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Chachoengsao

Chachoengsao, also known as Paet Rio, is located to the east of Bangkok in Thailands central region. Chachoengsao is a fertile agricultural area fed by the Bang Pakong River. Mango is the most popular fruit grown in the province, and it is the location of the sacred Phra Phutthasothon Buddha image.
Derived from Khmer, the name Chachoengsao means deep canal, while the name of Paet Rio (Paet means eight and Rio means stripes) is believed to have come from the method that dried fish (which are abundant in the area) were divided by eight stripes.
The history of modern Chachoengsao dates back to the Ayutthaya Period, during the reign of King Phra Borom Tri Lokkanat, when most people lived along the banks of Bang Pakong River and its canals. Prior to that, based on archaeological assumptions, Bang Pakong Riverfront, like many other river basins worldwide, was a center of ancient civilization and habitat to a pre-historic populace. Five thousand year old skeletons and ornaments have been found at Khok Phanomadee, now a village in Amphoe Phanat Nikhom, Chonburi (once a dominion under Chachoengsao's sovereignty) providing the earliest evidence of this notion. According to geographers, between 7,000 and 2,000 B.C.E. the coastline where pre-historic communities resided was much farther inland. Thus, the assumption that Bangpakong people were forefathers of the renowned Ban Chiang men is a sensible assumption. Today, Phra Phutthasothon or Luang Pho Sothon is the center of traditional beliefs and faith for the current residents of Chachoengsao.

Chachoengsao or Paet Rio is located 80 kilometers east of Bangkok. Chachoengsao is a fertile agricultural area fed by the Bang Pakong River. Mango is the most popular fruit grown in the province. Moreover, it is the location of the sacred Phra Phutthasothon Buddha image.

Transport

The most convenient way to get to and explore Chachoengsao is by car. It is possible to take a bus, train, or boat, but then visitors must rely on local transportation in order to get around town and the nearby villages.

Getting to and from Chachoengsao

  • By Train:
    Trains from Bangkoks Hua Lumphong Station to Chachoengsao leave every day, 9 trains/day, both regular and air-conditioned, from 06:00 to 17:25. The fare is around 40 baht for air-conditioned seating and 15 baht for regular seating. For more details, contact 0 2223 7010, 0 2223 7020.
  • By Car:
    From Bangkok, there are three routes to Chachoengsao:

    1: Take Highway No.304 via Min Buri; a distance of 82 kilometers.

    2: Take Bang Na Trat Highway, turning left before reaching the bridge over Bang Pakong River, to Highway No.314. The total distance is 100 kilometers.

    3: Take Highway No.3 via Samut Prakarn and Bang Pakong, and then turn left to Highway No.314. The total distance is 106 kilometers.
  • By Bus:
    There are buses to Chachoengsao leaving from two Bangkok bus terminals:

    From Bangkoks Mo Chit 2 Northern Bus Terminal (Tel: 0 2936 2852 66) first and second-class air-conditioned buses leave every 40 minutes from 06:00 to 17:00. The fare is approximately 40 baht. Regular buses leave every 30 minutes from 05:40 to 19:00. The fare is around 25 baht.
    From Bangkoks Ekkamai Eastern Bus Terminal (Tel: 0 2392 2391) first class air-conditioned buses leave every 40 minutes from 06:30 to 17:00. The fare is approximately 70 baht. Regular buses leave every 30 minutes from 05:40 to 19:00. The fare is around 35 baht.

Getting Around Chachoengsao

The easiest way to travel around Chachoengsao is by local transport, either Samlor (basically a bicycle with a carriage attached), tuk tuk (a similar vehicle powered by a motorcycle), or songtaew (a truck with two rows of benches in the back). However, the best way to have freedom to explore at will is by renting a vehicle from Bangkok or Ayutthaya if you would like to explore attractions in the more rural areas.


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