Central Thailand, the basin of the Chao Phraya River, is a lush, fertile valley. It is the richest and most extensive rice producing area in the country and has often been called the "Rice Bowl of Asia."
Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is located in this region. This is the heart of Thailand, the region where the original Thais first settled, attracted here by the fertile land to be found on either side of the Chao Phraya River.
