Samut Prakan, also known as Pak Nam, is located 29 kilometres south of Bangkok, around the area where the Chao Phraya River flows into the Gulf of Thailand. It is a town of the Ayutthaya period. Samut Prakan is home to countless historical and cultural sites. It occupies an area of 1,004 square kilometres and is administratively divided into 5 districts (Amphoes) and 1 sub-district (Ging Amphoe); Amphoe Muang Samut Prakan, Amphoe Phra Pradaeng, Amphoe Bang Phli, Amphoe Bang Bo, Amphoe Phra Sumut Chedi, and Ging Amphoe Bang Sao Thong.

Wat Bang Phli Yai Klang

Wat Bang Phli Yai Klang
The temple contains an immense reclining Buddha image of approximately 53 metres long known as Somdet Phra Sakayamuni Si Sumet Bophit.

Located on the northern bank of Khlong Samrong in Tambon Bang Phli Yai, not too far from Wat Bang Phli Yai Nai. It was constructed around 1824 and originally called Wat Klang before changing to Wat Rat Sattha Tham and eventually Wat Bang Phli Yai Klang. The temple contains an immense reclining Buddha image of approximately 53 metres long known as Somdet Phra Sakayamuni Si Sumet Bophit. There are 4 storeys inside the image itself. The 1st floor houses meditation cells; the 2nd floor has images of the 500 Arahats and murals depicting Hell and Heaven; the 3rd floor has paintings of several other sacred Buddha images; the 4th floor houses the Lord Buddha’s relic taken from Colombo, Sri Lanka, in 1987, and also the Reclining Buddha’s heart.

Pom Phra Chulachomklao

Naval History Park at Chulachomklao Fortress is situated at the mouth of Chao Phraya River, Tambon Laem Fa Pha. You can get there using the Suksawat Road from the Phra Samut Chedi intersection. The fortress' compound houses a magnificent standing monument of King Rama V, which is located in the front of the fortress.

Pom Phra Chulachomklao is a modern fortress and has played an important role in protecting the sovereignty of Thailand during 1893 against unfriendly forces. It is the fortress forever in the memory of all Thais and a very important part of Thai history. During King Rama Vs reign, there was a period during which England and France were hunting for colonies. All neighbouring countries around Thailand were colonised by England and France. This was indeed a grave situation endangering Thailand so he sought ways to protect the country. Particularly, protection of the water of Thailand, he commanded that the fortresses at the rivers mouth be renovated and re-equipped, and also hired a foreigner who was a naval specialist as a consultant for planning the development of the Thai navy.