Thai lifestyle: Houses on the River

For centuries, the lives of Thai people have been inextricably related to rivers and canals. They make use of them for consumption, agriculture, and other activities. So a waterway is regarded as a lifeline, bringing people of different languages, races, cultures, and faiths to become as one in a community.

Thais usually built their homes along waterways and used boats as a major means of transportation, which reflected their way of life in harmony with nature.

Since Thai communities were situated on alluvial flat areas, Thai houses were raised on pillars to protect the main structure from flooding and to facilitate ventilation.

The open area under the raised main structure is also used for storing farming tools and fishing instruments.

The Thai lifestyle and consumption habits have changed in accordance with the modern world. Even so, vegetable plots for sweet basil, ginger, galingale, fragrant screw pine, and other herbs are still found along canal banks. Early in the morning everyday, orchard growers travel along canals to sell their fruits and vegetables at local markets.