Скачать или смотреть The TRUE Story of Bangkok's Malaysia Hotel (1967-2025)

How did The Malaysia Hotel get its name? What is the link with the film Good Morning Vietnam? And why is it mentioned in the first ever Lonely Planet guide?

This video explains all, and also shows what the hotel is like in 2025!

You'll also find out about the song that mentions it, and see the famous noticeboard that has been put to a new use!

It opened in December 1967 as a 120‑room, six‑floor property on Soi Ngam Duphli in Bangkok’s Sathorn district, owned by the Rungsaeng family.

In its early years, the hotel became a favourite R&R stop for American GIs, thanks to its proximity to Lumphini Park, the U.S. Embassy, the Joint United States Military Advisory Group (JUSMAG), and the Patpong Market and nightlife.

Rooms originally cost 120 baht per night, but after U.S. forces withdrew from Vietnam rates were slashed to 60 baht—which attracted first backpackers who began visitingThailand around this time.

You can still stay at this family‑run hotel, now in its third generation. The Malaysia Hotel retains its retro 1960s–80s décor—from unrenovated hallways and vintage signage to a reception area that feels like a living time capsule of old Bangkok.