On the west bank of the Chao Phraya, Thonburi, capital of Siam under King Taksin (1767-1782), has kept part of its network of canals, the khlongs. The two main ones, Khlong Bangkok Yai and Khlong Bangkok Noi, are former bends of the river: they became canals when the Chao Phraya switched to a shortcut dug under King Chairacha (1534-1546). The wooden stilt houses, temples, family jetties and gardens along their banks are best seen from a long-tail boat (rua hang yao), hired with its driver for one or two hours from the piers on the east bank. Allow half a day if you add a floating market or a temple.
Highlights
Khlong Bangkok Yai and Khlong Mon
About 6 kilometres long, Khlong Bangkok Yai runs through the Bangkok Yai, Thon Buri and Phasi Charoen districts. It passes Wat Kalayanamit, Wat Molilokayaram, Wichai Prasit Fort and several mosques, then joins Khlong Mon. Narrower, Khlong Mon is lined with wooden houses and small gardens: it is the stretch most one-hour trips follow.
Khlong Bang Luang and the Artist's House
On Khlong Bang Luang, an old wooden stilt house has become the Artist's House (Baan Silapin): a gallery upstairs, a postcard shop and a small theatre on the ground floor. A troupe performs a traditional Thai puppet show, usually around 2 pm, every day except Wednesday; entry is free and donations are welcome. You can also walk there via Charoen Sanitwong Soi 3.
Khlong Bangkok Noi
It meets the river next to Siriraj Hospital. It passes the National Museum of Royal Barges, home to the boats of royal processions, then Wat Suwannaram and Wat Si Sudaram, where the poet Sunthorn Phu studied as a child.
Wat Ratchaorasaram
On Khlong Dan, in Chom Thong district, this Ayutthaya-period temple was restored from 1820 by the prince who would become King Rama III. A lover of Chinese art, he had it rebuilt without the usual Thai roof ornaments. It also has a 20-metre stucco reclining Buddha. Reaching it takes a trip of two hours or more.
Taling Chan and Khlong Lat Mayom floating markets
On Saturdays and Sundays, two neighbourhood markets come to life along the canals. Taling Chan market, set up in 1987 on Khlong Chak Phra in front of the district office, runs from about 8:30 am to 4 pm, with traditional music from 11 am to 2 pm. Khlong Lat Mayom market, opened in 2004 in Bang Ramat, runs from 9 am to 5 pm, and on public holidays too. You eat by the water, and boats offer short trips on the nearby canals.
Wat Paknam
At the mouth of Khlong Phasi Charoen, on Khlong Bangkok Yai, [Wat Paknam](/fr/attractions/wat-paknam-bangkok) and its 69-metre Big Buddha can be seen from the boat; ask for a stop when you agree on the route.
Infos pratiques
Tips
The price of a private boat is for the whole boat, not per person, and depends on the duration. No official price list was published online as of 1 October 2026: if a price board is displayed at the pier, go by it, and before boarding agree on the price, the duration, the route and the stops, then pay at the end. Around the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, beware of touts who claim a sight is "closed" and offer a boat trip instead: book only at the pier counter (see [scams to avoid](/fr/articles/arnaques-securite-bangkok)). During the trip, boats sell drinks and souvenirs, and some temples sell bread to feed the fish: none of it is compulsory.
How to get there
Trips leave from the east-bank piers served by the [Chao Phraya](/fr/attractions/fleuve-chao-phraya-bangkok) Express Boat: Tha Chang (near the [Grand Palace](/fr/attractions/grand-palais-bangkok)), Tha Tien (near [Wat Pho](/fr/attractions/wat-pho-bangkok)), Tha Maharaj and Sathorn (BTS Saphan Taksin station). By road: the Artist's House is at the end of Charoen Sanitwong Soi 3 (taxi); Khlong Lat Mayom market is linked to MRT Bang Khun Non station by a free shuttle; Wat Paknam is 800 metres from MRT Bang Phai station.
Opening hours
Nearby
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