Damnoen Saduak is undoubtedly the most famous floating market in Thailand. And for good reason, if you type " Bangkok floating market"You will surely come across photos of him."

It's a very touristy place, marketed as THE place to be. Bangkok floating market, but what taxi drivers eager to take you there don't reveal at first is that it's not in Bangkok… and that the floating character is far from the original concept.

It is also important to understand that it is more like a giant souvenir shop, with the "fun" aspect of being centered around water; but you mainly find decorative objects, clothing and crafts of all kinds.

And while you can obviously find some food, fresh fruit and drinks ranging from fresh coconuts to beers, it is rarely frequented or consumed by locals — and not in the sense of a fresh produce market as it originally was.

How to get to Damnoen Saduak from Bangkok?

Damnoen Saduak is located approximately 100 km southwest of Bangkokin the province of Ratchaburi. The journey takes between 1.5 and 2 hours depending on traffic.

There are several options for getting there, from the simplest to the most “adventurous”.

By taxi or private car (the most direct route)

The simplest and quickest way is still to call on a taxi from bangkok.
Drivers typically offer a daily rate that includes round-trip transportation and waiting time on site.

count approximately 2,500 baht This is the most comfortable option, especially if you want to leave early (which is recommended to avoid the crowds), but also the most practical if you want to combine the Mae Klong train market and 1–2 visits in the surrounding area (I'll talk about that later).

→ A highly recommended taxi service: Chang Watchara

By bus or minivan (public transport)

By public transport, you need to go to Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal (Sai ​​Tai Mai).

Direct buses and minivans serve Damnoen Saduak without passing through the neighbouring town of Samut Songkhram.

The ticket costs approximately 150 baht per person.

This is the most economical option, but it requires a little more organization, especially for the return trip and above all once there you will be more limited in your movements (even if taxis generally offer their services once there).

By train (via Mae Klong), for the adventurous.

There is no direct train to Damnoen Saduak, but it is possible to combine the journey with a visit to the Mae Klong train market.

To do this, go to the small train station of Wongwian Yai, on the west bank of Bangkok.

The train first takes you to Mahachai. You then have to cross the Tha Chin river by boat, reach Ban Laem station, then take a second train to Mae Klong (at Samut Songkhram).

You then arrive directly at the famous market set up along the railway tracks.

⚠️ Please note Mae Klong is not near Damnoen Saduak. You will then need to arrange a taxi or local transport to cover the remaining 20 to 25 km to the floating market.

This option is longer, but interesting if you want to discover both markets in the same day and experience the local train.

Do we need to go through an organized excursion?

Many agencies offer half-day or full-day excursions departing from Bangkok.

This is the simplest solution if you do not want to manage transportation, but it involves a program that is often very structured and a limited time on site.

A brief historical and geographical overview of Damnoen Saduak

First point What I wanted to point out here is that this floating market is often "sold" as being in Bangkok, when in fact it is located in the province of Ratchaburi.

This is particularly important when it comes to taxis trying to urge you to go there. If you're unaware of the cost, you won't understand the high price, which is generally consistent, and above all, you won't understand why getting there takes so long.

Because some people don't expect to embark on a journey of about 1 hour 30 minutes, so it's still 3 hours round trip.

It's certainly quite feasible to do the visit in a single day, but this timing should be taken into account when planning the rest of your visits. It's important to understand that... floating markets in Bangkok itselfYes, there are some.

The best known being Taling chan And my favorite, the Lat Mayom Market, a vast market, but again, more on land than on water.

The problem is that all these so-called "floating" markets only take place on weekends, and that's where Damnoen Saduak comes into play because it's the exception. That's why it's so highly promoted, it's simply the only one open every day.

Second pointLike many floating markets today, Damnoen Saduak is a revival of a floating market that once existed near the main Damnoen Saduak canal. This canal was created during the reign and by order of King Rama IV between 1866 and 1868 to connect the Tha Chin River in the west to the Mae Klong River in the east.

Many floating markets sprang up along this new 32 km waterway, as land roads were still very underdeveloped. The numerous canals nearby (more than 200!) dug by the villagers were the main means of transportation, by boat.

Appointed Lad Plee Market Originally, this floating market eventually ceased operations in the 60s, when the road network became sufficient to gradually abandon this method of selling on the water, which was considered less practical.

But at that same time, tourism was beginning to develop due to the presence of American troops in Thailand during the Vietnam War.

Le Tourism Organization of Thailand (which became the TAT, for Tourism Authority of Thailand) was then created to promote the country's attractions and develop tourism in the Land of Smiles. From 1971, the idea was simple: to revive the Lad Plee market to attract foreign tourists.

In 1981, the road now running through the middle of the canal (where the main part of Damnoen Saduak Market is located) was built, leading contractors to develop the canal banks into what would become the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market we know today.

Just a quick note, the market is actually a combination of 3 small, separate markets: Ton Khem, Hia Kui et Khun Phitakwhich are accessed by navigating by boat through the canals.

What to expect at Damnoen Saduak Market?

As it's the most famous of Thailand's floating markets, don't expect a small, secluded one. Many tour operators bring visitors from Bangkok by bus, and they come and go for a good part of the morning.

If you arrive before 10am, you will clearly see the difference.

How does the boat tour work?

In Damnoen Saduak, everything revolves around boat tours.

Most visitors opt for a stroll in long tail, of about an hour. The “basic” route focuses first on the main canal, where the activity is densest, before following the line of shops on the intermediate canals and then moving away towards quieter canals.

