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I returned to Bangkok, Thailand recently as a stop over on my way to Africa, and my wife joined me for the four days as we explored more of this city that we both love. Each day that we went out, we seemed to find ourselves on a ferry on the Chao Phraya River.

The river is really an important part of life in Bangkok and acts as a highway that is always a hive of activity. Riding the ferries along the river is not only cheap and a great way to avoid the city’s chaotic traffic, it’s also a great way to see some of Bangkok’s most beautiful and interesting sights.

Here are some of the photos that I took on the Chao Phraya River ferries on my recent trip, along with a couple of older ones from last year’s visit.

Long tail boats on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand

Long tail boats on the Chao Phraya River

Ferry at Wat Kalayanamit on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand

A ferry heads across the river to Wat Kalayanamit

A Ferry at a pier on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand

A ferry docked at a pier

Wat Arun at sunset on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand

Wat Arun at sunset

Rama VIII Bridge on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand

Rama VIII Bridge

Wichai Prasit Fort and Wat Arun at sunset on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand

Wichai Prasit Fort and Wat Arun at sunset

Wat Rakhang at sunset on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand

Wat Rakhang at sunset

A ferry heads along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand

A ferry heads along the Chao Phraya River

A ferry at Wat Arun on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand

A ferry at Wat Arun

A long tail boat on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand

A long tail boat in a typical river scene

Boats on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand

A barge is pulled up river by a tug boat

Wat Arun at sunset on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand

A long tail boat heads up river past Wat Arun at sunset

A wooden cruise boat at Rama VIII Bridge on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand

A wooden cruise boat heads up river towards Rama VIII Bridge

Have you been to Bangkok? Did you spend much time on the Chao Phraya River?