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Samut Prakan Province

The pagoda of Pra Samut Chedi
Tourist Attractions and Places of Interest :
Amphoe Muang
Pra Samut Chedi or Phra Chedi Klang Nam
Phra Chulachomklao Fortress
Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm
The Ancient City
Out of City Attractions
Map of Samut Prakan Province
Bang Pu Seaside Resort
Paklat Songkran Festival
Receiving Lotus Custom (Festival)


The boat procession of Luang Por Toh

Literally translated as "seaside barricade" or "beachfront wall", Samut Prakan is commonly referred to as "Pak Nam" or "the mouth of the river". It is located at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River and served as a major frontline city in ancient times.
About 800 years ago, the Khmers built Phra Pradaeng City at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River. Later, the land there expanded to the south of the sea and it significance hs dwindled as Phra Pradaeng is no longer located on the mouth of the river.
Around 1580 to 1628, King Songtham of the Ayutthaya Kingdom commanded the construction of Samut Prakan as the Ayutthaya Kingdom's new city on the mouth of the river. He also granted a plot of land on the west of the Chao Phraya River at the Bang Pla Klot Riverside for the Dutch to build a warehouse and develop it into a trade city called "New Amsterdam".
During 1656-1688, Thailnd saw more contacts with foreign countries. As a frontline city, Samut Prakan had many forts improved. It was then too that the first Thai national flag was created. A French ship once entered the mouth of the river and Thailand put up the Dutch national flag as a welcoming sign since no Thai national flag was ever used. It happened that the French ship did not fire a salute to show respect to the flag. Not knowing what to do, Thailand decided to bring down the Dutch flag and hoist a red cloth to replace it. The French ship then fired a salute as the red flag was thought to be the Thai national flag. Later, the red flag which was used as the national flag was changed with an elephant emblem and then to the tricolor flag at present. The reason for the use of red cloth as national flag was that in those days ordinary people could not wear red which it was reserved only for the monarchy.
In 1756 during the reign of King Borommakot of the Ayutthaya period, Samut Prakan was founded for 100 years and the area on the mouth of the river became a new land, presently the location of "Wat Klang Worawihan". In 1767 during the Thon Buri Period, the original city of Phra Pradaeng at Ratchaburana was dismantled. The city wall was used to build other structures elsewhere. The original Phra Pradaeng then disappeared.
During the Rattanakosin Period in 1809, King Rama I commanded the construction of a fortress, known as "Pom Witthayakhon" on the left of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. He intended to build a city there to defend the capital against enemies from the sea. The city was completely built during the reign of King Rama II in 1815. It was named "Nakhon Khuan Khan". The city consisted of nine fortresses, four of which were located on the left of the Chao Phraya River and five on the right. Later a city pillar was built. Nakhon Khuan Khan is presently Samut Prakan. King Rama II in 1823 consrtucted a pagoda or chedi, known as Pra Samut Chedi, in this city, but he passed away before it was completed. It was King Rama III who completed the construction. The pagoda is commonly referred to by the general public as "Phra Chedi Klang Nam" or "pagoda in mid-waterway".
King Chulalongkorn (King Rama V) introducted a Pak Nam railway as the first railway line in Thailand. A Danish company was entrusted to build it and the King inaugurated the railway line on April 11, 1893. Five months later, on September 13, 1893, the first train started operation in Thailand and it was called "Pak Nam Train". King Chulalongkorn commanded the construction of another fortress there known as "Pom Phra Chulachomklao" to defend Thai waters. He also renamed the city "Phra Pradaeng" as originally called. Apart from the national flag and train service, other "first things in Siam" that took birth in Samut Prakan ibclude telegram, telephone and postal services.

Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm
  • Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm, the largest crocodile farms in the world with a crocodile population of over 30,000, crocodiles of 28 different species, some of them no longer in existence elsewhere. The Zoo -- Elephants, tigers, lions, chimpanzees, etc. The location is only 10 km. from Bangkok. Click here for more information Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm.

  • The Ancient City (Muang Boran)

    One of the largest open-air museums in the world, it covers more than 80 hectares in the shape of Thailand. Ancient City features replicas of ancient temples, palaces, and ordinary homes, some at reduced scales.
      This park, located in the vicinity of Tambon Bang Pu Mai, Amphoe Muang at Km.33.5 of Sukhumvit Road, house replicas of important places of worship of various provinces. Some of those are miniaturized and some are actual sizes. It is also center of interesting folk arts and culture.
      This is not a Disneyesque tourist attraction, but rather a loving tribute to Thai architecture. Some of the building in his Ancient City don't exist anymore - the Grang Temple of Ayutthaya, for example -- while others are more familiar
      The entrance is at Thailand's southern tip and a hired car is recommended as it takes a full day to walk the entire property. Further details can be obtained at the Ancient City Company Limited, Tel. (02) 226-1936, 224-1057.
  • Bang Pu Seaside Resort
    This place is located in the vicinity of Tambon Bang Pu Mai, about 10kilometers from Amphoe Muang. It is a rest and various place. A beautiful garden and restaurant inside the landscape make it suitable for dining and viewing the pleasant scenery.

    Festival and Celebrations in Samut Prakan

  • Paklat Songkran Festival
    This is a very famous and enjoyable annual festival falling on Sunday following Songkran Day (April 13). The inhabitants of Muang Phra Pradaeng with the cooperation of Muang Phra Pradaeng Municipality conduct the festival according to the Mons original tradition including the Miss Songkran procession, the setting free of birds and fishes, and playing various games which originated with the Mon people.

  • Receiving Lotus Custom

    Luang Por Toh, a Buddha image of people.
    Receiving Lotus Custom, the tradition of receiving lotus is also one tradition that has long background since the reign of King Rama II of Chakkri Dynasty of Rattanakosin period. Therefore, when the Mons return to Phra Pra Daeng after completion of farming, they will collect these lotuses to offer to the temple of village on the end of the lent. They bring these lotuses every year on the paddle boat. Consequently, people in Bang Plee area will prepare these lotuses for the Phra Pra Daeng people. Sending and receiving of lotuses from hand to hand then become the source of tradition "Receiving Lotus Custom.
    The highlight of receiving lotus tradition, in the early morning prior the end of the lent of each year, is that villagers will bring the main Buddha image or "Luang Por Toh" onto the big boat, gliding along khlong Samrong. People along both sides of Khlong will throw lotuses into this boat with amusement and excitment. They will have their own lotus which is bought along the way to the khlong. Most of them are white lotuses which present purity. Everybody will be ready at the edge of the khlong in order to throw the lotuses into the boat that loads Luang Por Toh.
    The boat is full of lotuses within a short time. These lotuses will then be given to the villagers after the ceremony is ended. People will, afterward, bring these lotuses back for merit making. When the boat processions of Luang Por Toh has already passed, followings are beautiful decorated boat processions which are put into competition.

    Map of Samut Prakan Province

    Information
    		: Tourism Authority of Thailand, 4 Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10100, THAILAND.
    Tel. : (66 2) 281-0422 (20 Lines), E-mail : tat@cs.ait.ac.th
    : Tourist Service Center (TAT and Tourist Police), Tel. 1155
    : Tourism Authority of Thailand Tourist Service Center
    : Visiting Samut Prakan Province, Festive Holidays, KINNAREE, Thai Airways International Ltd., May 1998, P. 42.