Wat Chaiyo or Wat Ket Chaiyo was built during the Ayutthaya Period. It became important during the reign of King Rama IV. The venerable Somdet Phra Phutthachan (To Phromrangsi) of Wat Rakhang Khositaram built the large Buddha image in a subduing Mara gesture and placed it outdoors. However, the image collapsed soon after construction. He re-built it in the same pose but smaller, covered it in plaster and without gold leaf. As the image could be seen from far, the villagers called it Luangpho To (meaning huge image). Further temple restoration during the reign of King Rama V the Buddha image collapsed again. The King ordered the renovation of the image with steel bars inside. The new image was covered in gold leaf and monks’ robes and was given the new name by King Rama V the Great “Phra Maha Phutthaphim”. A new main chapel was constructed to house the image. Upon completion, King Rama V the Great established the temple as one of the royal temples.
To pay respect to Luangpho ...
The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, known in Vietnamese as Hoàng Thành Thăng Long, stands in the heart of Hanoi as one of the most enduring symbols of Vietnamese statehood. Its origins reach back to the seventh century, when Tang Chinese authorities constructed the Đại La Citadel on drained land in the Red River Delta. In 1010 Emperor Lý Thái Tổ moved the capital from Hoa Lư to this site, renaming it Thăng Long, or Rising Dragon, after a legendary vision of a golden dragon ascending into the sky.
Construction of the imperial complex began that year and was largely finished by early 1011. For nearly thirteen centuries the citadel remained the continuous political centre of Đại Việt under successive dynasties.
The Lý period established the classic three-ring layout of outer defensive walls, imperial city, and innermost forbidden city. The Trần dynasty expanded and renovated the palace compounds. After the Ming occupation ended, Lê Lợi restored the capital as Đông Kinh and the ...
The new SRT Bangkok Connex service uses refurbished KiHa 40 and KiHa 48 diesel multiple units originally operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). These classic Japanese railcars, built between the late 1970s and early 1980s and retired around 2021–2023, were donated free of charge by JR East to the State Railway of Thailand. A total of 20 cars (nine KiHa 40 double-cab units and eleven KiHa 48 single-cab units) were transferred in late March 2024, shipped from Niigata Port, and arrived at Laem Chabang Port in Thailand in early June 2024.
After gauge conversion from Japan’s 1,067 mm to Thailand’s meter gauge, extensive refurbishment at Makkasan Workshop included new or overhauled engines and electrical systems, full air-conditioning, leather-style seating in place of the original velvet, closed Western-style toilets, luggage space, priority seating, and wheelchair accommodation. The exterior received a white-and-red livery. Six cars entered passenger service after testing.
The route ...
In this year’s ASEAN Hyundai Cup, Group B concluded with Thailand topping the standings on a perfect record of four wins, ten goals scored and none conceded for twelve points. Malaysia finished second with nine points to advance alongside them, while Myanmar ended third on six points after the final round of matches and were eliminated. The Philippines took fourth and Laos finished bottom without a point.
Thailand entered the tournament as seven time champions and the clear favorites in the group under coach Anthony Hudson. The War Elephants have looked solid and clinical throughout, keeping clean sheets in every outing while rotating players effectively.
Myanmar, coached by Jørn Andersen, showed attacking threat with high-scoring wins over the Philippines and Laos but were inconsistent, suffering an opening loss to Malaysia and ultimately falling short of qualification.
Last night at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand secured a 2-0 victory over Myanmar to finish first in Group B. ...
