List of Rivers in Thailand

Thailand’s waterways thread through mountains, plains and coasts, shaping agriculture, transport and settlement patterns across the country. Rivers feed rice paddies, fuel fisheries, and link towns and cities from the highlands to the Gulf of Thailand.

There are 38 Rivers in Thailand, ranging from Bang Pakong to Yom. For each entry the list shows Length (km),Basin / Mouth,Provinces / Major cities — you’ll find below.

What do the columns Length (km), Basin / Mouth, and Provinces / Major cities mean?

Length (km) shows the river’s total length, Basin / Mouth identifies the larger river system or where it drains (sea, gulf, or another river), and Provinces / Major cities notes the main administrative areas the river passes through or serves. Together they make it easy to compare size, drainage, and local relevance.

Which rivers should travelers and local planners pay attention to?

For travelers, rivers that shape transport and culture are key: the Chao Phraya through Bangkok, the Mekong along the northeastern border, and northern rivers like the Ping and Wang around Chiang Mai. Planners often focus on length, basin connections and affected provinces to assess water resources, flooding risk and navigation.

Rivers in Thailand

Images and Descriptions

Mekong

The Mekong is one of Southeast Asia’s largest rivers. It forms part of Thailand’s northeastern border and flows past Chiang Rai and Loei provinces. It drains a huge international basin and supports transportation, fishing, and agriculture. Include it as the main international river influencing northern and northeastern Thailand.

Chao Phraya

The Chao Phraya is Thailand’s central river. It flows south from the north-central plains through Bangkok to the Gulf of Thailand. It serves as the country’s main transport and irrigation artery and passes major cities including Bangkok and Ayutthaya. Include it as the primary river of central Thailand.

Ping

The Ping is a major northern tributary of the Chao Phraya. It rises in Chiang Mai province and flows through Chiang Mai city and Tak before joining the Nan at Nakhon Sawan. It plays a key role in northern irrigation and urban water supply.

Nan

The Nan is a northern river that joins the Ping to form the Chao Phraya. It flows through Nan and Phrae provinces and passes historic towns. It supports rice farming and local transport in the upper Chao Phraya basin.

Yom

The Yom flows through Phrae and Sukhothai provinces in northern Thailand. It is a tributary of the Nan-Chao Phraya system and runs through rural farming areas. Include it for its importance to northern agriculture and seasonal flooding patterns.

Wang

The Wang runs in northern Thailand and joins the Ping near Tak. It flows through Lampang and Tak provinces and supports agriculture and local towns. Include it as a key northern tributary of the Chao Phraya system.

Pa Sak

The Pa Sak flows through central Thailand and enters the Chao Phraya near Ayutthaya. It passes through Lopburi and Saraburi provinces and feeds irrigation reservoirs. Include it for its role in central plains water supply and the Pa Sak–Chao Phraya dam system.

Mae Klong

The Mae Klong drains western central Thailand and empties into the Gulf of Thailand. It flows past Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi provinces and through the Mae Klong Estuary. Include it as a major river of western Thailand with historical and economic importance.

Khwae Yai

The Khwae Yai is a well-known tributary that joins the Khwae Noi to form the Mae Klong. It flows through Kanchanaburi and is famous for wartime history and bridges. Include it for tourism and regional river network context.

Khwae Noi

The Khwae Noi runs in western Thailand and joins the Khwae Yai to make the Mae Klong. It drains parts of Kanchanaburi province and supports local irrigation. Include it as part of the Mae Klong river system and for regional geography.

Mun

The Mun is the largest river in northeastern Thailand and a major Mekong tributary via the Mun expands into the Mekong basin. It flows through Ubon Ratchathani and Roi Et provinces and supports agriculture and inland fishing. Include it as a major Isan river.

Chi

The Chi is a long river in northeastern Thailand that flows parallel to the Mun before joining the Mun system via floodplain channels. It passes major Isan provinces and supports rice farming and local transport. Include it for its length and regional importance.

Songkhram

The Songkhram flows in northern Isan and joins the Mekong in Nakhon Phanom province. It drains rural areas and seasonal wetlands that are important for fisheries and biodiversity. Include it for its role in Mekong-side ecology and local livelihoods.

Salween

The Salween (Thanlwin) runs along Thailand’s far western border with Myanmar in the far north. It is a large international river with a largely free-flowing course and limited development. Include it as a major transboundary river affecting Thailand’s border regions.

Tapi

The Tapi flows in southern Thailand and empties into the Gulf of Thailand at Surat Thani. It passes Surat Thani city and supports southern agriculture and transport. Include it as the main river of the Malay Peninsula side of southern Thailand.

Pattani

The Pattani River drains the southeastern part of the Malay Peninsula in Thailand and flows through Pattani province. It reaches the Gulf of Thailand near Pattani city and supports local fishing and mangrove areas. Include it as a key southern coastal river.

