The Chao Phraya originates at the convergence of the Ping and Nan River in the Nakhon Sawan province, and slowly gushes from the Central Plains to Bangkok and the Gulf of Thailand. Some of the main cities of Thailand located on the banks of the Chao Phraya include Bangkok, Nakhon Sawan, Ang Thong, Chainat, Uthai Thani, Singburi, Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan. Owing to their easy access to waterways, these cities are also some of the most populous areas of the country.
Thus, the River is a narrator and carrier of the ancestral history,
culture and civilization of the people of Thailand. Chao Phraya River in
Bangkok severs the city in a curve that girdles the old city. The
western bank of the river or the Thon side is 'Fung Thon', while the
eastern side is 'Krung Thep' or the 'Pranakhorn'. Apart from lending
beauty to the cityscape, the river also forms a major vein of Bangkok.
It is the main carrier of business and leisure traffic of the city and
the fastest way to travel around the place.A cruise along this celebrated river and the canals (khlongs), on the Thon Buri side, forms one of the most preferred ways of exploring Bangkok. Such tours are a hot favorite amongst all Bangkok visitors and provide a magnificent perspective to traveling around some of the city's most exotic locales, including the floating markets (Damnoen Saduak, Taling Chan and Wat Sai). One can easily organize such tours with the help of various travel agents in Bangkok. Many hotels also have facilities for Chao Phraya tours and cruises.