Ang Thong Province Guide: History, Towns and Local Products
Ang Thong means 'golden bowl', a fitting name for a flat province of rice fields along the Chao Phraya and Noi rivers. It is small, but it holds the largest seated Buddha image in Thailand, rising above the trees at Wat Muang.
This guide visits its great Buddha images, its craft villages, its seven districts and the drums, dolls and rice the province is known for.
Ang Thong
Giant Buddhas and Village Drums
A small rice province on the Chao Phraya with two record-breaking Buddha images and villages that still make drums and dolls by hand.
By the SnapSellGo Thailand Desk · Updated September 2026 · 8 min read
Made in Ang Thong
The things Ang Thong is proud of. Shops from the province are on their way.
Nothing on these cards is for sale yet: they present Ang Thong specialities until real listings arrive.
Why Ang Thong is a land of great Buddhas
At Wat Muang, a seated Buddha image about 92 metres high, completed in 2008, dominates the landscape and is counted among the largest in the world. The same temple has a park of sculptures showing scenes of Buddhist hell, popular with Thai visitors.
In Pho Thong district, Wat Khun Inthapramun keeps a much older reclining Buddha, about 50 metres long, lying in the open among the ruins of its hall. Ang Thong's villages keep crafts that are rare elsewhere: the drum makers of Ekarat stretch hides over wooden bodies, and the women of Bang Sadet model small clay dolls in the style of the old palace.
Wat Muang
Thailand's largest seated Buddha, completed in 2008.
Wat Khun Inthapramun
An old reclining Buddha lying in the open.
Ekarat drums
Hand-made drums from a village of drum makers.
Bang Sadet dolls
Small clay dolls in the old palace style.
Ang Thong through the centuries
Ang Thong's timeline links an old reclining Buddha to a modern giant.
- Ayutthaya periodThe reclining Buddha of Wat Khun Inthapramun already lies in Pho Thong.
- 1765–1766Men from Ang Thong are among the defenders of nearby Bang Rachan.
- 1990sWork begins on the giant seated Buddha of Wat Muang.
- 2008The Wat Muang Buddha is completed.
Seven districts on the rice plain
Ang Thong has 7 districts and about 280,000 residents. These are the most visited.
| District | What you find there |
|---|---|
| Wiset Chai Chan | Wat Muang and its giant seated Buddha. |
| Pho Thong | Wat Khun Inthapramun's reclining Buddha. |
| Pa Mok | The drum makers of Ekarat and the doll makers of Bang Sadet. |
| Mueang Ang Thong | The riverside town on the Chao Phraya. |
| Samko | Rice fields and quiet temples. |
Dates to plan a trip around
Ang Thong's calendar is set by its temples and the harvest. Here are the key dates.
Shopping local in Ang Thong
OTOP ties each product to the sub-district that makes it, and Ang Thong is known for crafts as much as food: Thai drums from the village of Ekarat and the small clay dolls of Bang Sadet, both in Pa Mok district.
The plain grows rice, and the markets along the river sell sweets and local foods to visitors on their way to the great Buddhas.
The carousel at the top of this guide shows live products from Ang Thong producers as they go online, and makers keep all of every sale.
Short on time? The giant Buddha of Wat Muang. Into history? The reclining Buddha of Wat Khun Inthapramun. Love crafts? The drum makers of Ekarat. Buying local? A small Ekarat drum.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Buddha at Wat Muang?
About 92 metres high. Completed in 2008, it is the largest seated Buddha image in Thailand and among the largest in the world.
What does Ang Thong mean?
It means 'golden bowl', a reference to the province's rich rice land.
Where is the reclining Buddha of Wat Khun Inthapramun?
In Pho Thong district, Ang Thong. It is about 50 metres long and lies in the open among the ruins of its hall.
What crafts is Ang Thong known for?
Thai drums from Ekarat village and clay dolls from Bang Sadet, both in Pa Mok district.
Sources: Wikipedia entries for Ang Thong province, Wat Muang, Wat Khun Inthapramun, Pa Mok district and Bang Rachan. The months shown are typical; lunar holidays land on different days every year. Cover photo: Wat Muang by Chainwit, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.