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Must-Visits, Must-Sees in Thailand No.6-10

ThaiSmile.jp recommended places !

Since the first visit, I have gone to various places in Thailand. This page shows top-10 places in Thailand that are specially impressive or make me want to go again. I hope the information of this page will help those who are going on a trip to Thailand or thinking of visiting Thailand again.


By the way, the places shown below are picked out by the webmaster who likes history, nature, and countryside rather than cities. Just check them as a reference.


  • No.1 ` No.5
    No.1 - Grand Palace (Bangkok)
    No.2 - Ayutthaya Historical Park
    No.3 - Doi Suthep (ChiangMai)
    No.4 - Long neck tribe village (Mae Hong Son)
    No.5 - Floating Market (Ratchaburi)


Besides these, There are a lot of wonderful places to visit or to see. Anyway this pages show top-10 Must-Visits, Must-Sees.


No.6 - Sukhothai Historical Park

No.6 is Sukhothai Historical Park !

Sukhothai is the first unified kingdom of Thais.
It's located 440km north of Bangkok, around the middle of Chiang Mai and Bangkok.
(It takes half a day by car from Bangkok.)
Sukhothai Historical Park: Wat Sri Sawai
The temple, built in the time of Khmer dominance, with three Lopburi-style prangs (stupa), was originally a Hindu sanctuary and was later transformed into a Thai Buddhist temple in Sukhothai era.
The Sukhothai kingdom had flourished for about 200 years until it became a vassal state of the Ayutthaya kingdom in 1378.

After the Ayutthaya kingdom, Sukhothai was left alone in the jungle and became an abandoned place, but it was restored with the support of UNESCO in 1960's and registered as a World Heritage site.

Monument of King Ramkhamhaeng the Great
King Ramkhamhaeng developed the Sukhothai kingdom ever more prosperous and invented the Thai alphabet.

The bronze statue of King Ramkhamhaeng has a scripture in his right hand while the left hand shows teaching people, is 4m high and 2.88m wide and was built in 1975.
Huge Chedi 2
(The huge and main chedi (stupa) in, called, lotus-bud shape in the center and 8 smaller chedis around that.)
 People say that the main chedi is influenced by Khmer and Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and 8 smaller chedis are in a Ceylon (Sri Lanka) or Hariphunchai Lanna style.)
Standing statue 1
(Buddha statue in a Ceylon (Sri Lanka) style, 9 meters high, called " Phra Attaharot ".
You will see how tall the statue is, comparing with the people in the picture.)
White Buddha Statue
(This white statue is said it was build in Ayuttaya era.
I was not able to find them well but one hundred and eleven pupils of Buddha carved into the pillars around.)
Related page: Sukhothai

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No.7 - Tao Island (Surat Thani)

No.7 is the Koh Tao (Tao Island) in Surat Thani.

Koh Tao (Tao Island)
The view from the top of the mountain is so wonderful. :D

Koh Tao is an island about 430 kilometers to the south of Thailand, about 2 hours away from Samui Island by ferry.

Tao Island is called "Koh Tao" in Thai; "Koh" means "island", "Tao" is "turtle". Looks like a lot of turtles lived here long time ago. The island has rich nature, beautiful beaches and you can enjoy relaxed time. It's a popular diving spot as well.

The island is for those who want to relax away from daily life. The view from the top of the mountain is great ! (the picture above)

It was a one-day trip but if I had enough time, I wanted to stay over night and enjoy the nature while just relaxing.

Koh Tao Beach
Koh Tao
They are enjoying diving.
Koh Tao
A harbor. You can go to Samui Island from here by ferry.
Koh Tao
Beach between oceans.
Related page: Not upload yet

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No.8 - Mon Bridge (Sangkhlaburi)

No.8 is Mon Bridge in Sangkhlaburi, Kanchanaburi.

Mon Bridge - Thailand's longest wooden bridge in Sangkhlaburi.
Sangkhlaburi (Sangkhla Buri) is a calm and beautiful western-most district in Kanchanaburi, located more than 300 kilometers away from Bangkok, around the border between Myanmar and Thailand.
 The town was created for the village that would be under water when  the Khao Laem Dam was constructed, and I@heard that Burmese, Karen, Mon, Thai and Lao people live there.

