Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, Bangkok Overview

Marketed as a major tourist attraction and a marker of Thai culture, the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is among the most popular floating markets in the world. Boats swaying on the water are navigated by Thai locals and traders who sell all kinds of farm produce, fruits, souvenirs and freshly prepared local foods, which visitors can enjoy while sailing in their own boats.

Established in 1981, the modern Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is a top-rated tourist attraction. It is situated around 100 kilometres southwest of Bangkok, in Ratchaburi Province of the Damnoen Saduak District. The floating market history traces back to when Bangkok was A network of intertwining canals and rivers where sellers used to sell their wares while navigating the waterways by their boats.

One can expect to venture the market through cramped klongs (canals) and witness several female traders attired in traditional mo hom apparel and broad-brimmed straw hats selling merchandise on compact wooden boats referred to as sampans. This market provides its visitors with many notable photo opportunities with boats filled with colourful fruits and vegetables that are often used as a tool for tourism promotion.

Market Divisions

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market incorporates three small markets, namely Khun Phitak, Ton Khem, Hia Kui. Situated on Khlong Damnoen Saduak, Ton Khem is the largest of the three markets. With Hui Kui market parallel to this canal, it includes several souvenir shops on the canal banks where traders sell goods to large tour groups.

The smallest and least packed market is Khun Phitak, which is situated around 2 kilometres south to the Hui Kui market. Bargaining is an ordinary practice in these markets, so visitors should be prepared to use their bargaining skills here. The unique setting of this floating market has made it a famous destination among other local and foreign tourist attractions that have been used in movie scenes such as in The Man with the Golden Gun and Bangkok Dangerous.

What To Buy At The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

With each boat being a shop in itself, one can expect to find many items at this market that will entice them to empty their pockets. From colourful fresh fruits and vegetables to cheap traditional Thai souvenirs such as Thai conical hands and flower candles, and cheap T-shirts, postcards, and tchotchkes, a large assortment of items are available at this market. Though in the beginning, the prices of these items may appear to be very high, after the bargain, they can buy a product with 50-70 per cent off. For instance, Thai hats and T-shirts start from the range of THB 180 and THB 140, but they can be brought down to THB 60 and THB 45 after bargaining.

Tours of the Market

The best way to manoeuvre around this floating market is to join a tour. One can easily find many tour operators online such as GetYourGuide and Asia-Discovery.com (operated by Royal Exclusive Travel).

Tour Prices
Adult - THB 450Children (3 to 11 years) - THB 390

These prices are inclusive of pick up and drop off service from the visitor’s hotel at the Bangkok city center, round-trip transportation in air-conditioned vehicles, long-tailed boat trip, English-speaking guide, and booking fees and taxes. The tour is not inclusive of lunch and paddle or rowing boat ride. However, visitors would get several lunch options at the market.

Paddle Boat Prices: THB 150

Private Tours
One can even request a private tour of this market. While the prices for the private tour may be a bit high, they decrease by the number of requests. The tour participants are picked from their respective hotels between 6:00 to 7:30 AM to depart southwards to the floating market.

Visitors are free to explore the market upon arrival. You could go around; click pictures, hire a rowing boat, buy some unique souvenirs and overall make most of their time at this legendary market. They then get to experience a ride on a long-tailed boat through the winding canals as they make their way out of the market and witness remote plantations, gardens, and villages.

The tour ends at 2-2:30 PM after all the participants have boarded on the vehicles upon arriving at the jetty pier and everyone is dropped off at their respective hotels.

Things to Do at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

Along with shopping for unique items, there are several other things that visitors can do to enjoy their time at the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.
They can enjoy a thrilling ride on a rowboat or motorboat for just about THB 150 per person. The ride lasts for around 35 minutes and enables visitors to take beautiful pictures of the colourful houses built on stilts and also provides them with a glimpse into the daily life of locals.
One can also pose with a Burmese Python wrapped around their neck for about THB 100 or witness a cobra show for around THB 400.
Furthermore, the stalls on this floating market are not only photogenic but also serve delicious food such as freshly prepared mini-coconut pancakes and boat noodles with a rich meaty broth.

Restaurants and Food

An excellent place for authentic Thai culinary experience, Damnoen Sadduak Floating Market is full of local food vendors selling a variety of food on their wooden paddle boats. One would try not only different traditional Thai dishes such as Thai ice cream, Pad Thai, Thai dumplings, and Thai iced tea but also witness vendors selling rare, indigenous tropical fruits.

If one is confused to order at this market brimming with several vendors, then order a favourite dish and choose a place to eat. Visitors could either eat at the market food court or pack a takeaway. To have a bigger meal, rush to the small restaurants lined along the river. These eateries serve delicious Thai food meals such as Thai dumplings, pancakes, and prominent Pad thai served with peanuts.