| Bang Pla Soi | |
| Native Name: | Thai: บางปลาสร้อย |
| Settlement Type: | Tambon |
| Pushpin Map: | Thailand Chonburi#Thailand |
| Pushpin Label: | Bang Pla Soi |
| Pushpin Label Position: | right |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Chonburi province |
| Coordinates: | 13.3696°N 100.9834°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Thailand |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Chonburi |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Mueang Chonburi |
| Timezone: | ICT |
| Utc Offset: | +7 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
Bang Pla Soi (Thai: บางปลาสร้อย, in Thai pronounced as /bāːŋ plāː sɔ̂j/) is a tambon (sub-district) of Mueang Chonburi district, Chonburi province, eastern Thailand. Bang Pla Soi can be regarded as downtown Chonburi, due to it being the location of various important buildings such as the Provincial Hall, the Provincial Court, etc.[1]
Its name "Bang Pla Soi" translates to "place of pla soi". "Pla soi" is a Thai common name for small edible freshwater fish in the carp family (Cyprinidae), similar to minnow distributed in many genera such as Cirrhinus, Henicorhynchus, Labiobarbus, Lobocheilus, etc.[2]
It got its name from a khlong (canal) that flows through an area rich in this species of fish.
In the past, Bang Pla Soi was also the name used to refer to the entire downtown Chonburi.
The area has been an important trading location on the eastern coastline since ancient times, it was notable for its location in the centre of the ocean trading route between India and ancient civilizations like Greeks, Romans and Arabs as well as ancient China, and an abundance of natural resources including plants and herbs. Bang Pla Soi was also located near other important cities such as Phaya Re, an important trading post for forest products and wood; Phra Rot, where the products were sent at the internal harbour; and finally coastal Sri Phalo where they were exported. Trade continued in this manner until the Ayutthaya period, sometime around the 13th–14th century, when the main coastal trading hub was relocated to Bang Pla Soi. When sediment made parts of the Bang Pakong river shallower, the coastal settlement of Sri Phalo experienced a decline in its importance and economy during the 1300s. As a result, some of the town's residence moved to Bang Pla Soi.[3]
Eventually, Bang Pla Soi, Bang Phra and Bang Lamung districts formed Chonburi province as know it at present.[4]
In 1915, the Governor of Chonburi Praya Prasaisuradach founded Chonkanyanukoon School, which opened in 1917 as a co-ed school. However, the Ministry of Education forced the school to split into single sex schools in 1931.[5]
Bang Pla Soi borders Ban Suan to the east and to the south, Bay of Bangkok (upper Gulf of Thailand) to the west and Makham Yong to the north.[1]
The entire area of Bang Pla Soi is administered by the Chonburi City Municipality.