The museum is very small and would make a fairly short and expensive visit if you walked through it by yourself. But he ticket includes a guided tour if you show up when there is a guide available, or is willing to wait a bit for the next tour. With a guide, this turns into a very very interesting, fun, and worthwhile visit, worth every penny. Our guide was an Italian guy, but from overhearing other guides, ALL the guides are good and add a lot of color to the visit that you would not have caught if you walked through by yourself. It comes with a drink, and the place is small and cozy enough where you can have intimate discussions afterwards about the history while having your drink before returning to the BKK heat outside.

Wow! This museum was one of the most interesting places I’ve been to in Bangkok!! It gave me an idea of what this city was like at the start of the century. Hard to imagine the Patpong red light district started out as a banana farm but our great guide, Andrea, took us through the history of the place as it morphed from banana farm, to business center, international corporation offices, clandestine CIA office, control central for the secret war in Laos, illicit drug center, magnet for rock n rollers and now an adult entertainment center. It also has one of the city’s night markets where they sell knockoffs, souvenirs, t-shirts, watches, etc. So if you visit the museum in the evening you can then take in the market. The museum has many displays of photographs, interactive displays, a video of the CIA’s secret war in Laos, memorabilia all well curated with descriptions of what you’re seeing in Thai and English. For 350 baht you get a personalized tour, great AC and a complimentary beverage. It is a small museum, maybe 5 rooms, but is packed with fascinating things and we spent about 2 hours. The time really flew and we highly recommend it. Hope you get Andrea as your guide!

The museum and guided tour was very interesting and well worth the entrance price and time. CIA and David Bowie....who knew? If you have an hour or two spare between visiting the usual sights, try and fit this into your schedule, you won’t regret it!