Going to work by boat, Bangkok's water taxis

Getting around Bangkok by boat, in a water taxi. Tim heads to work by boat.
Across the Chao Phraya, on Bangkok’s western banks, known as Thonburi, there are still some of the city’s larger khlongs. Recently the BMA, the Bangkok Metropolitan Organisation has announced a 150 million baht make-over project to rehabilitate some of the areas more popular khlongs and bring them back to life.
Now that the city’s BTS and MRT train network is crossing over to the west side of the Chao Phraya, Thonburi is seeing a resurgence of interest with some of the city’s bigger companies now moving their headquarters there.
Construction of Khlong Saen Saep began in 1837 and was finished in 3 years. For years it became clogged with lotus plants and was basically unusable until the BMA rehabilitated the waterway in the late 1980s and introduced the public transports services in 1990.
The route is now served by 100 boats carrying around 40-50 seats. It operates from 5:30am to 8.30pm daily on weekdays but carries its last passengers on the weekend at 7pm. It also operates a reduced service on thai public holidays.
It’s cheap, only around 8-18 baht, depending on how far you go. Even if you wanted to travel all 18 kilometres along the Khlong it would only cost you a total of 18 baht and take you about 45 minutes. The service carries about 60,000 passengers per day and run by a company called Family Transport.
In 2015, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha initiated a 2-year effort to clean up the canal inspecting some 210 potential polluters along the canal route and found that nearly 40% of the hotels and condos, along with around 20% of commercial premises lining the route, were discharging wastewater into the canal. Many faced large fines and, now, the quality of the water has definitely improved through the efforts of the BMA.
Klong Bangkok Yai is a historic khlong on the west banks of the Chao Phraya. Originally it was part of the actual Chao Phraya River. The course of the Chao Phraya was longer than at present. Those who wanted to travel by boat had to cruise along the river, which took more than a day, until the King of the Ayutthaya Kingdom ordered the construction of a canal bypassing the long and winding loop of the Chao Phraya River, reducing travel times and changing the course of the river.
The rehabilitation scheme is aimed at promoting the historic western canal as part of an alternative water transport network and plans to add 30 long tail boats to take tourists to visit the temples and communities along the area’s khlongs.

[@paulkonye8380]

Love what you're doing with The Thaiger and it's associated KZbin channel, Tim. You are a great advocate for Thailand life and business. I can only hope my country Australia allows me to fly there in 2021. Having lived there with my family in 2018 I desperately want to return.

[@ront3968]

nice information, I've traveled some of the water ways during my visits to Thailand, however, I had no idea just how vast they were, many thanks.

[@richard135b7]

Excellent reporting. I saw the canals and water taxis everywhere on my last visit but didn't know anything about them. Now I know and I will use them on my next visit. Thank you!

[@keshavaaumritum1]

Great video. Wonderful mix of good information and music with graphics. Wonderful.

[@ghumakkadsunny]

Thanks for remind my days Tim I am missing boat taxi and I want to use again 😊

[@lifeisthefun]

Excellent clip! I live here but had no idea how huge the klong network is.

[@MB-zm8lc]

This channel is excellent. I must use the boats next time in BGK next time I'm able to visit in 2021 hopefully. Thanks again👍

[@stevenoliver9728]

It's worth hiring a private boat to explore the Thonburi side. I remember pulling up to an old wooden dock and a smiling toddler bringing me a large bottle of beer which I happily purchased.😁

[@leohoogendoorn6728]

And yet another nice trip report made by the Thaiger. Keep them up coming.

[@AutumninAsia]

Great video Tim. I also have traveled via the khlong in the past and even did a Facebook live back in 2018. Great info! Where did you find that treasure of info at. Great works. I use the Khlongs as much as I can and sometimes even just ride and see the other side of the city. Great way to get nice photos and vids. Also, I assume you will be doing a small doc like this one about the MRT. My claim to fame, If I may brag here, is that I have walked the entire MRT Blue line up on the street. For people who want to see the city really well, I recommend the walk. I broke it down into two different days and I had a blast! It was only about 12 miles. Keep up the good work and I like what you are doing with this site.

[@scottDchicago]

Excellent and extremely informative news reporting Tim! This report was really interesting. (Scott, Chicago, Illinois)

[@drewcorry5056]

Learned something new about Bangkok's Water Taxis. Excellent Video, Great Job & Really Enjoyed It. Thanks

[@620EDA]

Keep all these interesting videos coming! Love the daily news and now love these fascinating additions! Thank you!

