About Chachoengsao Province
Chachoengsao, often shortened to Paet Riu, lies along the Bang Pakong River about 80 km east of Bangkok and is best known to Thais as a province of major temple pilgrimages. Wat Sothon Wararam houses Luang Pho Sothon, one of the country's most revered Buddha images, while Wat Saman Rattanaram's giant reclining pink Ganesha has become a viral domestic tourism magnet. The province also has riverside markets, old shophouse districts, and easy access from Bangkok by suburban train.
Top Highlights
Wat Sothon Wararam
home of the highly revered Luang Pho Sothon Buddha image
Wat Saman Rattanaram
a giant reclining pink Ganesha and themed temple grounds
Wat Pho Bang Khla
a riverside temple famous for its colony of large fruit bats
Ban Mai Market
a century-old Thai-Chinese shophouse market by the river
Getting There
Chachoengsao is about 1–1.5 hours by car from Bangkok via Highway 304 or the eastern motorway. Suburban trains run frequently from Hua Lamphong to Chachoengsao station, and buses depart from Ekkamai and Mo Chit terminals.
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Senior Travel Writer · Bangkok · 12+ years in Thailand
James has lived in Bangkok since 2014 and has visited all 77 Thai provinces. He specialises in destination guides, itinerary planning, and transport logistics. Before moving to Thailand, he worked as a travel journalist in Hong Kong and Singapore. He speaks conversational Thai and is a certified PADI divemaster.
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