Bang Na is located southeast of Bangkok, starting around Sukhumvit 105 and heading east down the Bang Na Trat highway. Most of the nice expat housing estates in this region are not near Sukhumvit Rd. but are a ways down Bang Na Trat.

Bang Na Trat is a two level freeway -- an elevated expressway above with few exits and entry ramps, and on the ground level is the old 6 lane highway plus frontage roads on both sides which are very busy with traffic. This is an industrial area stretching from Samut Prakarn to Chonburi, but there are some residential oases about 10 km or more from the Sukhumvit Road intersection, and some condominiums closer in towards Sukhumvit Rd. and the Sri Nakharin intersection. Houses and condominiums can also be found off Sri Nakharin Road not far from Bang Na Trat highway.

Many of the neighborhoods have large yards and a lot of spacious greenery. Lakeside houses for rent are common here. Generally, the older the house, the larger the yard, but there are some exceptions.

There are many international schools in Bang Na, so that many expats are looking to find a house for rent near Bangkok Patana School or the American School of Bangkok in Bangna or one of the other schools.

The environment around the neighborhoods is more industrial in this region. By this, I don't mean that there are smokestack industries within view of homes. Not at all. However, after you get down your soi to turn onto the main road, there are lots of big trucks and the main road is lined with entrances to industrial complexes.

There are superstores, grocery stores, and restaurants in this area, but it's not as good in this regard as Bangkapi or Nonthaburi which are much more residential regions. Most people who live in Bang Na do so because their work is in Samut Prakarn or the Bang Poo Industrial Estate or Chonburi, or the new Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

The main shopping malls are Central Bang Na, Seacon Square, and Seri Center. Seacon Square is one of the best in Thailand, and was an old hangout place for me back in the mid-1990s, especially its diversity of restaurants from Italian to Japanese to many other kinds. Seri Center is mainly a computer/IT shopping mall and is within walking distance of Seacon Square.

The best known housing estates include Lakeside 1 Village and Lakeside 2 Village, Summit Windmill, Nantawan Village, Prukparom, Laddawan, and Thana City. However, most of these are older housing estates and many of the newer ones are not well known to the general public.

The Thailand Guru website also introduces houses for rent in Bang Na, Samut Prakarn and includes good maps for orientation.