Thonburi, the Thai national capital before 1782, sits across the river from Bangkok. This area has an extensive network of canals, and there are a variety of boat services, including public water transportation, that permit visitors to see old teak houses on stilts, old temples, and a wide variety of plant life, including orchid farms.

Here is located the Taksin Monument, an imposing statue of King Taksin astride a horse. Taksin moved the Thai capital to Thonburi in 1767 after the destruction of the previous capital at the hands of the Burmese.

One of the most interesting temples in Thonburi is Wat Prayun, which has an artificial hill created at the request of King Rama III. The hill has a number of unusual shrines. There is also an ornamental pond that is full of turtles released there by devotees. At Siriraj Hospital, are several medical museums of note to visitors, including the Museum of Forensic Medicine and the Congdon Museum of Anatomy.

Royal Barges Museum

The boats used in river ceremonial processions are stored in sheds at the facility. The longest of these boats is 50 meters long and requires 50 rowers, seven umbrella bearers, two helmsmen, two navigators, and several other crew members. The most important barge in the collection is the king's personal barge, the "Golden Swan." This swan-headed boat, made from a single log, is said to be the largest dugout in the world

Wat Arun

This imposing temple, named for Aruna, the Indian god of the dawn, is covered with thousands of pieces of ceramic. Some of the ceramic pieces were originally used as ballast in Chinese merchant ships, and some of the pieces were donated by local citizens. Wat Arun's 82-meter prang, a khmer-style tower, is said the symbolize Mount Meru of Hindu-Buddhist mythology.