 As well as their beautiful nature, they have very interesting places to visit: Mon Bridge - the very famous (I didn't know that though), the longest wooden bridge in Thailand, Wat Saam Prasob - the sunken temple in the dam, Three pagodas Pass situated around the border between Thailand and Myanmar and so on.

A little far from Bangkok and it takes time to get there, however, this is one of Must-visit places.

Mon Bridge (Saphan Mon), it's about 850 meters long, the world's second longest and the Thailand's longest wooden bridge.
Houses on the river
You'll see a lot of houses on the river when you see around on the bridge.
Views from the bridge
Sunset. Better to come here a bit earlier ...
The view from the side of Sangkhlaburi town
A lot of wood ! No need to say that though.
Related page: Sangkhlaburi (Kanchanaburi)

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No.9 - Golden Triangle (Chiang Saen)

No.9 is the Golden Triangle in Chiang Saen, Chiang Rai.

A gate for taking a ceremonial photo against the Triangle.
Photo Gallery of Chiang Saen in Thailand.

Chiang Saen, one of the districts of Chiang Rai, is located on the bank of the Mekong River, about 60 km to the north from Chiang Rai in Thailand. It's an ancient capital and originally called " Wiang Hiran Nakhon Ngoen Yang ".
This city was the capital of the Lanna Thai Kingdom and a forerunner of it, Chiang Saen Kingdom, and until now, the city has old walls to protect itself and ruins.

It's very famous for the gate of the Golden Triangle where the borders of the three countries (Laos, Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand) are on the Mekong River.
Roads and Tourist facilities have been increasingly developed recently.

 You'll feel you get to the end of Thailand and enjoy the place with the cheerful kids of hill tribe " Akha ". Including other must-see sights in Chiang Rai, why don't you visit there if you go to the northern part of Thailand or if you travel to Thailand again.

Ceremonial photograph
(Take a ceremonial photo against the Triangle.
Last time I saw this was made of wood and atmospheric ...)
Big boat 5
(Looking down from the boat.
A lot of shops along the street.)
Tung 1
(The complete view of the Tungs. Elephant stays in the middle.)
Kids of Akha 4
(Smile in groups of 5 each. All of them are sweet and cheerful.)
Related page: Chiang Saen (Chiang Rai)

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No.10 - Phra Maha Chedi Chaimongkon

No.10 is Phra Maha Chedi Chaimongkon in Roi Et, Northern East of Thailand.

Phra Maha Chedi Chaimongkon is located in Nong Phok district, the northeastern part of Roi Et and said that it is the largest pagoda in Thailand.
Roi Et is about 512 kilometers away from Bangkok, located in the middle of Northern East of Thailand.

The history of this area dates back to 9 to 13 century, the era of  the Khmer empire, and the history of Roi Et started during the reign of Ayutthaya (1350 - 1767).
 Roi Et was a very large and glorious city, once called "Saket Nakhon" with 11 gates and 11 satellite cities.

Phra Maha Chedi Chaimongkon is located in Nong Phok district, the northeastern part of Roi Et and said that it is the largest pagoda in Thailand. We visited this temple on the way to Ubon Ratchathani from Mukdaharn.
Maybe because of the name of Roi Et (101), it is 101 meters high, 101 meters wide, and was built in the site of 101 rai (about 40 acres).

I guess the tourists who already have gone to Thailand many times are interested in this area, but if you have chance to go around Northern East of Thailand, places close to Roi Et, I recommend you should visit this splendid temple at least once.

To the chedi
You can enjoy walking along the wall like the picture to the chedi.
The whole view of the chedi
101 meters high. Really huge !
Small chedis
Smaller than the chedi in the center, however, they themselves are very big.
To the chedi
After the entrance, a beautiful garden and the huge chedi with other smaller ones on the both sides will be waiting for you.
Related page: Roi Et

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  • No.1 ` No.5
    No.1 - Grand Palace (Bangkok)
    No.2 - Ayutthaya Historical Park
    No.3 - Doi Suthep (ChiangMai)
    No.4 - Long neck tribe village (Mae Hong Son)
    No.5 - Floating Market (Ratchaburi)


@Besides these, There are a lot of wonderful places to visit or to see. Anyway this pages show top-10 Must-Visits, Must-Sees.

Back to top