Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

[pharvey]

The Long Haired General, myself and mother-in-law are heading out to Thailand on the 17th for the festive season. We need to have a quick visit up to Nakhorn Prathom where we have a small investment on a pig farm, before heading down to Hua Hin.

The LHG has always fancied visiting the floating market, but for one reason or another we have not visited (together anyway - I did visit several years ago on a day trip from Bangkok). I thought it would be a good idea to visit on the way down to Hua Hin, probably staying one night, visiting the next morning/afternoon and then continuing down. Has anyone got any advice on where to stay (middle of the road prices), what time of day is best to visit, anything else to see etc. etc.

Thanks in advance

[Bamboo Grove]

You need to go there in the morning, the place closes down around noon. It's very touristy so the prices there are very expensive. There are couple of more places you can visit at the same time, both along the way towards Nakhon Pathom. One is a handicraft centre where you can watch wood carvings (furniture) and paper made from mulberry trees. This one also is an expensive place to purchase goods but it's free to enter and the carvings are fantastic. The other one is kind of a cultural centre where they have houses from different parts of Thailand on display. I'm sorry, I can't remember the name of this place but maybe someone else can.

On the way towards Samut Songkram town there is the birthplace of King Rama II and in the same province there is also the vineyards and the factory of Siam Winery. In Nakhon Pathom town you can visit the Phra Jedi Nakhon Pathom, which is a very famous pagoda among the Thais.

[pharvey]

Many thanks BG I very much doubt the LHG would ever consider buying anything from the real ''touristy'' places anywhere!! She's simply interested in taking a look at the market itself. Mother-in-law has never been outside China, so no doubt will be a great experience for her anyway.

The Phra Jedi Nakhon Pathom certainly sounds interesting, as does the handicraft center on the way down to Ratchaburi...... unfortunately the vineyards will be a no-no - not really enough time, plus I'm with 2 teetotalers!!

Thanks again for the info.

[Francois]

Personally, I am not very keen of Damnoen Saduak floating market. I very much prefer Ampawa. Ampawa has a good Thai atmosphere. On the week end it is a bit over crowded but really nice.
After visiting Ampawa, you may have a "longtail" tour on the klongs at twilight, have a dinner in one of the several restaurants along the klongs and then pursuit your tour at night and see the fireflies.
Such a program should lead you home in Hua Hin around midnight.

Another curiosity remains in the same area: the Maeklong Market. The Maeklong Railway line passes through Maeklong market 8 times a day, 7 days per week. The train passes through the market, forcing sellers to raise their booth canopies and to remove their stalls.

Anyway, all those spots, including Damnoen Saduak are in the same area...

Have fun

[hhfarang]

Here's the railway market:

[ste860]

its not that expensive ,especially if you make your own way,we paid 1000 baht for the boat when we went ,i took my wife's family because they too had not been,they enjoyed it, worth a visit,but souvenir wise its the same as everywhere else

[georgy]

We went there recently with some friends.
The formerly nice -although already touristic- market is jammed by noisy, stinking long tail boats, very few sellers on traditional paddel boats, mostly shops in new concrete buildings.
The market has no relation anymore to the known postcard pictures.

Definitely a place I will avoid in future.

[Big Boy]

One bit of advice, don't get one of the huge long tail speed boats that you will see the Japanese tourists flying around on. These are too large to get into the market.

If you can't get a paddle boat (I've not seen many places offering those), get one of the smaller long tail speed boats. They are propelled by paddles when they go into the market.

[pharvey]

Thanks for all the responses guys - appreciated

Certainly some mixed reviews here and on the Web in general!!

Having looked into it a bit more, there's another floating market a little closer to Nakhom Pathom which although going away from Hua Hin, is certainly close enough for the Long Haired General and mother-in-law to visit in the morning before we head south in the afternoon.

Has anyone visited or heard of the Lam Phaya Floating Market (north of Nakhom Pathom city)?

[pharvey]

Mods - I hope it's OK to post this link as even though it's a Thai forum, it's not in competition with HHAD. If not OK, please remove with my apologies.

Anyway, a few picks of Lam Phaya Floating Market and the surroundings - certainly looks worth a visit.

http://teakdoor.com/bangkok-forum/62333 ... -trip.html