Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is one of the most famous destinations in Thailand. Visitors have great chances of taking photo, enjoying food and getting an insight into a bygone way of life. Most visitors coming to Thailand want to stop by this floating market and many of them will end up staying there all day because of the strangely magnificent sense of this place. A trip to the market can be a fascinating chance to have insight into Thai's culture.

History of Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

In the beginning, the canal, where the morning market is held daily, was built on the royal initiatives because King Rama IV of Thailand wanted to link the Mae Klong River with Chinese river ways in order to support trade and transportation. It took more than 2 years to dig and was officially finished under the reign of his successor King Rama V. The 32 kilometer - long canal has more than 200 branches. The main floating market was called Lad Plee which remained active until 1967 when the need for water transportation was replaced by the development of roads. Up to 1971, the Tourism Organism of Thailand made the Lad Plee market attractive for foreigners. Then a new road was built to Ton Khem canal and the modern Damnoen Saduak Floating Market along this canal was established as well. Damnoen Saduak floating market became more popular in 1971 – 1973 when the river was full of farmers on their boats selling wares.

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

A visit to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market consists of a plenty of narrow canals. There, female traders wearing traditional blue farmers’ shirts called mo hom with straw hats on sampans (small wooden boats) to sell their products; which are produced directly from farms. The market is often the busiest in the early morning from 7:00 to 9:00 am and active up to the noon. The market complex comprises three smaller markets: Khun Phitak, Ton Khem and Hia Kui. Ton Khem is considered as the largest one and is positioned on Khlong Damnoen Saduak. Hia Kui is parallel to Khlong Damnoen Saduak while Khun Phitak is the smallest one.

The Floating Market is a very attractive place for tourists to get a glimpse of traditional style of selling and buying goods because the market is routinely full with hundreds of vendors and purchasers floating in their small boats to trade agricultural products or local food. Around there, available boat trip services will let you have sightseeing tours along smaller canals branching off from the Damnoen Saduak canal. Visitors can also observe Thai traditional houses, understand the way they live as well as trying out exotic fruits, local food and refreshing drinks along the river. Also, travellers can watch and enjoy market activities from a passage along the canal.

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

If you are willing to pay a little more, you can enjoy a boat trip on the surrounding canals and observe traces of traditional life. This will be a fun experience, promising tourists with thousands of dreamy photos. Walking along the sides of the canal and watching the rows of packed wooden boats overflowing with fresh fruit, vegetables and traditional Thai souvenirs is not a bad idea.

It is undeniable that Damnoen Saduak floating market will offer a unique culinary experience you will not find anywhere else. Coming early to the Damnoen Saduak floating market, tourists will be served with the best breakfast ever. Don't hesitate to buy your meal and keep on exploring the market when the food vendors are preparing piping hot bowls of noodles or frying up tasty spring rolls. Don't forget to get to the Hia Kui market to buy some souvenirs for your beloved people.

Try culinary experience in Damnoen Saduak Market

How to get there

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is now located in Ratchaburi province. The position is at around 100 kilometers from Bangkok and can be reached by car within about one and a half hours. If you choose to drive there, take the Pinklao – Nakhon Chai Sri road (Highway 338) and then turn right to Amphoe Damnoen Saduak. Or else, you can start from the Phet Kasem road (Highway 4), pass Bang Kae, Sampran Riverside, Nakhon Chai Sri, Nakhon Pathom, and the 83 kilometers marker, finally take the left direction to Highway 325 for around 25 kilometers.

In case you want to travel by bus, there are many buses running from Bangkok Bus Terminal (Southern Line) to Damnoen Saduak daily. Other well-known bus lines are Bangkok – Phetchaburi, Bangkok – Ratchaburi, Bangkok – Hua Hin and Bangkok Prachuap Kiri Khan. You have to change at Bang Pae where there is a Damnoen Saduak local bus which is available every 10 minutes.

Bangkok markets have been there for over 100 years serving Thai traditions and history. Therefore, once you have a chance, visiting the most crowded one – the Damnoen Saduak floating market will be an unforgettable memory.