Until recently, boats have been the traditional way to get around Bangkok. The city was created around the Chao Phraya around 1780, but the first road wasn't paved until 1863. One stop I made along the Chao Phraya was at Rachavongse Pier, which leads to Chinatown, an area that still retains the character of old Bangkok. At some restaurants here, people dine by small tables, eating rice or noodles and sipping ginger drinks. In the morning, the warm river mist rises, adding to the mythological mystery of Chinatown's alleys and byways.
Boats are the only practical public transportation Bangkok has.
In addition to the river taxis, several excursion trips are available. The most popular tours go to the floating markets, which are especially busy in the morning. Boat services on the Chao Phraya River also connect Bangkok with the northern neighboring province of Nonthaburi. Warehouses made of weathered teak and rusty tin can be seen here and there along the river banks, their wharves covered with racks of drying fish. Occasionally, bathers can be seen washing alongside the river.