In a ceremony thick with incense and intention, Asset World Corp (AWC) has hammered in the first piling for what promises to be one of Bangkok’s most breathtaking developments: The Ritz-Carlton Bangkok, The Riverside. But this is no glass-and-steel interloper. Oh no — this grand dame-in-waiting will rise from the very bones of Lhong 1919, a 19th-century riverside marvel once alive with the clang of steamship commerce and the murmured prayers of sailors to the sea goddess Mazu.
This isn’t just a hotel. It’s a reverent resurrection.
A Blessing by the River — and the Ancestors
On 9 June, within the moss-clad courtyards of The Lhong 1919 Riverside Heritage Destination, a traditional blessing was performed at the sacred Mazu Shrine. It wasn’t for show. It was a moment of genuine cultural ceremony — a hat-tip to the old ways before the new tower climbs.
Ritz-Carlton breaks ground at Lhong 1919 with dragons, dignitaries, and a dash of destiny.
The locals came. Elders offered incense. Chanting filled the humid air. This was Bangkok doing what it does best — folding the future into the past with a smile and a wai.
“We’re not just building a hotel,” said Mrs Wallapa Traisorat, AWC’s Chief Executive Officer and President. “We’re building meaning. We’re preserving a spiritual landmark while introducing a new way to experience wellness and cultural luxury in the heart of Bangkok.”
If it sounds ambitious, that’s because it is. But Mrs Traisorat isn’t known for understatement.
The Spirit of Yin and Yang
The development, as they say, is inspired by Yin and Yang — a delicate balance of calm and vigour, heritage and innovation. On one side of the river, Lhong 1919 will be respectfully restored. On the other hand, the lesser-known but no less charismatic Song Wat district will spring back to life with its shophouses transformed into a high-end sanctuary for travellers who want culture with their cocktails.
The centrepiece? A sleek, 20-storey tower that will rise above the waterline, offering 360-degree views and perhaps the city’s most stylish spot to sip a G&T at sunset. Inside, 168 rooms will unfurl across the tower and two painstakingly restored heritage buildings, with another 24 suites over in Song Wat. Guests will be ferried back and forth by boat — because let’s be honest, if you’re staying in a heritage palace on the Chao Phraya, taxis won’t do.
A heritage haven reborn — Ritz-Carlton Bangkok rises riverside, wrapped in history and high design.
A Heritage Site with Swagger
Lhong 1919 isn’t your everyday “heritage-lite” affair. Once a steamship port and customs house, the site is a surviving shard of the days when Siam’s maritime empire pulsed with Chinese trade. The central courtyard still sings with the faded glory of Chinese-inspired murals, wooden beams and soul. It’s been designated a national heritage site, and rightly so.
AWC’s plan? Preserve, respect, elevate. Not bulldoze and rebuild.
A team led by Associate Professor Dr Peeraya Boonprasong of Silpakorn University — Thailand’s pre-eminent conservationist — is overseeing the restoration. She’s joined by design heavyweights A49 and Adaptive Design & Doc Co., Ltd. The guiding principle is authenticity, right down to low-vibration construction methods to avoid rattling the neighbours, living and spiritual.
Marriott’s Moment
Brad Edman, Marriott International’s Market VP for Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar, summed it up with gusto: “This is luxury rooted in reverence. The Ritz-Carlton Bangkok, The Riverside will set a new benchmark for heritage hospitality in Asia.”
Indeed, the collaboration between AWC and Marriott is no fly-by-night venture. It’s built on shared values — craftsmanship, culture, and the understanding that the best hotels do more than house guests. They tell stories.
AWC pays floral homage as blessings flow — tradition meets ambition beside Bangkok’s sacred shrine.
Wellness with a Capital W
But this isn’t just a cultural caper. Wellness — that buzzword of the decade — is front and centre. Think spa retreats with local herbal therapies, sound healing sessions in century-old chambers, and chefs who know their turmeric from their tamarind.
The project is also eyeing Green Building certification. Sustainability isn’t tacked on here — it’s foundational. From energy efficiency to community involvement, the aim is clear: build better, tread lightly, leave a legacy.
What’s in a Room Count?
For the statistically inclined: 192 rooms across both banks of the river. The main tower will boast a rooftop restaurant (expect views so good they’ll silence even the most avid Instagrammer), a grand ballroom for society’s finest, and bespoke dining venues. On the heritage side, there’ll be a wellness centre that pays homage to ancient Thai and Chinese healing philosophies.
Across the river, Song Wat’s shophouse rooms will be themed to reflect the cultural mélange of the area. Expect antiques, silk, and probably a few goosebumps.
Bangkok: Not Just a Transit Hub
With the world finally catching on that Bangkok isn’t just a stopover city, developments like this are pushing the narrative forward. Visitors are hungry for more than malls and mango sticky rice. They want meaning.
AWC and Marriott are offering just that — a place where you can have a massage under timber beams that have seen a century of storms, then step outside to catch the sun bouncing off the Chao Phraya as monks shuffle past.
A Blessing and a Promise
As the ceremonial pile drove into the earth, it wasn’t just concrete going down. It was a promise. To the community, to history, and to every traveller who’s ever wanted more from a city than just a room and a minibar.
“This is our tribute to Bangkok,” said Mrs Traisorat, “and our invitation to the world.”
And with that, Bangkok’s future just got a little more poetic — and a lot more luxurious.
By Yves Thomas
