Bangkok 2012: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

The popular Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is about 100 km southwest of Bangkok in Ratchaburi province. Many small boats laden with food and sourvenirs can be seen along the canal. Most of these boats are paddled by Thai women wearing bamboo hats.

Built in 1866 under the order of King Rama IV of the Chakri Dynasty, the floating market aimed at facilitating waterborne travels between Ratchaburi and Samutsakhon Provinces. The soil along the canal is of excellent quality thus making the area very fertile, for growing various kinds of fruits and vegetables.

Crowded with hundreds of vendors and tourists Damnoen Saduak is a very attractive place for tourists to see this traditional way of trading. For those who wish to tour along the canal for sightseeing purpose, boat trip services are available. 

The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

Boathouses lining along the canal

The locals get water from the canal for their daily use such as cooking, splattering their land, bathing etc.

A common sight of Thai woman in bamboo hat, paddling the sampan, trading fruits and Thai delicacies.

A vendor selling soup noodles.

The canal provides transportation for the locals, enabling them to move around from their houses to other places.

A floating art gallery 

Get yourself a colourful bamboo hat and use it throughout the Bangkok trip. Rest assured that you will not get teased but praised for appreciating their culture and art work. 

One of the vendors with her leather products, clothes and accessories.

How to Get There
There are public buses departing from the Southern Bus Terminal for Damnoen Saduak every 40 minutes from 06.00 hrs. onwards. 

Fare THB49 (one way) 

Visiting hours: 8.00 a.m.onwards. 

Arriving at Damnoen Saduak, you can take a boat at the pier nearby to Floating Market area.