When mentioning" Siam Park "or Siam Amazing Park (the world's largest artificial sea and a beloved Thai amusement park), many people likely think of" Chaiwat Luangamornlert "the owner and founder, a legendary figure known for his life struggles.
From a boy raised in poverty who once worked as a bus conductor to becoming a billionaire real estate businessman willing to sacrifice everything to build a place for Thai people to relax, this tycoon's life is filled with sweat, tears, and relentless determination.
Thairath Online presents the life story of " Dr. Chaiwat Luangamornlert ", from bus conductor to the creator of Siam Park, a happiness kingdom for Thais for over 46 years.
Dr. Chaiwat Luangamornlert was born into a Chinese family settled in Bangkhen Market and was nicknamed "Little Oi" as a child.
Because it was a large extended family with many relatives living together, income never covered expenses. During World War II, the family relocated to Pathum Thani province. As a child, he worked collecting eggs, tending cows and buffaloes, and fishing in exchange for food.
Although he wanted to study like his peers, poverty and circumstances forced him to finish only fourth grade. He later enrolled in first-year secondary school but had to drop out to help his family with trading and earning money.
At age 14-15, Chaiwat decided to earn a living outside home. He began by applying as a"bus conductor"on the 22-Wheel Roundabout to Udon Thani route, a dangerous and exhausting trip filled with dust and overnight stays in provinces, also competing fiercely for passengers with rivals.
This tough experience taught him that"to be something, you must be serious and fight; without fighting, there’s no chance."
After his family urged him to quit bus conducting out of concern, he borrowed 5,000 baht from his brother-in-law to put down a deposit on a pickup truck to work as a hired driver, working tirelessly 24 hours a day delivering fish, vegetables, and pork.
He was later advised to start a fish breeding business and then expanded into real estate development with housing projects under the names"Amornpan"and"Thiansuan"which achieved overwhelming success, allowing him to expand into finance companies and construction contracts, becoming one of Thailand’s leading businessmen.
Though wealthy from real estate, Chaiwat dreamed of building a world-class amusement and water park for Thai people to enjoy,so he invested heavily to establish"Siam Park".Managing Siam Park was not easy due to huge water and electricity costs while charging only a few baht for admission. Facing economic crises and repeated floods, the business suffered heavy losses and debts exceeding one billion baht.
However, Dr. Chaiwat chose to stand firm, refusing to lay off staff or let Siam Park go bankrupt. He gradually sold real estate and affiliated companies to sustain the business and repay debts, battling this burden for 15 years until recovery.
From smiles to tears: The 2026 great flood
However, the 2026 massive flood caused severe damage estimated at least 500 million baht, forcing this legendary fighter to surrender and announce the sale of the iconic amusement park for 10 billion baht, closing the chapter on his happiness empire with his own hands.What worries him most is not lost profits but the livelihood of employees who may lose income. He encouraged everyone facing the flood crisis by saying,"Whether rich or poor, today we all start anew equally."
This leadership attitude truly reflects his strength.
Dr. Chaiwat Luangamornlert’s life story reveals the heart of a"fighter"who, despite starting from hardship and enduring countless setbacks, used diligence, endurance, and determination to make history and bring happiness to Thai people for a long time.
Although today he faces crisis and must end the Siam Park legacy, his story will remain remembered as an example of a businessman who never gave up against fate.Read moreRevisiting the legend of "Siam Park," Bangkok’s sea before the great flood crisis of 2026
