Bangkok Train & Floating Markets Review: What to Expect

Thinking about checking out Bangkok’s Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and the Mae Klong Train Market? That’s super common since they offer, more or less, totally unique shopping experiences. They give you, sort of, a peek into Thailand’s culture and its way of life too. Let’s have a peek at these cool spots, to get you a bit ready, and give you some tips so you can get the most out of it.

Damnoen Saduak: The Floating Market Experience

When you think of Thailand’s floating markets, the Damnoen Saduak market, that’s probably what pops to mind, right? That’s possibly one of the most well-known and it’s, in a way, something tourists flock to, for an up-close experience of that local trade, Thai style. It is located in Ratchaburi province, that’s a trip, just a little, outside of Bangkok, and it shows you, for example, vendors selling goods straight from their boats. It’s pretty interesting.

You can either walk, for example, alongside the canals or get yourself a ride on one of those longtail boats; seeing it all unfold from the water is, maybe, very magical. It’s going to be a crowded and busy spot, almost. Remember, it is very well known, that it might be best, alright, to arrive, for example, fairly early so you can avoid the biggest crowds, as a matter of fact, and the heat. You’ll be bartering, and getting some yummy eats, possibly noodles, maybe some sweet treats and looking at a collection of hand made things. I am saying you could get totally carried away, like your wallet could take a hit, so keep it a bit in check.

Many feel that its gotten too touristed so that it could be a little unreal. So maybe try a smaller market if you feel this one lost some authenticity. At the end of the day, visiting is almost something that has to be done when touring Thailand, I would argue. It’s like, very culturally heavy with photo possibilities at any moment.

What You Might Expect

So you are headed there, I guess? Plan for like, almost a riot of color, sounds, with all of those tastes right at the Damnoen Saduak. As a matter of fact, so, many things stand out.

• Vendors on Boats: Get ready to, sort of, see those vendors in traditional boats, cooking and trading goods.
• Food, Food, Food: Want some Thai food? They’re cooking Pad Thai on boats, plus, actually, so much other awesome yummy stuff you’ve gotta try.
• Handicrafts: Souvenir hunt? Carvings, weavings, other trinkets.
• Boat trips: That, you know, is like, for sure, one great way to experience it all. Take your camera for the river view.

Tips to help with Your Visit

So, how can you do Damnoen Saduak right? It can get pretty full. So to start out, here are a few hints:

• Arrive Early: You’ll avoid those huge mobs, actually, and feel like you can roam more freely, just a little.
• Bargain: Never grab something before bargaining because the initial asking will probably be super high. That’s, actually, expected and almost part of how the place runs.
• Try everything: Try the eats they’re preparing straight out of the boat. It’s super fresh and it gives the real local market vibes.
• Get a Boat Trip: Just so you get different angles for the whole market scene. Make sure you sort of pick the ones doing, that, slightly away from heavy traffic, right, as the canals tend to get clogged.

Mae Klong Train Market: Risk Takers Shopping Experience

Switching gears a bit, the Mae Klong Train Market, is almost the spot where the market has grown right onto the tracks. Yeah, so a train slices right through the market some number of times a day. So its basically become this crazy game between sellers and oncoming trains, literally!

I think I saw that happen and that was like seeing all of the vendors rushing to, more or less, get their goods moved so the train can pass by. This is an adrenaline filled once in a lifetime type of deal. If you are just a little bit near Bangkok you have to go, to see this place with its insane quirks in full swing.

What Should You Be Looking Out For?

At Mae Klong you are up close and extremely personal with not just vendors; but all of their stuff, alright, as well. Keep a keen eye here, for starters:

• Train Arrival: Schedule those arrival moments and claim yourself the safest viewing location, alright?
• Local Shopping: Super fresh produce plus locally caught seafood galore can be located around this market.
• The overall Experience: Seeing what seems almost a natural thing – this market operating right on those railway tracks as trains roll in – that is pretty damn wild.

Recommendations to Experience the Train Market.

To just experience the best possible viewing time at the Train Market? Keep, sort of, this shortlist, as a matter of fact, at hand:

• Timing: Train visits Mae Klong a couple times each day, that could be key as to if it happens on the hours you can attend, possibly you should try, actually, to precheck schedules ahead.
• Stand Back: Listen closely, very, when people who have experience are, for example, yelling. Safety must always come first.
• Snap Photos and Take Videos: Document what is going down as that can be a seriously mind blowing site as, in that case, so too it’s very brief, as a matter of fact, and probably a blur.

Combining Both Markets In a Day?

Tours? Most do these places, usually, one after the other; given their closeness. That’s the normal package deal. If you’re aiming to visit these two unique locations on the same day, a bit of planning would come in handy. So you are not stressed to the max.

