Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River is a symbol of Bangkok and a lifeline to Thailand’s various provinces through which it flows. The Chao Phraya River has played a significant role since the 15th century. Settlers chose the area that is now Bangkok for its fertile lands (it was once a swamp, after all) and its strategic position close to the river’s mouth. The Thai capital was later moved from Ayutthaya to the western bank of the Chao Phraya (today’s Thonburi) and later still to the opposite bank. In the end, both settlements merged into one capital, now known as Bangkok (or Krung Thep in Thai).
Bangkok’s modern development has transformed the landscape along the river beyond recognition. The purpose of this construction is to create space for the controversial development of a riverside promenade, extending from the Rama 7 Bridge in the north to the Phra Pinklao Bridge in the south. In recent years, authorities have evicted numerous communities along Bangkok’s river, alleging that they were occupying land illegally.
Here are stunning photographs were taken by Dmitri Kessel for LIFE magazine during the early 1950s that illustrate life on the Chao Phraya River.
