Samut Sakhon

Samut Sakhon, also called 'Maha Chai', is a small province situated at the mouth of the Tha Chin Klong River-a tributary of the Chao Phraya River, only 2 kilometers to the sea and 28 kilometers from the Bangkok. It covers an area of 872 square kilometers with many fields along the coast used for brine salt production and consists of three amphoes: Krathum Baen, Muang Samut Sakhon, and Ban Phaeo.

According to recorded documents in the Ayutthaya Chronicle, Samut Sakhon is a historic city. It was formerly called Tha Chin just due to its having been a trading port where many Chinese junks arrived in the old days. In 1548, the town Sakhon Buri was founded at the mouth of the Tha Chin River, was the centre of recruiting troops from many seaside towns. In 1704 when the Khlong Mahachai canal was dug, the town was renamed into Mahachai. Later, its name was changed into Samut Sakhon by King Mongkut as present but the old name Mahachai is still called by the locals.

Being a historic city, Samut Sakhon features a wide range of cultural and historical attractions  which are worthy for study and they present the history and the glory of the past. Some of the popular ones are Wat Yai Chom Prasat, Wat Khok Kham, Samut Sakhon Science Centre for Education, Phanthai Norasing Shrine, Pom Wichian Chodok, The City Pillar Shrine, Wat Pa Chai Rangsi, etc. In addition, tourists can come to visit Open Marine Aquarium, a marine biological and aqua-cultural research institute where you can take a boat trip for coastal fishery sightseeing, or travel around Khlong Pho Hak Floating Market to witness the locals’ lifestyles and purchase some local products. Several interesting activities are also popular here as cruising, an exciting water activity, or Orchard and Flower Graden Tour which you can join in the visit to outstanding fruit orchards with various kinds of fruits and see the process of coconut sugar production. It’s shortcoming if you don’t take part in Salt Production Visit to see the most famous product in some salt production fields along the coastal Samut Sakhon.

Samut Sakhon is also the land of rich culture and abundant traditions and customs. It hosts several interesting events and festivals which are held throughout the year as the Seafood Festival which aims to promote the seafood products as well as the agricultural produce of the province, the Ban Phaeo Agriculture Fair, the Chaopho Lak Mueang Procession, the Tha Chalom Vegetarian Festival-a serene vegetarian festival of a ceremonial nature, the Honey Offering Festival and the Bodhisattva Kwan Yin Homage-paying Fair, etc. Joining in these festivals, tourists have great chance to immense into interesting activities and special performances and traditions, as well as alluring natural attractions there. This surely makes your adventure better than ever!