In a snap, five-star hotels turned into two-star hotels and airport-related businesses moved out of the far north. The economic engine that Don Mueang used to be suddenly stopped working. After a big renovation, it was reopened in 2007 for non-connecting domestic flights, but still few airlines make use of it. With the opening of Suvarnabhumi Airport in 2006, Don Mueang Airport closed down completely for one year. And while still off the beaten track to foreigners, Soi Ari turned into a hip artist-y neighbourhood with plenty of cheap dining options. Shopping is the main activity here a visitor hasn't been to Bangkok without visiting the huge Chatuchak Weekend Market, the largest market in Southeast Asia with over 8,000 stalls. While the northern part is barely attended by foreign visitors, the southern part has some major highlights. Getting from the fringes to the southern part of Phahonyothin might take two hours or more, depending on traffic. Many of Bangkok's residents live here and commute to downtown every day. Because of this commercial activity, Bangkok mostly expanded northwards and Phahonyothin turned into one of the most developed suburbs of Bangkok.

The first commercial flights in Don Mueang Airport started in 1924 since then, the airport has been a commercial motor for the whole district, attracting many hotels and businesses. Don Mueang has been an important airline hub, and for a long time held the title of second busiest airport in Asia by passenger volume. Until 2006, nearly all visitors to Thailand landed here at Don Mueang Airport. But even then, Phahonyothin is a vast district by any means, stretching 30 kilometres from north to south. Later it was extended even further, all the way to the Burmese border for a length of 1,005 kilometres! This article doesn't stretch that long, as it only covers that part of Phahonyothin Road that is actually within the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsonhkhram extended the road north all the way north to Sing Buri, and renamed it Phahonyothin Road in honor of General Phraya Pholphayuhasena, the second Prime Minister of Thailand (commonly known as Phot Phahonyothin). Originally, Phahonyothin Road was named Prachathipatai Road (ถนนประชาธิปไตย) and it was just 22 kilometres, stretching from Victory Monument to Don Mueang Airport. There are few sights that are actually worth it to come all the way up here for, but most tourists make a beeline for the Chatuchak Weekend Market. Also spelled Phaholyothin, Pahol Yothin, and many other variations, it stretches northward all the way past the old Don Mueang Airport towards Rangsit, Ayutthaya, and (if you drive long enough) Chiang Rai.

Phahonyothin ( Thai: พหลโยธิน) is centred around Phahonyothin Road, a major arterial road that starts at Victory Monument and runs parallel to and eventually merges with Viphavadi Rangsit Road in the north of Bangkok.

Kor tor mor parking ma