There are tons of ways to travel in Bangkok. You got the road, if you’re willing to brave the unpredictable traffic. The skytrain and subway are good options. Perhaps the iconic tuk-tuk? You can also hop on a boat and traverse the canals of the capital for some environment absorbing. Despite the city’s massive pace of development, remnants of its old charms are still intact including its famed canals, called klongs in Thai and the word we will use from now on.

Want to know why Bangkok was once called the Venice of the East? Experience it for yourself! True, many of the canals have been paved for roads and highways, but a lot of old Bangkok still exists for you to travel on. Old bridges and houses as well as paddle boats, barges and tugboats still make up the scene around the klongs.

You’d be surprised as to how fast canal travel can be. Many still use it, and it has proven to be a successful mode of transportation during the notoriously busy rush hours. But be warned, boats just like the trains and roads are packed with people on the go during the morning and evening hours on the weekdays. And expect a little splash back as well. Just a little extra when considering boat travel.

One of the best places to enjoy Bangkok’s canal scenery is on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River. This used to be Thailand’s capital, before it moved to the other side of the river. Now, it is part of the capital. But it has remained somewhat independent of the modernization that has gripped most of the city. Expect a quaint scene of old teak houses and newer town houses with the occasional temple mixed in as you traverse Thonburi. Different types of flora will also come to view such as palms, morning glory and floating hyacinths drifting along the klong waters.

See a side of Bangkok few ever get to see. This is a side of the caoital that sways away from the bustle and skyscrapers of downtown that many have come to associate with Bangkok. Along with the familiar sites, explore hidden canals lined with teak houses, noodle shops and orchards as well as a canalside market and impressive reclining Buddha with our Unseen Bangkok City Break tour.

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