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       Thai tradition enjoys traveling by boat, fishing and water in general. Thais love to swim. The best place to live is on the water or on a pontoon. These houses are comfortable and well suited for trade and transportation on water.

       A houseboat or "RUEN PAE" may be built like a house on earth, with an arched roof, the roof edges and bottom panels of wood or bamboo.

       The walls facing the water are usually made of bamboo matting or corrugated iron hinges, and can be opened more easily, mostly for displaying goods for sale to passing ships. The house can be composed of two or three parts, each up to 4 meters by 6. The parts are used alternately as a kitchen, dormitory, workshop or storage area for goods. There is no bathroom, because the surroundings are used as such.

       Under the support of the house, there was often a floating pontoon made of wood or bamboo. This allowed to adapt to floods and move home. The posts which supported the traditional house on stilts also help build directly on the water, rivers, lakes, and this with very minor modifications. It is then called "BAAN RIM NAAM" which means the house on the water.

       Sometimes the house was built partly on land and water. Positioned entirely on the water, she was grounded by a footbridge. In all cases, the main entrance is located next to water and is usually covered porch with stairs leading directly to water.