The Royal Barges National Museum houses several royal barges, which formerly served as war vessels and were subsequently used on royal and state occasions along the Chao Phraya River. The earliest evidence of the use of these decorative barges during royal processions dates back to 1357. The barges are incredibly intricate in design, reflecting Thai religious beliefs and local history. The figure on the bow of each boat signifies whether it carries the King and Queen or other members of the royal family. Today, the royal barges, being so old, are rarely used by the royal family; they were last used at the end of 1999 to celebrate the king’s 72nd birthday.

Address: Royal Barges National Museum, Arun Amarin Road, Bangkok Noi, Bangkok 10700, Thailand