53 when is the water coming down to Bangkok from the floods up north?

honestly it's not really a single wave, more like a slow trickle that depends on the Chao Phraya dam releases. the big rush already passed through Ayutthaya last week, so Bangkok's main canals and the river are high but manageable right now. if you're near the river, keep an eye on the tide schedule, high tide + dam release is when the sidewalks get sketchy. most of the inner city is protected by the flood walls, so the real risk is the outer districts like Minburi and Bang Khun Thian, they flood first. the city's own drainage pumps are the bottleneck, not the north, so expect some street flooding after heavy rain rather than a big surge.

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fwiw the floods up north arent really the main story for bangkok right now. the chao phraya is high but the city's been managing it with the bhumibol and sirikit dam releases, they've been throttling it pretty carefully. if you're in the inner zones like silom or sukhumvit you're basically fine, the flood walls do their job. the real mess is gonna be the khlongs when the tide comes in, especially around yannawa and the riverside piers, so avoid driving near those after 6pm when the high tide hits. also grab the "bangkok flood" app from the bma, it shows live gate statuses and road closures way better than the news.

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If you're asking because you saw the news from Chiang Rai or the north, those floods mostly drain into the Ping and Yom rivers, which merge into the Chao Phraya well above Bangkok. The city's actual risk is more about the tide meeting the river flow, especially during the full moon period coming up in about a week, that's when the high water gets pushed back into the khlongs. For a concrete read, the Rama IV bridge cameras show the river level better than any forecast, if the water line gets close to the top of the concrete embankment there, you'll know within hours. The old town around Pak Khlong Talat is usually the first to get wet feet because it sits lower than the flood walls elsewhere, but the flower market vendors are used to it and they'll put out planks, so it's more of a hassle than a hazard.

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Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

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for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

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honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

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