In the 1920s western commentators found comfort in finding in Bangkok
features resembling other European and colonial cities.
They included: the
western stores and medical dispensaries of Charoen Krung Road, the hotels
(some converted from palaces to serve increasing numbers of affluent
western tourists), the leafy western bungalow area expanding from this
thoroughfare along Surawong and Silom Roads, the electric tramway
system and the French-designed Hualamphong Railway station.