To the east of the district the Thathong River marks the natural boundary to Kanchanadit, while the boundary to Phunphin is partially marked by the western arm of the Tapi River. Khun Thale is a small lake in the center of the district. The Khao Tha Phet non-hunting area protects 4.65 km2 of a hill south of the city of Surat Thani.
The Khun Thale swamp to the south of the district is the source of two short minor rivers which meander through the city, Khlong Makham Tia and Khlong Tha Kup.
History
The Ban Don district was formed when in 1897 Mueang Chaiya and Kanchanadit were merged into a single province named Chaiya, with its administrative center at Chaiya.[1] Until 1912, administrative center was move to Bandon, then change named Mueang. In 1915 the province was renamed Surat Thani.[2] In 1917 the district was renamed Ban Don (บ้านดอน).[3] In 1938 the district was renamed Mueang Surat Thani, when all capital districts were named after their corresponding province.[4]
Mueang Surat Thani or Ban Don before World War II period was the location of many businesses lined along the Tapi River, such as sawmills, trade offices, office of East Asiatic Company, including water bus services, which was often called Ruea Naris (เรือนริศ) and the residence of Prince Naris as well.
In before King Rama V's reign, Ban Don was also the center of shipbuilding as well. There are skilled shipbuilders in both domestic and neighbor districts, such as Thathong, Chaiya. They can build ships, both warships and royal barges.[5]
Although, the capital district (Amphoe mueang) of Surat Thani province is Bandon district, the local Surat Thani people generally refer to the capital district is Chaiya district and refer to Bandon district as little China of the province.[citation needed]
The district is divided into 11 sub-districts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 70 villages (mubans). Surat Thani itself is a city (thesaban nakhon) and covers tambons Talat and Bang Kung, and parts of the tambons Khlong Chanak, Bang Chana, Bang Bai Mai, and Makham Tia. Wat Pradu [Wikidata] and Khun Thale [Wikidata] have sub-district municipality (thesaban tambon) status, and cover the same-named sub-district. There are a further eight tambon administrative organizations (TAO), for each sub-district except the three completely covered by municipalities.