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Samsen or spelledSam Sen (Thai:สามเสน,pronounced[sǎːm.sěːn]) is a road and neighbourhood inBangkok considered to be one of Bangkok's oldest. Samsen road starts from Bang Lamphu intersection in the area ofBang Lamphu withinPhra Nakhon district and wends northeast toDusit district as far as it ends atKiakkai intersection, covering 4.6 km (2.8 mi). It runs parallel to eastChao Phraya river all the route.
Samsen began inAyutthaya period (1351–1767) in the reign of KingNarai (1633–88). Portuguese came to live and work in the kingdom and the king allowed them to settle in Samsen. At that time, this area was apaddy field andcanal by Khlong Samsen (Samsen canal), which is believed to be a natural canal.[1] The Portuguese foundedImmaculate Conception Church in around 1674, the oldest church in Thailand.
In the reigns of KingPhutthayotfa Chulalok (Rama I) and KingNangklao (Rama III) ofRattanakosin kingdom, ChristiansKhmers andAnnamese (Vietnamese) who escaped crackdowns in their country migrated toSiam (now Thailand). They were allowed by the king to settle in the area nearby Portuguese's church in Samsen. The area became known as "Ban Khmer" (บ้านเขมร) and "Ban Yuan" (บ้านญวน).
Samsen has at least twoThai temples, which date to the Ayutthaya period or earlier,[1] includingWat Rachathiwat andWat Thewarat Kunchorn.[2][3]
In the past, the area of Samsen toPak Kret inNonthaburi used to be a place where pregnant oftoli shad (Tenualosa toli) was found. They will swim from the sea to spawn in freshwater sources on the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok area to the north. Therefore, they were fished in large numbers and causing to be in an endangered state at present.[4]
"Samsen" has no specific meaning inThai.[1] It may have derived fromPali or fromBahasa Melayu. Legendarily a floatingBuddha statue required up to three hundred thousand people to raise it from the water. "Samsen" is similar to "Sam Saen", which means three hundred thousand. This Buddha is a Buddha statue in stopping the rainstorm attitude enshrined in front of Samsen Police Station today, namelyLuang Por Phuttha Samsen, or known in short as Luang Por Samsen.[2][1][5]
Two related sub-districts are Samsen Nai inPhaya Thai and Samsen Nok inHuai Khwang districts. They are connected to Khlong Samsen rather than the road.
Samsen road built during the reign of KingChulalongkorn (Rama V), considered to be the first road connecting the inner city with the northern suburbs. It was originally informally known as "Saphan Kaew Road" (ถนนสะพานแก้ว,pronounced[tʰānǒnsā.pʰāːnkɛ̂ːw]).[6]
Although it is short, Samsen road runs through historic and important places such asBang Khun Phrom Palace andBank of Thailand withDevavesm Palace,Thewet Bridge,Immaculate Conception Church, Saint Francis Xavier Church,Saint Gabriel's College,Vajira Hospital, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University,Sukhothai Palace,National Library and Royal Pier, Thavasuki, Wat Bot Samsen,Boon Rawd Brewery Headquarters andSappaya-Sapasathan, the newParliament House.[2][3]
The road also a location of five piers forChao Phraya Express Boat: Thewet (N15), Payap (N18), Irrigation Dept. (N19), Kheaw Khai Ka (N20), and Kiak Kai (N21).
In addition, at the point that it intersects withRatchawithi road (Sang Hi intersection) near theKrungthon Bridge (Sang Hi Bridge) on Ratchawithi road is also the location of the San Chao Mae Thapthim Samsen, aChinese shrine ofShui Wei Sheng Niang, goddess of the sea according to the belief ofHainanese since ancient times, similar toMazu. It is considered to be her oldest shrine in Bangkok, believed to have been built since the reign of King Nangklao.[7]
Samsen road is also the administrative boundary line in the followingkhwaengs (sub-districts):
13°47′0.41″N100°30′43.63″E / 13.7834472°N 100.5121194°E /13.7834472; 100.5121194