Samut Songkhram is the province of fertile land, of plants and food grains, the production source of vegetables and fruits, as well as a vast variety of seafood products. It is also an interesting historical source for the early Rattanakosin period.

Samut Songkhram is an ancient province with a long history. Originally, it is believed that this province was once a part of Ratchaburi province, and called Suan Nork at that time. Then, towards the end of the Ayutthaya period going on to the Thonburi period, it was separated from Ratchaburi province and was called Mueang Mae Klong.

Samut Songkhram is located 72 Kilometres from Bangkok, occupies an area of 416 square kilometres and is administratively divided into 3 districts: Amphoe Muang, Amphoe Amphawa, and Amphoe Bang Khonthi.

Bang Kung Camp

Bang Kung Camp is located at Mu 4, Tambon Bang Kung. When arriving at the camp site, visitors will firstly see an imitation wall built in memory of the battle. Here is a historic navy camp site. Following the second defeat of the Ayutthaya kingdom in 1767, King Taksin the Great moved the naval force to set up camp in the district of Bang Kung since Mueang Mae Klong (the city of Mae Klong) was in the way used by the Burmese army. A wall was built to make Wat Bang Kung be in the middle of the camp as a spirit centre for soldiers. King Taksin the Great later commanded the Chinese from Rayong, Chon Buri, Ratchaburi, and Kanchanaburi to form a guard unit for the camp. The camp was, therefore, called the ‘Bang Kung Chinese Camp.’ The king named the guards ‘Thahan Phakdi Asa’ or the ‘voluntary loyal soldiers.’ In 1768, the Burmese king of Angwa led an army via Kanchanaburi to surround the camp. King Taksin the Great and Phra Maha Montri (Bunma) jointly fought and defeated the Burmese. It was the first battle against the Burmese after the Kingdom of Thon Buri had been established by King Taksin the Great. The victory was hailed as moral support to the Thai people while it created a sense of fear among the Burmese army. The camp site was left deserted for almost 200 years. In 1967, the Ministry of Education established a boy scout camp on the site to celebrate King Taksin the Great, and also built a shrine as a memorial to the king. The ceremony to raise the shrine was held on 20 June 1968. Within the camp compound, there is the Ubosot (ordination hall) commonly called as ‘Bot Luangpho Dam,’ which was built in the Ayutthaya period. The hall is wholly covered by four species of ficus plants: Pho (Bodhi), Sai, Krai, and Krang. Therefore, it is also called ‘Bot Prok Pho’ (ordination hall covered by Bodhi trees). The monument of King Taksin the Great is in the nearby area.

Ban Maeo Thai Boran

Ban Maeo Thai Boran is a house where species of genuine Siamese cats have been conserved. It is located at 2/1 Mu 7, Tambon Khwae Om. The house of traditional Siamese cats was created by lovers of Siamese cats to promote and support the conservation of Siamese cats to be a treasure of the nation. It also gives information on genuine features of Siamese cats, supports research, exchanges knowledge and views between members, and exchanges research experiences and breeding with relevant bodies. Khun Pricha Phukkhabut, the co-founder and caretaker of the traditional Siamese cat house, told that “my mother raised Siamese cats of the Wichian Mat species when I was young. At that time, I did not pay much attention to them. When I grew up, I was to feed them. There were not many cats in my house. My family continued to keep Wichian Mat cats and I had developed a bond with them. Later, some friends who were cat lovers talked about the conservation of the cat since it was clever, graceful, attractive, and had pleasing habits.” Apart from the species of Wichian Mat, Siamese cats also include Si Sawat, Supphalak, and Koncha. Inside the house, there is a breeding section divided into cages of various types of Siamese cats. This is an interesting place for the study on a genuine species of Siamese cats. For more information, call Tel. 0 3473 3284, 08 4003 4194.

To get there Take Highway 325 (Samut Songkhram – Bang Phae). Turn left to cross the Phra Si Suriyen Bridge and then turn right to Highway 3062. Cross the Pracha Chom Chuen Canal, past Wat Phummarin Kudi Thong and Wat Bang Khae Yai, and see the sign of the traditional Siamese cat house.