The Canal System
All the handbooks tell you that Bangkok used to be the Venice of the East - in many respects that's still true as a significant amount of travel is done by canal. In Bangkok the main canal route service is provided on Khlong Saen Saep, but there really are a myriad of other routes to explore and canals are a favoured form of travel in both rural and urban areas elsewhere in the country. There are some issues related to travel by canal boat. Travel by canal is fast; especially at rush hour times - there's nothing faster. It's also cheap. A fare in Bangkok for a 20 min boat journey costs around 10 Baht