Floating Market

These are very important commercial centres for those living on the banks of the many canals and away from road. Every day, from about 6.00-11.00 am small boats laden with all kinds of tropical fruits and vegetables and other produce from the orchards or nearby communities assemble for business. There are four major floating markets around Bangkok

Thailand's floating markets are among the most-photographed destinations in the country. The river and 'klong' markets give a realistic glance of how daily life must have been in earlier times. The floating markets are where the sellers, their boats laden with a wide variety of tropical fruits, flowers, vegetables and fresh produce, come to meet and barter their products with other traders. These days, modern supermarkets and department stores have largely replaced the traditional floating markets, but a few still survive.

The most popular floating market, one of the must-see one-day trips from Bangkok, is at Ratchaburi, about 101 km to the west of Bangkok. The Ratchaburi market is the largest of its kind, attracting a large number of tourists each day. The lively and colorful images of boat vendors trading their agricultural products is one of the most fascinating and endearing images of Thailand.

There are also some interesting floating markets in Bangkok itself. The Taling Chan floating market is a weekend market in front of Taling Chan district office. Another one is the Wat Sai market in Bangkok's Thonburi area.

Efforts are being made to revive the old markets and reorganize them to support tourism. One example is the Wat Lam Phaya floating market in Nakhon Pathom, which was recently recreated and is now being promoted.

The best way to fully appreciate a floating market is to hire a long-tailed boat for the day. A tour along the klongs also gives you an appreciation of Thai homes and gardens. Don't forget to get up real early for a trip to see the markets. Usually they kick off at dawn, and most traders have already gone back home by late morning.

Four floating markets are within reach of Bangkok:

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, 80 km southwest of Bangkok in Ratchaburi province, is one of the largest and most popular floating markets among tourists. Also known as Klong Lat Phli Floating Market by the locals, the market is active in the mornings only, from 6.00 am to 11.00 am. If you want to take photos without hordes of tourists, get there early.

Air-conditioned buses leave for Damnoen Saduak every half hour starting at 6.00 am from the southern bus terminal on Boromrat Chonnani Road, Tel +66 2 434-5557-8. To get to the market itself, take a boat from Potchawan Landing or Seri Khemi Kaset Landing. Several smaller and quieter floating markets are located in Ratchaburi and nearby Samut Songkhram province. The best way to explore these markets is to hire a long-tailed boat for around 300 baht an hour, (or less depending on your bargaining powers). Over 5,000 foreign tourists swarm Damnoen Saduak every day and the market is fast reaching its maximum carrying capacity.

Tha Kha Floating Market is about 10 km beyond Damnoen Saduak. It can easily be reached from Samut Songkhram by minibuses, which leave every 20 minutes. The market is active from 6.00 am to 12.00 am on weekends only. Unlike Damnoen Saduak, the river banks are not built up with concrete shop houses filled with souvenirs.

Bang Khu Wiang Floating Market, in Bang Kruai district of Nonthaburi province, can be reached by boat from Tha Chang Pier near the Grand Palace. The market operates from 4.00 am until late morning but the best time to visit is around sunrise. Monks also come to the market by rowing boat to receive alms from the villagers.

Taling Chan Floating Market It is a weekend market in front of Taling Chan District Office, starting from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Boat trip service is available for sight-seeing along the canal where gardens and the village lifestyle are still to be seen. The market is also accessible by buses No. 79 and 83 which pass nearby.