BANGKOK, Thailand – Bangkok’s Khlong Toei Port is set for a major transformation under a development plan that would shift most port operations to Laem Chabang and open large parts of the riverside site for commercial, residential, medical, retail and public-space development. Under the plan, Khlong Toei Port operations would be moved to Laem Chabang Port in Chonburi, with only facilities for urgent goods such as fresh produce retained in a Smart Port zone. The wider Khlong Toei site would then be developed into a mix of commercial and community uses, potentially creating a major new urban district stretching toward the Sunthorn Kosa intersection along the Rama IV corridor. The proposed development is divided into several zones.
Zone A would include a new Port Authority office complex and private office buildings, residential projects, a Medical Hub, office space and a Smart Community. It would also include staff welfare housing, rental residences and retail mixed-use development.
Zone B would retain port-related functions, including a semi-automated Smart Port, eastern container berths and coastal cargo facilities.
Zone C would focus heavily on commercial and tourism-related development. Plans include a cruise terminal, retail mixed-use projects, offices, hotels, residential developments and commercial areas, including duty-free facilities. The zone would also include a convention center, public utilities, parking facilities and a training center.
A separate Zone G would provide a sports complex and landscape improvements across the wider development area, together with a public park. The plan also identifies areas for future development, including warehouses and offices for e-commerce businesses, truck parking and land currently leased to PTT.
The proposed relocation would represent a major change for one of Bangkok’s most important port areas. Moving the bulk of cargo operations to Laem Chabang would free substantial land in Khlong Toei for higher-density urban development while retaining limited port facilities for time-sensitive goods. For Rama IV Road and surrounding neighborhoods, the scale of the proposed offices, housing, hotels, retail space, medical facilities, convention facilities and public areas could significantly change the character of the area.
The development would also add to Bangkok’s growing network of major mixed-use districts, with the Khlong Toei site offering a large redevelopment opportunity close to the city center. The timing and implementation of individual projects will depend on the formal development process and approvals for the port relocation and subsequent land development.
