On this sightseeing tour of bangkoks canals or khlongs as they are known locally you will travel by a motorized boat on the chao phraya river to see the serene family homes and temples dotted along the waterways which inspired bangkoks reference as the venice of the east the canals around bangkok serve as a natural highway for many local thai people going about their everyday business such as transporting their merchandise in particular rice to and from the rice fields