Low white walls run along the riverbank, wrapped in the roots of huge old banyan trees. Gun openings still look out toward the mouth of the river.

History

Wichian Chodok Fort is a brick fortification built in 1828 on the orders of King Rama III to defend the mouth of the Tha Chin River, at a time of tension with Vietnam over Vientiane after Chao Anouvong's rebellion. Its brick and mortar walls had firing positions, with cannons set in the openings to cover the river mouth. Samut Sakhon, once called Tha Chin, 'Chinese Pier', was a trading port for Chinese junks; its old name Mahachai comes from the canal dug in 1704.

The fort today

Only three of the original walls survive: north, south and the west wall facing the river; the east wall was removed for a road. Old cannons stand in front of the City Pillar Shrine, a short walk from the fort.

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  Fort walls Three walls survive.
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  City Pillar Shrine Old cannons in front.
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  Tha Chin River The river mouth the fort guarded.