chanthaburi monestary
chanthaburi monestary
Taken on: 1st October, 2007. Copyright: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License - See nolosabias's page of Flickr
Read more about Chanthaburi
The town of the moon -- better known as Chanthaburi -- is a melting pot of Asian cultures whose people have flocked here seeking to find their fortune in the lucrative gems and precious stones trade.
From the faces of the inhabitants to the architecture lining the narrow streets you'll see Khmer, Vietnamese, Chinese, Burmese and even French influences.
The French, who ruled the province between 1893 and 1905, have left behind streets filled with decaying but charming buildings, mostly concentrated around the Chanthaburi river, which snakes through the town's centre.
On a tastier note, they have also influenced the local bakeries where you'll find the occasional croissant and other pastries.
An interesting part of town is the busy Chinese and Vietnamese quarter by the river. The Vietnamese, mostly Christians, arrived in droves on three separate occasions -- during the persecution of Vietnamese Christians in the 1800s, during French rule in the early 20th century ... Read our complete Chanthaburi travel guide
