Floating Markets in Thailand – Amphawa Floating Market (Samut Songkram)
Category : Review
Updated by : admin
What / Why :
Amphawa Floating Market is located on a canal that flows in to the Mae Klong River in Samut Songkhram Province, about 80 kilometer South-West from Bangkok. The market is only open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday and it gets very busy at dusk.
Besides visiting the usual Damnoen Saduak floating market to see the old-style sellers touting their wares from small boats floating on the river or the famous Chatuchak Weekend market( Jatuchak Weekend Market) in Bangkok, you might want to check out Amphawa Floating Market for an authentic Thai floating market experience - an enormous floating market?? situated about an hour drive from Bangkok .
On both sides of the river bank, you’ll see numerous stalls and shops stretching as far as you can see with sellers atop small boats floating backwards and forwards up the river, or stopped at the river bank selling their wares. You can find just about anything you want to eat and shop at the market from street fashion wear and household items to authentic food and candy.
There are some wonderful folk museum and also talented artists and craftspeople selling gorgeous Thai art here. Prices are cheaper than markets in Bangkok and many unique items that you won’t find anywhere else so, if you see something you love, buy it or you will regreat later.
Dining at Amphawa Floating Market is an interesting experience – Amphawa is known to have some of the best authentic Thai seafood such as freshly grilled river prawns, scallops (Hoi Shell) and squids (Pla Muek) served in spicy chilli sauce including the famous Som Tam and Pad Thai in the area. As food is a very important part of Thai culture, there is an amazing range of food stuffs available from the boat vendors and it is really exciting to see many of the locals eat along the canal.
Like Singapore Boat Quay and Clarke Quay, there are many trendy coffee shops and cafes, cool bars with live music, restaurants, dessert shops and ice cream stores selling excellent food and desserts in a rustic, charming setting along the canal. The food is cheap, safe and scrumptious and the drinks are varied and delicious. Lychee ice blended drink is my favourite.
Amphawa gets very crowded, so it is advisable to arrive early. The market starts around 4pm and ends around 11pm, so you have plenty of time to see everything it has to offer. Plus, if you’d like to stay longer, there are many small tastefully decorated home-stay guest houses where you can spend the night right on the river bank for a small charge or you could join local tour to see fireflies.
It has become a popular attraction for the Bangkokians but ‘unseen’ by the tourist’s eye and it offers more than a floating market.
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