Chai Nam: City History and Regional River Landscape

Chai Nam combines a historic city with its present-day location: the historic city is now in Ban Chai Nam. This name is just as important as Chai Nam itself when planning your trip. Ban Chai Nam lies about 20 kilometres east of Phitsanulok city and provides a general reference point in the wider region.

The town’s origins and changing trading role

The historic community of Muang Chai Nam became a city during the reign of King Rama III. During the reign of King Rama V, it lost its importance as a trading centre. The establishment of the city and the later decline in its trading importance mark two different phases: one refers to the community’s status, the other to its economic role. This distinction is helpful when exploring its cultural history, as it reveals Chai Nam’s past as a period of change across different reigns.

The Wang Thong River as a regional reference point

In the wider region, the Wang Thong River flows from east to west through the lowlands near the historic city of Chai Nam. At Ban Tha Pho in Mueang Phitsanulok District, it joins the Nan River. The river’s course and its confluence are different geographical reference points: the former runs through lowlands near the historic city, while the latter is identified by Ban Tha Pho. The east–west direction helps you locate the river’s course on a map and recognise the confluence as a separate reference point.

Watching fish at Wang Matcha

In the area around Chai Nam, visitors can feed fish in the pond around Wat Ko Kaeo Prachanurak and watch the many fish at Wang Matcha. If you enjoy watching animals, you can combine observing them with feeding them here. If you want to include feeding in your day’s plans, check in advance whether it is possible at the time of your visit.

Another cultural landmark

In the surrounding area, Luang Pho Dam is located in the ordination hall of Wat Noen Noi, also known as Wat Bueng Phrao. Both temple names are useful for finding your way: Wat Noen Noi and Wat Bueng Phrao refer to the same temple. Luang Pho Dam is located there in the ordination hall. This adds another cultural landmark to the history of the historic city. If you note the names for your trip, you can identify the temple by either name.

Choose the right location for your trip

When looking for a holiday rental in Chai Nam, it is worth considering the different locations. The historic city is now in Ban Chai Nam, while Wang Matcha and Wat Noen Noi are nearby; the Wang Thong River provides a reference point for the wider region. Consider whether you are most interested in local history, watching fish at the pond, or the river landscape. This way, you can choose your location based on your travel interests without treating all these places as part of a single town centre.

Discover more destinations: Phitsanulok, Ban Klang, Chom Thong, Kiang Sopha, Bo Thong, Ban Krang, Chomphu, Ban Khlong.

Go to the main travel overview: Phitsanulok.