Thailand Area Guides: Central Thailand

Samut Prakan Area Guide

The Land of Smiles

“Visitors are greeted at the airport with a sign saying ‘Welcome to the Land of Smiles’ – and it’s not just because of the friendly locals. From the azure blue of the sea and dazzling white of the sandy beaches to the verdant green of the jungle and gleaming gold of the temples, the colours of Thailand are dazzling.”

Carli Allan

Editor, WhichSchoolAdvisor.com International

Samut Prakan

Central Thailand, UAE

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LET'S GO

Central Thailand, UAE

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Many people will travel to Samut Prakan for one reason only – on their way to and from Suvarnabhumi Airport. This central province is located just south east of Bangkok city centre, and it’s fair to say that it lacks some of the beauty and charm that Thailand is so famous for.

Here’s a pocket of Thailand that is home to mainly old Thai-style neighbourhoods and just a small number of expats. While it’s not a typical tourist hot spot, it is home to attractions including the Ancient City, the Erawan Museum, and the Crocodile Farm. The Ancient City, which sits on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River, is a sprawling outdoor museum with scaled-down replicas of historic temples, old cities and palaces. Head further upstream, and you can’t miss the enormous, triple-headed elephant statue that marks the entrance to the Erawan Museum and its collection of fine arts and religious relics.

There are around half a dozen international schools in Samut Prakan; although expats tend to live outside of the province, the Skytrain makes commuting to school quick and easy. Samut Prakan is a small but densely inhabited city in the province of the same name, and home to the major shopping malls and eateries.

Transport
Bangkok’s Skytrain services have recently been extended to Soi Bearing, and work is underway to extend the southern stretch of the Green Line even further into Samut Prakan – as far as Samrong.

Schools
Concordian International School, Thai-Chinese International School, Singapore International School of Bangkok, Thai-Singapore International School and Thai Sikh International School.

Healthcare 
A&E services can be found at Muang Samut Hospital.

Attractions
The key places to visit here are the Ancient City, the Erawan Museum, and the Crocodile Farm.

Shopping
Samut Prakan’s swankiest mall is the new JAS Urban Mall in Sinakarin, which has high street stores, an international food court, cinema and fitness centre. Alternatively, the Floating Market is a good destination for shopping.

Bars and restaurants
Srinakarin Road and Theparak Road are lined with neon-lit karaoke bars and nightclubs, and Theparak has a vibrant street-food scene. For eating out, though, most people head to shopping centres including JAS Urban Mall.