The unusual riverside towns are often compared to Venice. The East also has its own Venice. Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is often called the Venice of the East.
City on the water
The city of Bangkok is located at the mouth of the Menam-Chao-Phraya River, near the Gulf of Thailand, in a swampy area and is braided by a huge number of canals along which all residents moved. The canals were dug back in the 19th century by the then reigning king. He also created a complex hydraulic system, including protection against river flooding.
The canals were streets along which local residents moved about their business. For movement, at the same time, as in Venice, boats were used then and now.
Bangkok boats have a Venetian-like narrow shape, and boatmen, like in Venice, steer them standing. Most of the canals of the modern city are filled up, asphalted and used as highways, but in the suburb of Thonburi, in the historical center of Bangkok, residents still move on special boats, go to the local market, to work. By the way, the market is also on the water, which makes it very unusual. In the market, you can buy everything from household items, fresh food and clothing.
The movement of private boats, water taxis is regulated by the rules of traffic on the water, there are crossroads and oncoming traffic.
Similarities and differences
Thanks to the sheer number of canals, Bangkok really looks like Italian Venice. Houses are also built on the water, there are floating structures. But that's where the similarities end. In Bangkok, you cannot see the splendor of Venetian buildings; here everything is much more modest and prosaic.
Thonburi, for example, is a very poor area, the buildings are not particularly beautiful and splendid. Nevertheless, the color of the city on the water attracts tourists precisely to Thonburi. A walk along the canals of the city leaves a strong impression, because the intensive movement of boats carrying people and goods is a very unusual sight.
The city has river trams, ferry crossings connecting various canals, all this allows residents and tourists to move around the water part of the city. The cost of such trips is very low, in addition, short intervals provide huge advantages over road transport. And they help to avoid traffic jams, from which the modern city is not protected.
Modern Bangkok, especially its western part, is a business city with a developed infrastructure and different from the historical part of the city.
