Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

 Get ready to float and eat at the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

If you do not know how to bargain then Damnoen Saduak Floating Market can end up being a bit of expensive.  It is bargaining for tickets, bargaining for food prices and everything, BUT a must see.  It’s a true tourist highlight in central Thailand. The markets are only a morning thing, so arrive very early as they close round about 11am.  The busiest time is from 7am till 9am.   All the boats that paddles along the canals (khlongs), are packed with food, ice cream, cold drinks and anything you can think of.  Small wooden boats (sampans) are stacked with fresh coconuts, garlic, flowers and so much more.  The fresh fruit was nice and cold especially the pineapple and mango is so refreshing that time of the morning.  No bacon and eggs will be found, but a nice cooked noodle soup did its thing.

Where to go

Situated about 100km southwest from Bangkok you will find this more than 100-year-old tradition of selling fresh produce on canals in boats known as the floating market.  There is so many floating markets in Thailand, but this one is more known amongst the tourists. There is no public trains from Bangkok, but there is bus running everyday from the southern bus terminal in Bangkok.  The bus ride takes about 2 hours. After you need to walk or take a pick-up truck-bus for about 2 km to the centre of the floating markets. we took a day tour from Bangkok or if you are more than 3 hire a taxi and split the costs.

The stalls on the edges of the canals are mostly lined with souvenir-style goods, such as fans, hats, paintings and spices.  Snakes, monkeys and birds are sold in cages.  There is still people living on the Damnoen Saduak floating market grounds. You will see children playing and pet animals taking a morning sleep in the morning sun.