Lak Ha

Its name Lak Ha means "fifth milestone", refers to the fifth milestone of Khlong Damnoen Saduak, a khlong (canal) dug in the King Mongkut's reign (Rama IV) bridging rivers of Tha Chin to Mae Klong. The man-made straight line canal, approximately 35 km (21.7 mi) long, divided into eight milestones from the beginning to the destination at Bang Nok Khwaek Watergate, Samut Songkhram province. It took two years, between 1866 and 1868, to complete.^[1]

Lak Ha is a Khlong Damnoen Saduak waterfront community. There are many important places, such as Buddhist temple, Wat Prasat Sith, also formerly and still colloquially known as Wat Lak Ha or Wat Don Phai, a local spiritual anchor, including the floating market, Lak Ha Floating Market which is a continuation of the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market in Damnoen Saduak district.^[1]

Luang Phor Trairat Rojanarit, a principle Buddha image of Wat Prasat Sith is worshiped by the Lak Ha people. Every year there is a local tradition, the procession of Buddha by boat along Khlong Damnoen Saduak in late January to February from the first to the eighth milestione in Damnoen Saduak district for the waterfront community people to pay homage to the good fortune.^[2]

The terrain is a drainage basin, about 1 m (3.3 ft) to 2 m (6.6 ft) above sea level. Most of Lak Ha's area is fruit orchards and vegetable gardens, where a variety of fruits are cultivated, including grape, tangerine, dragon fruit, mango, young aromatic coconut, rose apple, etc. They are considered the main income of the community.

Khlong Damnoen Saduak that flows through the area considered as the local main watercourse. It also branched into many different tributaries, both natural and man-made waterways.^[3]