfront Residences, is now the tallest building in Bangkok, surpassing the King Power MahaNakhon by four meters.

You can also reach ICONSIAM via the dedicated BTS (Gold) line. If you are arriving by car, you can park in one of the 5,000 parking spaces.

The glittering atrium on the ground floor feels like the entrance to a cathedral dedicated to the splendor of consumerism. I am immediately confronted with the global brands that embody the all-powerful gospel of glamour: Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Versace, and Boss are among the 500 stores and 7,000 brands.

To demonstrate a certain economic balance, the range of shops and goods extends from luxury brands like Porsche and Prada to 7-Eleven and Starbucks. Guests can choose from over 100 restaurants, indulging in culinary delights from the Michelin-starred Blue by Alain Ducasse to the expansive Sook Siam food court on the ground floor, where food lovers from around the world can enjoy street food specialties from Thailand's 77 provinces.

  • Image credit: BunBn via Wikimedia Commons

    • “It feels like a hyperrealistic version of Thailand in the form of a food court,” says Thai-born Kisnaphol “Sid” Wattanawanyoo, a lecturer in the Faculty of Architecture and Design at the University of Melbourne. “You could also say that, given its location on the royal river, it follows the course of history, which dates back to the mid-19th century when British traders opened Thailand to the world. In that sense, ICONSIAM follows this tradition and represents the best of Thailand.”

    This philosophy finds its exact echo in the mission of the creators, the same company that gave us Siam Paragon, Siam Center and Siam Discovery.

    “ICONSIAM operates according to the guiding principle of cooperation for the benefit of all sectors of society,” said Pasinee Limatibul, Chairwoman of ICONSIAM Co., Ltd., at the opening of the center, “and is proud to serve as a new symbol of cooperation and as proof that cooperation in society can bring great and lasting benefits to all citizens and the nation.”

    These may be lofty ideals, but Thailand's political pragmatism has enabled the country to rise from a rice-growing economy to a regional economic power without the devastating colonial conflicts inflicted on its neighbors throughout the last century and beyond.

    A trip to ICONSIAM can easily take up an entire day if you want to explore the sheer size of the building. Even a leisurely stroll through the ten floors with a break for a latte or bubble tea is quite an effort. My annoying smartwatch even congratulated me hours earlier than usual when I reached 10,000 steps.

    For full details on ICONSIAM, please visit the official website.