Chai Nat Province Guide: History, Towns and Local Products
Chai Nat sits at the head of the Chao Phraya delta, where the river leaves the hills behind and spreads across the central plain. Here, the Chao Phraya Dam raises the water and sends it into canals that irrigate a huge area of rice land to the south.
This guide looks at the dam and what it changed, the province's bird park and riverside temples, its eight districts and the pomelos and rice it sells. Producers will also find how to sell their work to buyers across Thailand and abroad.
Chai Nat
The Dam at the Head of the Plain
A small river province where a great barrage turns the Chao Phraya into the canals that water Thailand's rice bowl.
By the SnapSellGo Thailand Desk · Updated September 2026 · 8 min read
Made in Chai Nat
The things Chai Nat is proud of. Shops from the province are on their way.
For now these cards are a guide to Chai Nat's specialities; live products will take over here.
Why Chai Nat waters the central plain
The Chao Phraya Dam, completed in 1957, is the head of the Greater Chao Phraya irrigation project. By raising the river and feeding it into large canals on both banks, it helped turn the plain into one of the most productive rice regions in Asia. Its bridge and gates are now a landmark of the province.
Chai Nat was a frontier town of the Ayutthaya kingdom, guarding the river route to the north. Today it is known for gentler sights: the Chainat Bird Park, with its large aviary and eagle statue, and Wat Thammamun, on a hill above the river, home of a revered Buddha image.
Chao Phraya Dam
Completed in 1957, it feeds the canals of the plain.
Rice bowl
Water from Chai Nat irrigates the central plain.
Bird park
A large aviary and lake on the edge of town.
Khao Taeng Kwa pomelo
Chai Nat's famous pomelo.
A short history of Chai Nat
Chai Nat's story runs from a frontier town to the barrage that waters the plain.
- Ayutthaya periodChai Nat guards the river route north for the kingdom.
- 1950sThe Greater Chao Phraya irrigation project is built.
- 1957The Chao Phraya Dam is completed at Chai Nat.
- TodayThe dam still feeds the canals that irrigate the central plain.
Eight districts at the head of the delta
Chai Nat has 8 districts and about 330,000 residents. These are the most visited.
| District | What you find there |
|---|---|
| Mueang Chai Nat | The bird park, Wat Thammamun and the riverfront. |
| Sapphaya | The Chao Phraya Dam and its bridge. |
| Manorom | Riverside villages in the north. |
| Hankha | Rice fields and markets in the west. |
| Sankhaburi | Old temples along the Noi River. |
What happens when in Chai Nat
Chai Nat's year follows the water and the harvest. Plan around these.
Local products and what OTOP means here
OTOP labels a product by the tambon, or sub-district, that makes it, and Chai Nat's pride is the pomelo of Khao Taeng Kwa, juicy and sweet, sold along the roads in season.
The irrigated plain grows rice, and the province's villages make baskets and other woven goods for the markets.
Once Chai Nat sellers publish their items, the carousel above shows them first. Shops pay a flat yearly fee and no commission.
Short on time? The Chao Phraya Dam, then the bird park. Into temples? Wat Thammamun on its hill. Visiting in August? Pomelo season. Buying local? A Khao Taeng Kwa pomelo.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Chao Phraya Dam?
A barrage on the Chao Phraya River at Chai Nat, completed in 1957, which raises the river and feeds the canals of the Greater Chao Phraya irrigation project.
Why is Chai Nat important for rice?
Water diverted at the Chao Phraya Dam irrigates a large part of the central plain, one of Thailand's main rice regions.
What is the Chainat Bird Park?
A park on the edge of town with a large walk-in aviary, a lake and a well-known eagle statue.
What fruit is Chai Nat known for?
The pomelo of Khao Taeng Kwa.
Sources: Wikipedia entries for Chai Nat province, the Chao Phraya Dam, the Greater Chao Phraya Project and Wat Thammamun. Festival dates here are approximate: the lunar calendar moves them each year. Cover photo: Chao Phraya Dam by Kim Ludvigsen, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.