[@basutapas668]

Mr. Tim you are doing great job by providing excellent information. I would love to travel by water taxi to explorer Bangkok 😍 Thank you so much for your beautiful video👌🙏

[@phantim_othy571]

Thanks Tim. That was a great informative video. Of all the trips to BBK I have never thought about exploring the canal systems...A must do on my eventual return 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@keithwinters3031]

Very interesting. Always wanted to know more about them. Good show T.M.

[@racingflashbacks]

Fantastic way to travel in Bangkok I've done it a few times. Very cheap, fast and a fun way to travel.

[@distantwalk4580]

Thank you for your videos that you guys upload! really enjoying it every time

[@DaveJimmy1]

I have always wondered about these boats, and your video is very helpful in explaining how to take the boast, where the stops are, and that for only 18 baht I could have a nice tour of the entire route. Kb Khun Man Krap! Dave in Honolulu

[@haroldpiel2479]

Fantastic! Enjoyed some of the tourist sections, and am eage to check out these longs. Water is our favourite transit mode!

[@stevekostakis2983]

Love using the boat....very efficient.

[@noneyabizness7288]

I happened across these last year and spent some time traveling up and down the canals on them. No tourists, locals only, which made for a very Thai experience. Every time I go to Bangkok I find some new, interesting thing tucked away. It is my favorite city with all it's good and bad rolled together.

[@osmanyegin]

nice........... Thank you again the best

[@silouhs4995]

Highly interesting !!

[@runethor6660]

I have used the canal and it is amazing how secluded parts of it is in spite of being in the middle of Bangkok. Nowadays you can find the stops on Google Map, so it is easy to find.

[@rext8949]

Surprised at the extent of the canal system. I had used the canal on one my earlier visits. It would be wonderful to see an upgrade of the waterway. Hope more people use this mode of transport to alleviate the traffic rush elsewhere. Thanks Tim.

[@OGchaibhai48]

Thanks for a very informative video yet again, Tim...🙏🏻 Fascinating how extensive the khlong network is and the foresight of the king & planners from way-back-when...

[@sionbenjamin4513]

Brilliant! Loved the canals and boats of Bangkok, definitely on my list of return to cities! Cheers!

[@davidmc7442]

Just like the roads it will get popular they'll soon be fender to fender.Great report thanks for that.

[@lorrainevlambert]

Hello and thank you for all the great information you give us on Thailand. Like many other people I have been going there for years for extended periods and live in Bangkok on and off. I miss the country and am so sad about how the economy and people's income is being affected. I wanted to help set something up with you for foreigners to donate (monthly) not a one-off, to help families in need there, while the businesses are closed. I can't imagine how people are surviving without income. If you'd like to collaborate or can advise on a charity donating to families / or for families we can help directly - please let me know. Many thanks.

[@TheThaiger]

Hi. Thanks for your message. Please send us an email to [e-mail]

[@lorrainevlambert]

@@TheThaiger Hi there - I did email yesterday. Look forward to hearing from you. Thanks.

[@FerAndersson]

Last time I was in BKK I stayed at a hotel in Ramkhamhaeng, and there was a klong port(?) just behind the RL-station, went down to it to go into the central parts of town, but the schedule posted was all in thai, no real map and had graffiti all over it.. Guess I could have gotten on a boat and just cruised around until I got where I wanted, but i was hangry and needed to eat... Oh well, next time! Thank you for your work!

[@jerryfishback3430]

Most excellent! Thanks, Tim. 😎

[@mr90s48]

Next time I'm in Bangkok roll on 2034 😂

[@billycushion9266]

I love the canal system in Bangkok

[@michaeldileo8815]

Tim, your Thai pronunciation has gotten on point! Ayutthaya was said with ease. Kudos!

[@osmanyegin]

subtitles are very good

[@masajo928]

Thank you for this video on BKK history. :)

[@harlandgiles8612]

Great video

[@captainchokdee1039]

Thanks for the story Tim. The “new” Capitol was built in the wrong spot, but it’s to late to worry about that. She’s right in the middle of the Bangkok Delta (traditionally referred to as the Cobra Swamp) the thoroughfare for all the Northern monsoonal rains down to the final destination of the Gulf of Thailand. (It’s why anything that isn’t piled to 25m during construction settles, like can be experienced on the cities footpaths & underneath the elevated Rama expressway roads along side the foundation pile caps. The closing of some of the Clong’s was a recognised mistake & hopefully the future of the existing canals is secured. It’s a great way of getting around BBK. With it, the BTS skytrain & cheap taxi’s there’s no real need to use a car yourself for most of your day to day journeys. Keep up the great info-vids mate. CD

[@jasonburns5786]

I use the river taxis a lot on the main river Chao praya but not on the klongs yet.

