Why was iconsiam so expensive?

yeah the 54 billion baht figure is real but it's not just the building, it's the whole riverfront land deal with the crown property bureau. the queen thing is half right, it's more that the chakri dynasty owns that plot thru the crown bureau so they wanted a flagship project that'd make the area iconic, not just another mall. the construction alone was insane too, they had to build that massive underground parking and the whole riverside foundation, plus the glass facade and the indoor waterfall stuff, all imported materials basically. tbh iconsiam is less about profit and more about soft power, showing thailand's "luxury" side to tourists and rich chinese buyers. if u compare it to siam paragon, that one's private money and way cheaper to build, but iconsiam had to be extra because it's crown land and they wanted a landmark. also the local u talked to might mean the late queen sirikit, she pushed for more thai cultural showcases in the design, like the floating market section on the ground floor, which was a royal initiative thing. end of the day, 54 billion baht is a lot for a mall but it's also a mixed-use complex with condos and a river pier, so the roi comes from the residential towers above, not just the shopping

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The crown property angle is the big one, but people forget how much of that budget went into the land itself. The riverfront plot there was always prime real estate, and the Crown Property Bureau basically controls it, so the "cost" includes a crazy valuation for land that technically wasn't sold. Also, the mall's been a massive tourist draw since day one, so the government probably sees it as a long-term investment in keeping Bangkok's riverside competitive with places like Marina Bay Sands. The queen's influence is more about the cultural stuff, like the hand-painted ceilings and the traditional Thai

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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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