Hotels, bars and restaurants join up to make their soi a safer place

Bangkok has several well-known sois listed in the global travel directory. The world knows there are no horses at Soi Cowboy, that you won't find any straight men in Silom Soi 2 and that clubbers older than 30 should give RCA a miss. All Bangkok taxi drivers know the way to these destinations.

But despite being home to an abundance of quality hotels, restaurants, clubs, shops and spas, the world doesn't know about Sukhumvit Soi 11.

That's about to change, thanks to the setting up of the Soi 11 Association, which aims to promote the area to both the local and international communities as a vibrant lifestyle brand.

Association members say they are also determined to provide more convenience and better values their customers, with some as bars and hotels already offering joint promotions and discounts.

As far as plans go, the group plans regular joint events and promotions including New Year's Eve and Chinese New Year's celebrations that will embrace the Soi 11 area. Special packages will be available at all participating businesses.

And the association's mission is not purely commercial. Members are also aiming to improve the neighbourhood, which has long suffered from overcrowding, perpetual roadworks, garbage disposal problems and general deterioration. The partners will step in and do what's necessary to make the soi more attractive and user friendly.

That's good news from those of us who have watched beautifully dressed denizens forced to walking on the road dodging traffic and potholes because the sidewalks are totally taken up by messy food stalls. Hopefully, Soi 11 will soon become better organised and safer for pedestrians - like Bangkok's other well-established sois.