When going, for example, in the group tour manner, a majority of travels is dialed-in; it enables one to literally just relax soaking up the vibe. What they provide is easy ride services round trip straight out of Bangkok most often. In fact that package could have that handled with some native guided expertise being thrown in so that someone could learn almost everything possible as these things unfolds around you.

Solo tours that happen require good transit setup because sometimes buses with smaller shuttles need alignment properly for things getting connected smoothly and on-time always. One positive detail comes from self lead wanders are personal liberty meaning spending prolonged periods when something appeals strongest and likewise when something proves least attractive somebody can move to somewhere brand-new.

Some Thoughts for a Smooth Double Visit

• Leave Early: Doing both those markets inside same one could require earlier begins such all transport matches well but, clearly, for those far away points away since heavy road load must affect drives.
• Package Deal Tours: To gain convenience here give packaged day excursions an initial glimpse; that’ll cover total transporting so scheduling stuff can occur simply effortlessly lacking yourself must cope logistical concerns completely at yourself.
• Wear Right Clothing: Put on comfortable shoes cause that expects standing sometimes a good walk and furthermore shielding equipment when light beats vigorously but then again get some poncho especially due days it spits rainfall frequently perhaps.

Some Alternative Markets That are Worth Exploring

Ok, so these are nice – there’s, almost, an awesome range! Thailand boasts even greater quantity of amazing places to explore still when these noted locations may demonstrate appealing for viewing but perhaps another possibility match unique fondness just more?

• Amphawa Floating area market: Extra serene version that turns rather bustling through sunset mainly its vicinity to where riverside firefly events present gorgeous end throughout evening; you shouldn’t overlook experiencing the total dining occasion onboard such common wooden-based boat even plus the number boutiques appearing inside conventional property too is certainly enchanting element totally definitely.
• Taling Chan dripping platform vicinity buying outlet: A great city destination especially each people in close by reach with Bangkok metropolitan zones delivers that particular more peaceful local area charm far enough relieved when excessive traveler influx might impede authenticity perhaps because that does present superb river snacks furthermore abundant collection nearby herbs or even greens perfect any chef looking intended fresh farm sourced stuff plus don’t take forget receiving affordable foot procedures readily throughout place that should complete your pleasure nicely definitely then too seriously.
• Khlong Lat Mayom waterway region shopping center place: Rather hidden that one so therefore primarily neighborhood persons go here frequently gives accurate traditional Thai business environments entirely devoid outside tourists usually also offers awesome regional plates perhaps or just deserts; boating here allows more comfortable means enjoy landscape whilst supporting home retailers straight by usually doing the job very that ought guarantee financial system sustains developing appropriately continually almost probably genuinely and absolutely positively indeed completely definitely too then truly basically too probably certainly actually totally indeed seriously actually truthfully quite simply perhaps then indeed absolutely potentially potentially ultimately simply probably obviously mostly literally mostly perhaps too completely without any question primarily typically probably literally frequently absolutely generally nearly really truly positively usually ultimately completely fundamentally obviously undoubtedly typically nearly totally without any query.

What Should you Conclude?

Overall: these Train areas then waters floating area destinations deliver superb memorable happenings offering great sightseeing with many neighborhood flavour all the while nevertheless arranging the timing for that transportation right along by doing right groundwork definitely makes everything that even amazing then memorable absolutely plus ultimately positively definitely without query quite a bit much without any doubts undoubtedly at this juncture here completely entirely utterly perfectly wonderfully without hesitation altogether altogether positively very a small quantity there.

FAQs about Bangkok Markets

Is it better to visit Damnoen Saduak or Amphawa?

Damnoen Saduak is super popular with tourists and can get pretty crowded. Amphawa, on the flip side, offers a more local and relaxed feeling. You’re weighing big and busy against mellow and kinda hidden? That’s the thing.

How long should you spend at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market?

Generally, you probably need around 2 to 3 hours to soak up, kind of, that market. That gives you, say, time to cruise down those canals in one of the boats, do some negotiating at some of the vendors, as a matter of fact, then sample every snack you’ll pass.

What is unique about Mae Klong Railway Market?

That thing where trains literally cut through is wild at Mae Klong Railway Market! Can you think of any other market doing a daily ballet, of quickly removing their items just as a commuter rail is nearly passing by? Seriously daring, just literally so.

What should I wear to a floating market in Thailand?

Just keep it breezy and comfortable, right? Light stuff, possibly things that can easily air-dry for heat but then you need coverage when random splash downs happen and lots, of course, on your feet.

Those spots display completely different side about life down inside Bangkok including culture- it will enhance travelling greatly in entirety once you grasp this all; remember plan, embrace culture and always have awesome time!