Ancient Siam, Open-air museum in Bang Pu Mai, Thailand
Ancient Siam is an open-air museum and theme park in Bang Pu Mai, Samut Prakan, spread across more than 130 hectares. It houses 116 replicas and reconstructions of Thai religious sites, palaces, and buildings at roughly one-third of their actual size.
Lek Viriyaphant initiated this project in 1963 to preserve architectural models of Thai monuments for educational and documentation purposes. The site developed over decades into one of the world's largest open-air museums and serves as an archive of architectural forms from different regions.
The floating market section demonstrates traditional water commerce with vendors selling local products from wooden boats along the constructed waterways. This scene gives visitors insight into a form of everyday trade still found in many parts of the country today.
The museum provides bicycle rentals and golf cart services to help visitors navigate the extensive grounds between monuments. The opening hours are daily, and the large distances between buildings make a vehicle practically necessary.
The park layout mirrors the geographical shape of Thailand, with each monument positioned in its relative location to match the country's map. Visitors can thus traverse the country by walking or cycling from south to north through the grounds.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