[@nigewood4945]

Fascinating, thanks.

[@SamuelMellert]

Absolutely a "must do" in Bangkok! I've always enjoyed taking the boats on the Chao Phraya and the khlongs and I'd absolutely recommend just taking the regular transportation boats and not the tourist boats, that are extremely overpriced in comparison.

[@larryreich5395]

Great feature!👌👍

[@stevewhittaker5070]

PS but I would love to learn the canal system. Thanks again. Stay safe heard from the US

[@theadventuresofbrockinthai4325]

HEY TIM, I'VE TAKEN THE WATER TAXES A FEW TIMES BUT ONLY TO GET FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER. WOULD LOVE TO SPEND A DAY OR TWO JUST RIDING AROUND THE CITY CANALS. I THINK IT WOULD BE FUN.

[@AmaliaCaltravels_events]

I had the experience but not keen to repeat. Btw, have you been to Yelo House Cafe’, it’s along the Klong? if you haven’t I recommend you to visit. I think we live in the same neighborhood Khun Tim, but mostly I’m now staying outside Bangkok. Enjoy your day.

[@acewongsawad6910]

They should definitely continue to clean up and maintain the klongs as best they can. And, find new and innovative ways to keep them cleaned and presentable. I’m sure they can learn and share with those other world cities that have similar cabal situation. But, overall it’s definitely a lot better than 20~30 yrs ago 👍

[@stevewhittaker5070]

I've only been to Bangkok a couple times but I never used canal system

[@boeasy3015]

Awesome way to see the city, great to see the government will spend money to keep them , they make Bangkok

[@vasudevatantri1880]

Very informative..

[@charaznable8072]

I love these the place I was staying at literally was on the river and you could just catch a ride all the way downtown, only downside you might get a lil wet lol.

[@oliversparks1459]

Enjoyed That

[@davidgiles5030]

I've used this service many times. A great way to get around Bangkok. Now that EVA goes direct to Chiang Mai (or they used to), I bypass Bangkok all together.

[@kennethbell54]

Another great and informative post but why do you find it necessary to put sub titles on some of your shots? The overhead shot of Thonburi was wasted as was the informational map that followed.

[@cheapworldtraveller]

No idea it was this big. I only rode the one in the city centre a couple of times. There's a airplane graveyard at the end of the line there. Also be sure to keep your mouth closed while riding. You dont want that dirty water in your mouth.

[@flighteye6642]

I stay at very nice and very very cheap hotel on western terminus of canal. Get to Siam or Asok faster than any other mode of transport, and much cheaper.

[@miketzai9209]

Hi i think it's a very nice and quick way too get around in bkk and very cheap, example if you want visit the golden temple, it's easy to go there with the klong boats, and there is not so many tourists, which I think is nice but its also a good way to be near thais if you want that..

[@miniemouse5826]

very nice report this. I just to know about this

[@timdingleakajacksparrow2748]

I want to get on one of those Ferry’s and check out bkk 👍🤔🇹🇭🇹🇭⁉️

[@thasspongthapsang6769]

Thank you krab, khun Tim. Story is our parents making many war invaded to every direction 200 years ago to take the people from colonials to Bangkok to make more than 2000 canal(Klong). Khlong San Sab as Tim has show in this video clip is made by people from Malaya peninsular (Patani, Yala, Narathivas), if anyone traveling to the end of this Klong they will see mosque to often along this klong untill combined to Klong Radchapipad (another Klong to bypass the water from center of Bangkok to the sea at Samutprakarn). And Klong Radchapipad is made by mixing people (Chinese, Cambodia, Lao and Muslim etc)

[@justice4all997]

I will staying near the bang kapi pier in bangkok. I don't see boat taxis as an option for travel on Google maps. I have a Android phone

[@nlorand9033]

Very cheap and easy to use.

[@TheWerelf]

i prefer to enjoy Bangkok's canals and rivers at night, when you can't see how dirty they are

[@tomhill3262]

Use it all the time quickest way to Bangkok

[@fedogma8407]

Please send the BMA out to Phra Khanong Klong and have them stop companies and condos from dumping into that klong and the smaller canals that feed into Phra Khanong. One of these smaller canals is so bad that it often stinks and is also often filled with a lot of foam on top.

[@woodyw9798]

Good information but for someone living in BKK you really do need to work on your Thai pronounceation!