Samut Sakhon


Samut Sakhon is a city in Thailand; it is the capital of Samut Sakhon province. It is also part of the Bangkok Metropolitan Region.

Toponymy

Samut Sakhon was formerly called Tha Chin probably because, in the old days, it had been a trading port for a vast number of Chinese junks. In 1548, a city named Sakhon Buri was established at the mouth of the Tha Chin River. A center for recruiting troops from various seaside towns. The name of the city was changed to Mahachai when Khlong Mahachai was dug in 1704 to connect the Tha Chin River to the city. Later, the city was renamed Samut Sakhon by King Rama IV but it is still popularly called Mahachai by its residents.

Geography

The general topography of the city is a coastal lowland about 1 meter above sea level. There are no islands, mountains or minerals. The Tha Chin River and Mahachai Canal flow into the Gulf of Thailand at Bang Ya Phraek subdistrict. The general condition is an urban community with houses, industrial plants and a dense population.
Neighboring subdistricts are : Tha Sai, Khok Kham, Bang Ya Phraek and Tha Chin of Mueang Samut Sakhon district of Samut Sakhon province.

Administration

Provincial government

The combined administration of Mahachai, Tha Chalom and Krokkrak subdistricts is responsible for an area that covers, as of December 2024: 53,221 people and 19,235 households.
No.SubdistrictsThaiCommunituesPopulation
1.Mahachaiมหาชัย2340,986
2.Tha Chalomท่าฉลอม67,570
3.Krokkrakโกรกกราก34,665
Total3253,221

Local government

As of December 2024 there is ฺSamut Sakhon city municipality which covers the combined area of Mahachai, Tha Chalom and Krokkrak subdistricts.
There are 32 communities, although not directly chosen by the local citizens, which provides advice and recommendations to the local administrative organization.

Education

There are the following schools:
  • Mahachai municipal school - Mahachai
  • Wat Chettharam municipal school - Mahachai
  • Wat Chong Lom municipal school - Mahachai
  • Wat Tuk Maha Chayaram municipal school - Mahachai
  • Wat Suwannaram municipal school - Tha Chalom
  • Wat Krokkrak municipal school - Krokkrak

    Healthcare

There is no health promoting hospital in Samut Sakhon city. But there are in Mahachai subdistrict: Samut Sakhon Hospital with 600 beds, Ekachai Hospital with 142 beds, Mahachai 3 Hospital with 180 beds, Jesada Vechakarn Hospital with 10 beds and in Tha Chalom subdistricht: Metropolitan Hospital Tha Chalom

Temples

The following active temples, where Theravada Buddhism is practised by local residents:
Temple nameThaiLocation
Wat ChettharamวัดเจษฎารามMahachai
Wat Mahachai Klai Nimitวัดมหาชัยค้ลายนิมิดMahachai
Wat Pom Wichian Chotikaramวัดป้อมวิเชียรโชดิการามMahachai
Wat Sattha Yim Phanit Wararamวัดศรัทธายิ้มพานิชวรารามMahachai
Wat Tuk Maha ChayaramวัดดึกมหาชยารามMahachai
Wat Suthiwat WararamวัดสุทธิวาตวรารามTha Chalom
Wat Laem SuwannaramวัดแหลมสุวรรณารามTha Chalom
Wat KrokkrakวัดโกรกกรากKrokkrak

Transportation

The city is the intersection of highway 35 eastbound, highway 35 westbound, Ekkachai road .
There is Maeklong Railway a Wongwian Yai - Mahachai train service, starting from Wongwian Yai station, Bangkok, to Mahachai station every day from 05.30-20.00 hrs, and a Tha Chalom - Mae Klong train service, starting from Ban Laem station, Tha Chalom subdistrict, to Maeklong station, Samut Songkhram.