Samut Prakan Travel Guide: Ancient City https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mueang_Boran_HAH_0709.jpg HAH
Samut Prakan สมุทรปราการ is the city as well as provincial capital at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River to the south of Bangkok, Thailand. It is also the location of Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Central City Shopping Center, Bang Na, Samut Prakan https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Central_City_Bang_Na.JPG Sahmeditor
The province of Samut Prakan was created during the Ayutthaya period. The name roughly translates as "ocean fortress", as it was where the Ayutthaya kings erected fortifications facing the Gulf of Thailand. At that time, the administrative center of the province was at Phra Pradaeng. The town was also fortified with town walls and moats. After the fall of Ayutthaya and the relocation of the Siamese capital to Thonburi, the ruler at that time, King Taksin, disbanded the fortification of the town.
In 1819, King Rama II established a new administrative center for Samut Prakan and erected a total of six forts on either sides of the Chao Phraya River. Today only two of these forts are still standing, Phi Sua Samut and Phra Chulachomklao. He also built the Phra Samut Chedi on an island in the river.
Samut Prakan is off the tourist path. Usually only the locals go there. In any case, you can arrive at Samut Prakan by following Sukhumvit Road. It is 29 km from Bangkok. There are also air conditioned buses (and non-air conditioned ones) to Samut Prakan, more serving the locals than tourists. Air-conditioned bus 102, 126, 129, 142, 145, 502, 506, 507, 508, 511, 513, 523 and 525 go to Samut Prakan from various parts of Bangkok and Nonthaburi.
To use public transport, take the Skytrain Sukhumvit Line all the way to the last station, the On Nut Skytrain Station. From there, take bus 511 and tell the driver to drop you at Muang Boran. There, take a songthaew (passenger pickup truck) to visit the sights in Samut Prakan.
If you can afford it, then take a taxi to Samut Prakan. Prepare to pay about ฿500. If you take the taxi to On Nut Skytrain Station, it costs ฿170.
Travel within Samut Prakan
Take the songthaew to go to different places in Samut Prakan.
Places of Interest in Samut Prakan
Ancient City Also called Mueang Boran, this is a theme park with scaled replicas of ancient buildings of Thailand.
Chulachomklao Fort Fort at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River.
Erawan Museum Museum in Samut Prakan dedicated to the three-headed elephant.