The plan to build a city on artificial islands in the Gulf of Thailand to form a seawall for Greater Bangkok.
The Bang Khun Thian land reclamation project is a proposed megaproject to build artificial islands in the Gulf of Thailand as part of a flood defence system for Greater Bangkok. The reclaimed land would be developed into new urban areas, creating a new city in the sea (Greater Bangkok Sea City).
Bang Khun Thian is the only district in Bangkok that has a seafront on the Gulf of Thailand. The project is also referred to as the Pearl Necklace of the Gulf of Thailand.
[Bang Khun Thian District in relation to the rest of Bangkok. Map by Hdamm via Wikimedia.]
There will be a row of nine artificial islands, with each island about 50 sq km in size. There will be sluice gates between the islands, effectively creating a seawall for the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. The row of islands will form the shape of ‘Ko Khai” (the first letter in the Thai alphabet).
The land reclamation idea was proposed by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra during a talk at Vision for Thailand 2024, held in Bangkok in August 2022. The idea was initially proposed by the Pheu Thai party in 2011.
[The muddy coastline of the Upper Gulf of Thailand as seen flying into Suvarnabhumi.]
[Bay of Bangkok coastline.]
Gulf of Thailand Seawall map
The islands will be located about 1km off the coast. The first proposed island will be off Bang Khunthian district in Bangkok.
The total length of the barrier is about 100 km, though reports vary on where the islands start and end. One report says it starts at the Tha Chin River in Samut Sakhon (west of Bangkok) to Chonburi to the east of Bangkok. At 100 km, this would effectively be the entire upper coastline of the Bay of Bangkok.
This map shows the provinces of the Upper Gulf area and the major rivers that run to the sea. The star indicates 1 km from the coast.
[View map of Greater Bangkok Sea City.]
News archive
2024
Land reclamation for ‘Pearl Necklace’: 9 Islands in the Gulf of Thailand, is it worth? – [07/12/24]
Water, water everywhere – why Southeast Asia’s overbuilt capitals need new ways to survive – [23/10/24]
“There is a big idea in the Gulf of Thailand to literally construct an answer to Bangkok’s flooding dilemma.”
Seawall plan raises ire – [02/10/24]
“The Pheu Thai Party’s plan to build a seawall comprising nine artificial islands in the Gulf of Thailand, which would stretch from Bang Khunthian district in Bangkok to Chon Buri, has drawn protests from critics, many of whom are concerned about the project’s impact on the environment.”
Land reclamation for urban development explained – [11/09/24]
“The Netherlands has successfully reclaimed land as a way of controlling flooding in low-lying areas but is this truly a sustainable solution?”
Concerns raised at proposed Bang Khun Thian land reclamation project – [10/09/24]
“Real estate experts have voiced their concerns about the proposed land reclamation in the Gulf of Thailand, urging the government to conduct a thorough study before releasing a comprehensive plan.”
Thailand’s proposed mega projects: weighing the costs – [09/09/24]
“As for the land reclamation project to create new islands and reduce flood risks, the economic impact remains uncertain as the details are still unclear, but appropriate flood prevention measures will obviously benefit the country.”
Reclaiming the initiative – 06/09/24]
“The idea of building a new city out of filling sea areas of about 300,000 rai, from Samut Prakan’s tambon Pak Nam of Muang district to the mouth of Tha Chin River in Samut Sakhon, is gaining momentum, with some experts backing the idea.”
[Soi Muk Haeng Ao Thai (Pearl Necklace of the Gulf of Thailand).]
Call to fill in sea areas to combat erosion – [02/09/24]
“The idea of building a new city out of filling sea areas of about 300,000 rai, from Samut Prakan’s tambon Pak Nam of Muang district to the mouth of Tha Chin River in Samut Sakhon, is gaining momentum, with some experts backing the idea.”
2019
Rising sea levels leave Bangkok seeking ways to keep water at bay – [31/08/19]
“Bangkok planners, lawmakers and researchers are now studying and piloting ways of keeping water at bay, from improved flood defences to a giant barrier with floodgates stretching across the Gulf.”
2014
Pheu Thai Bangkok land reclamation project hits snags – [19/03/14]
2013
Plodprasop seeks budget for huge seawall project – [10/02/13]
“Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi wants a huge budget to build a giant dam along the Gulf of Thailand to prevent inland flooding caused by seawater intrusion.”
2011
Sea reclamation project won’t work, says academic – [29/07/11]
“The Pheu Thai party’s megaproject to reclaim 300 square kilometres of new land in the Gulf of Thailand could have a severe environmental impact and fail to protect Bangkok from flooding, an environmental academic said yesterday.
The project would need at least 4 billion cubic metres of sand to reclaim 300,000 rai of land in the Gulf of Thailand. This would totally destroy marine biological resources in the sea, which provide food for local people, said Seri Supparathit, a director of Sirindhorn International Environmental Park’s Energy for Environment Centre.”
2010
Thailand under threat against rising sea levels – [01/02/10]
“Cor Dijkgvaaf is a professor and director at the Institute for Housing and Urban Development studies in Rotterdam. He says Thailand needs to build a 100 kilometer seawall along the Gulf of Thailand to keep reduce the risk of massive floods.”
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