Phetchaburi

The Phetchaburi River flows in western central Thailand to the Gulf of Thailand near Phetchaburi town. It runs through agricultural plains and supplies irrigation and local water needs. Include it for coastal plain geography and tourism near Kaeng Krachan.

Pranburi

The Pranburi River flows in Prachuap Khiri Khan province and reaches the Gulf of Thailand near Pranburi town. It supplies local irrigation and supports coastal wetlands and mangroves. Include it for southern-central coastal river coverage.

Bang Pakong

The Bang Pakong drains east-central Thailand and enters the Gulf of Thailand near Chachoengsao. It runs through industrial and farming zones and serves irrigation and transport. Include it as a major river east of Bangkok with economic importance.

Tha Chin

The Tha Chin branches from the Chao Phraya system and flows west of Bangkok into the Gulf of Thailand. It passes through Samut Sakhon and other provinces and supports agriculture and local fisheries. Include it for its role in the greater Bangkok river network.

Sakae Krang

The Sakae Krang flows in central Thailand and joins the Chao Phraya near Uthai Thani. It drains forested highlands and agricultural plains and affects local flood patterns. Include it as a regional tributary of the central basin.

Kok

The Kok River runs in northern Thailand near Chiang Rai and crosses from Myanmar. It joins the Mekong at Chiang Rai city and supports transport, fishing, and tourism. Include it for its role in northern cross-border waterways.

Ruak

The Ruak is a short border river in northern Thailand that meets the Mekong at Chiang Saen. It forms part of the Thai-Myanmar border in places and marks the Golden Triangle area. Include it for its geographic and tourist significance.

Lam Pao

The Lam Pao flows in northeastern Thailand and feeds the Lam Pao Reservoir in Kalasin province. It supports irrigation and flood control for the upper Chi/Mun regions. Include it for its infrastructure role and regional water management.

Lam Nam Phong

The Lam Nam Phong drains parts of northeastern Isan and joins the Mun or Chi systems depending on seasonal flows. It passes Khon Kaen province and supports local agriculture. Include it as a notable regional tributary.

Lam Takhong

The Lam Takhong runs in northeastern Thailand and supplies the Lam Takhong Reservoir and hydro projects. It flows near Nakhon Ratchasima and aids irrigation and power generation. Include it for its infrastructure and regional importance.

Trang

The Trang River flows in southern Thailand and reaches the Andaman Sea near Trang town. It passes through agricultural areas and supports local navigation and fisheries. Include it as a main river on the Andaman coast.

Mae Taeng

The Mae Taeng flows from the mountains north of Chiang Mai and joins the Ping. It runs near Chiang Mai city and supports tourism, rafting, and irrigation. Include it for northern tributary and recreational value.

Mae Chaem

The Mae Chaem drains mountainous western Chiang Mai province and joins the Ping system. It flows through rural highland communities and supports agriculture and hill-tribe settlements. Include it for upland watershed context.

Pai

The Pai River flows through Mae Hong Son province and the town of Pai before joining the Salween basin area. It is known for scenic gorges, rafting, and tourism. Include it for northern highland rivers and tourism links.

Kolok (Sungai Golok)

The Kolok, also called Sungai Golok, forms part of the southern border between Thailand and Malaysia. It flows to the Gulf of Thailand near Narathiwat and supports cross-border towns and fishing. Include it as a key border river in the far south.

Krabi

The Krabi River drains southern Thailand’s Andaman coast and reaches the Andaman Sea near Krabi town. It runs through limestone karst scenery and supports tourism, mangroves, and fisheries. Include it for coastal and touristic significance.

Mae Wong

The Mae Wong flows in western and north-central Thailand and feeds Mae Wong National Park areas. It supports forest watersheds and local agriculture before joining larger river systems. Include it for conservation and watershed context.

Nakhon Nayok

The Nakhon Nayok River runs in central Thailand and passes Nakhon Nayok province before joining the Bang Pakong system. It features waterfalls and is used for recreation and irrigation. Include it for central regional river coverage.

Chanthaburi

The Chanthaburi River flows in eastern Thailand and reaches the Gulf of Thailand at Chanthaburi town. It passes important fruit-growing areas and supports local transport and fisheries. Include it as a key river of the eastern seaboard.

Phang Nga

The Phang Nga River drains into Phang Nga Bay on the Andaman coast. It flows through southern limestone terrain and supports mangrove ecosystems and fishing. Include it for Andaman coastal river representation.

Chiang Saen (Ruak tributary)

This refers to the Ruak river area at Chiang Saen where the Ruak meets the Mekong. The confluence marks the Golden Triangle and a major geographic point in northern Thailand. Include it for its border and tourism importance.

Mae Klong tributary Khwae Noi Mae Khlong

This entry names the Khwae Noi branch that feeds the Mae Klong system. It flows through Kanchanaburi and nearby provinces and joins the Khwae Yai to form the Mae Klong. Include it to clarify tributary relationships in the Mae Klong basin.

Rivers in Other Countries