The ancient site of Noen Wong Fortress, Trat

Noen Wong Fortress is an ancient military camp established in the reign of King Rama III who ordered Chao Phraya Phra Klang to have it built on 9 January 2377 B.E. The laterite and bricks of the wall from Chanthaburi town were dismantled and moved to construct this site for defensive purposes against the invading Vietnamese. Noen Wong Fortress’s wall is mounted orderly with over 10 large cannons. The Underwater Archaeological Office and the National Maritime Museum are located within the camp. The camp covers an area of over 270 rais surrounded by a 6-meter-high-wall, a fortress, a moat, and four doors based on four directions. There are also ancient cannons mounted orderly on the battlements. Formerly, the area was covered with overgrown grass and parts of the wall collapsed. Today, the wall and its fortress have been renovated.National Maritime MuseumLocated within Noen Wong Fortress, it is a museum that assembles and preserves the artifacts brought on land from the ancient junk sunk in the Gulf of Thailand. These artifacts are potteries including earthen jars and human and animal figurines which are Sangkhalok potteries from Srisachanalai kiln site and Noi River kiln site in Sing Buri province. Today, Fine Arts Department is renovating this museum to propose a national museum for Chanthaburi province to be included in the National Maritime Museum Project as a venue to study the social history, economy, natural sciences, cultural and traditional lifestyle from a local perspective as well as exhibiting evidences and history of Thai Maritime Commerce.National Maritime MuseumNoen Wong Fortress, Bang Ka Ja subdistrict, Mueang district, Chanthaburi 22000Tel. 039-391-431Fax 039-391-432Operating days and timesEvery Wednesdays-Sundays, 9.00 a.m.-16.00 p.m. Closing on Mondays, Tuesdays, and public holidays Yothanimit Temple (Wat Bot) is located within the wall of Chanthaburi town at Noen Wong Fortress in Bang Ka Ja subdistrict, Mueang Chanthaburi district. It was construct