In the past, Bangkok people commuted from one place to another by boat, and canals were the principal means of transport, both during war and at times of peace. Canals were dug for transportation purposes, earning the city the unofficial title "Venice of the Orient. Things changed over the year, and traveling by boat is no longer the principal mode of travel. Nevertheless, canals still retain significant, historical value.

The Original City Moat
Dug during the reign of King Taksin when Thonburi was the capital city, this moat is on the East of the Chao Phraya River and includes the section that passes Wang Na to the Pak Khlong Talat. Each section has different names and the section in front of Wat Ratchanatda; from the mouth of Khlong Lot it is called "Khlong Lot," and from the section at Wat Ratchabopit to the Chao Phraya River it is called "Khlong Talat."

Khlong Lot Wat Ratchabophit
This starts from the city moat at the section in front of Wat Ratchabophit to Din So Road, and goes on to Mahachai Road to meet the around-town Khlong at the North of Damrongsathit Bridge It has another name: "Khlong Saphan Tan."

Khlong Lot Wat Ratcbanatdaram
This starts from the original city moat between the Rattanakosin Hotel, Wat Buranasiri Mattayaram, and passes Thanon Tanao, Wat Mahannoppharam, Thanon Ban Dinso, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (City Hall) and Mahachai Road to meet the around-city Khlong at Wat Ratchanatdaram. The Khlong has several names according to places it passes such as Khlong Wat Buranasiri, Khlong Wat Mahannoppharam and so forth.

The Ring Khlong or Khlong Rop Krung
This was dug during the reign of King Rama I of the Chakri Dynasty to expand space in the city. This Khlong, which runs parallel with the city moat, starts from the North of the Chao Phraya River, and this part is called Khlong Bang Lamphu. The section that passes to the South of ChaoPhraya River, and north of Wat Sam Pluem, is called Khlong Ong Ang. Khlong Rop Krung is the line that divides this particular part of Bangkok into Rattanakosin Island which looks like the ancient capital Ayutthaya.

The Ring Khlong or Khlong Rop Krung
Also called Khlong Bang Kanak and known among Thais he place of the tragic love story of Kwan and Riam. The khlong was dug during the regign of King Rama III (1828-1836) to connect the Chao Phraya River to the Bangpakong River in order to shorten the distance between Pratchinburi and Chachoengsao province and Bangkok, during th fourteen years that Thailand was fighting with Cambodia and Vietnam. Today, the Khlong serves as an alternative method of transportation to avoid the heavy traffic on Bagkok's-roads.

Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem
This was excavated between 1851 and 1854 during the reign of King Rama IV, digging from Khlong Rop Krung to a suburb. The mouth of the Khlong is at the Southeast of the Chao Phraya River at the old Wat Kaco Chaem Fa, passing Khlong Mahanak to reach the eastern side of the Chao Phraya River at the side of Wat Thewarat Kunchon. Originally, it served as an outer-defence line. As the last city moat, it had eight forts around the Khlong, that were all demolished because Thailand, at that time, was not engaged in fighting its neighbours The Khlong played an important role in economic development in those days.