If you're not aware of the prices, it's easy to get ripped off… some people have been offered tours for 3,000 or 4,000 baht for 1.5 hours, under the pretext that they had to rent the entire boat. But if there are only two of you, at that price, it's clearly outrageous.

It's therefore best to compare prices, negotiate, and not accept the first offer. As a guide, a private longtail boat for 1.5 hours often costs around 1,500 baht (this may vary depending on the route and the number of people). There's also a cheaper option if you share the boat with other visitors for a basic, standard tour.

Personally, I always opt for a rowing boat, more pleasant than noisy longtail boats, because even if you go less far, I appreciate more the floating aspect of the boat and the family aspect of those who offer this low-cost trip.

Where I get it (I've marked it on the map right after), is 500 baht for a loop of about one hour via a small boat for 4/5 people (if you are 10, you will probably need two boats).

On the map below, I show you:

• the personal circuit (in blue),
• two possible extensions (1 and 2) to see a little something other than the market itself.

A (very) touristy atmosphere

Tourist destinations come with corresponding prices…

While normally you can buy a coconut for less than 40 baht, here it will be more like 60, even though they are plentiful in the region… A bottle of water can cost 20 baht instead of 10.

These are just a few examples, but in principle, paying double simply because you are in a very busy area leaves a mixed taste.

The market itself consists of a dense lineup of shops selling more or less the same thing: decorative objects, clothing, souvenirs, classic crafts.

On the main section, the boats brush past each other, their engines belch smoke onto those behind, and you often have to tuck your elbows in to get through. In fact, you'll be told not to leave your fingers lingering on the sides of the boat.

Mandatory stops and partnerships

Boats regularly stop in front of certain shops, sometimes as a result of partnerships, sometimes simply because a slightly too intense look suggests that you are interested.

An almost systematic stop during the boat tour: the palm sugar factory.

They still produce them (at the back of the site), but the visible part today is mainly a well-oiled shop.

A floating market… but mainly for visitors

Yes, some vendors still travel by boat with fresh fruit, drinks ranging from beer (early in the morning…) to coconuts, but also snacks such as grilled meats, the ever-popular Pad Thai or the famous mango sticky rice dessert.

There are also a few "grandmas" with a retro look that provide a visual guarantee of authenticity. But in reality, you see more boats full of tourists than locals doing their shopping.

The market, formerly concentrated in the morning, is now open all day, 7 days a week to accommodate the number of visitors eager to experience the "floating market".

It's a well-oiled machine. It works, it attracts, and it continues to seduce despite rather mixed opinions.

So should you visit Damnoen Saduak?

Given the description I gave above, you might wonder why on earth I'm even asking the question, since the answer seems obvious at first glance.

Except there's a subtlety.

Already, Damnoen Saduak is the only one Floating Market easily accessible from Bangkok to be open during the week. So if you're not in Bangkok at the weekend, and you really want to see this kind of market, this is the "default" option.

Going there with full knowledge of the factsWe appreciate the place more because the atmosphere remains unique. It's a bit like a carousel: everything is "scripted," but there's a fun side to it, and you can stumble upon scenes of life and truly eloquent moments.

Knowing what to expect can also help you avoid unnecessary expenses: buy water beforehand. To prevent unpleasant surprises (price, type of boat, dock), I explain above where I take the boat and how to choose the right route.

It is also entirely possible (even if it clearly limits the experience) to not to make a boat not at all, and simply gravitate around it. The market can also be visited partly “on land”.

Another positive point is that the restaurants around have prices that remain reasonable, and there are also quite a few nice little cafes for a caffeinated break.

Overall, the best advice I can give you is to arrive before 9h, which corresponds to the time when the groups usually start to disembark.

Obviously, you have to be an early riser… which isn't always appealing when you're on vacation, I understand. But after all, that's often how you get the most out of tourist spots.

Getting up early allows you to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere from 7:30 am (that means leaving Bangkok at 6 am…).

In this case, you may even see monks passing by boat to collect the offerings (what is called the Tak Bat) as is done everywhere around the temples (and there are plenty of them in the surrounding area).

At that time of day, there are also some boats selling local fresh produce, and there, you get more of the feeling of a floating market.

Take a stroll around the surrounding area, especially near the main canal: you will see wooden houses with old-world charm.

If you opt for a longtail boat ride in the area, try to negotiate a wider route to get out of the market areas and see more of the local atmosphere.

The atmosphere changes as soon as you move away from the tourist heart of Damnoen Saduak and you come across lots of old wooden shacks and the daily routine of the inhabitants living along the water.

Combine Damnoen Saduak with the surrounding area

Taken on its own, Damnoen Saduak might leave a mixed impression. But as part of a day trip to Samut Songkhram, its appeal becomes more coherent…

With these various attractions, the region around the town of Samut Songkhram is well worth spending the day in, even if it means traveling around the area.

Among other attractions, I can mention:

• le Wat Bang Kung: temple surrounded by centuries-old trees,
• Don Hi Lot, seaside with a small market, popular with locals for picnics
• or even the Amphawa floating market, if it's also the weekend.

Damnoen Saduak: Who is it really made for?

If you are looking for an authentic and local market, this is probably not the one to choose.

For a version more authentic, head towards the Tha Kha floating marketIt is one of the few original floating markets still active in the region.

It is only 10 km from Damnoen Saduak, but this only happens on weekends AND early in the morning!

On the other hand, if you are there during the week, want to see a floating market without waiting for the weekend, and accept the very touristy nature of the place, the experience can still be quite different.

Provided you arrive early, choose a rowboat and don't expect a village market frozen in time.