| Cover
story: 10 June |
| Vol.
25 No.5 |
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When talking about markets, most people will think about
a supermarket which is air-conditioned. Some people
may think of weekend markets and flea markets. The most
famous weekend market in Thailand is Chatuchak.
Khlong Bangkok Noi
Floating Market in the reign of
King Rama V (1868-1910). |
However, another type of market that should be mentioned
about is floating market where you can shop and learn
about the riverside life of the locals at the same time.
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is the most renonwed
of its kind.
Khlong Mahanak
Floating Market in the olden days.
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FLOATING MARKETS IN ANCIENT TIMES
In olden days most communities of Thailand were formed
alongside rivers. Many criss-crossing rivers and canals
served as means of communication. Such ways of life
of the riverside communities, especially in the Chao
Phraya River Basin brought to the rise of several floating
markets.
Floating markets had become a token of the communities
in the central plain of Thailand for a long time. This
form of market gained peak popularity in the Ayutthaya
Period (1350-1767), thanks to the surrounding canals
which suited for trading locations.
Early in the Rattanakosin Period (1782-1868) this kind
of market was still lively. However, later on, more
and more roads were constructed and people preferred
road transportation to that by water, so some floating
markets were forced to move onto the land, some were
renovated and some were closed down.
FLOATING MARKETS NOWADAYS
Since many floating markets bear stories of people's
lives and possess a unique charm that we Thais would
regret to lose, many such markets have been restored
and brought to life in order to enable people of the
new generations and foreign visitors to absorb the authentic
atmosphere of the riverside shopping.
RECOMMENDED FLOATING MARKETS
Talingchan Floating Market
Located in front of the Talingchan District Office in
the west of Bangkok, it is open on Saturday and Sunday
from 08.00 to 17.00 hrs. If you are in Bangkok, this
is the nearest floating market where you can see the
locals' ways of life.
Talingchan Floating Market
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Items on sale are fresh fruits and vegetables, several
kinds of plants, foods, desserts and OTOP products.
You should try the "boat noodles" which is
a famous Thai dish with excellent taste. What's more,
long-tail boat trips along the canals are available
from 08.30 to 16.00 hrs.
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Above, and below: Lively atmosphere of
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
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This large and popular floating market is about 80
km southwest of Bangkok in Ratchaburi province. Photos
of this vibrant market featuring many small boats
laden with colourful fruits and vegetables and paddled
by Thai women wearing bamboo hats, are among the most
often published in travel magazines and brochures
of Thailand.
You'd better get there as early in the morning as
possible to escape a crowd of visitors and before
the goods are sold out. Around this area, boat trip
services are available for sightseeing along smaller
canals branching off from Damnoen Saduak canal. The
market is open daily from around 06.30 to 11.00 hrs.
Amphawa Floating Market
Situated in Amphawa County, Samut Songkhram Province
(72 km from Bangkok), Amphawa Floating Market is an
evening floating market. It is operated near Wat Amphawan
Chetiyaram on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 16.00
to around 21.00 hrs.
In the Amphawa Canal, vendors paddle their boats
laden with items such as boat noodles, phat thai,
traditional-style coffee and Thai desserts. On land,
food stalls also crowd the area. After shopping, you
can hire a boat to see the lovely shimmering fireflies
at night, especially the waxing- moon nights.
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Bang Phli Floating Market
At the 150-year-old Bang Phli Market in Samut Prakan
(29 km from Bangkok), there are no boats selling goods
but a wooden walkway is laid along both sides of the
Samrong Canal where shophouses are located. The market
is open on Saturday and Sunday from early morning
to noon.
Bang Phli Floating Market
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Here, many products such as home decorating accessories,
foods, snacks and traditional toys, are on sale. Although
this is not a real floating market, early morning scenes
of Buddhist monks paddling their boats to receive alms
add to the authentic indigenous lifestyle.
Bang Namphueng Floating Market
This is another floating market located in Samut Prakan.
It opens on Saturday and Sunday from early morning to
evening.
Bang Namphueng Floating Market
(By courtesy of TAT)
|
Don't forget to taste ma-ho, a kind of ancient
Thai desserts, and other local Thai delicacies. If
your muscles ache, try traditional massage available
here. At night, hire a boat to be impressed with hundreds
of glittering fireflies.
Banmai Market
Even though there are no boats floating to sell items,
Banmai Market in Chachoengsao (82 km from Bangkok)
attracts visitors with its ancient 100-year-old atmosphere
of market on the river bank which have been served
as a location for several popular Thai films and dramas.
The local way of life of
Chachoengsao people can
be seen at Banmai Market.
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Recommended items are such as coconut milk, dim sum,
phalo duck and Chinese chive dumplings. The market
runs on Saturday and Sunday from around 8 o'clock
in the morning to evening.
Wat Lamphaya Floating Market
Situated at Wat Lamphaya, Bang Len County, Nakhon Pathom
Province (56 km from Bangkok), this floating market
reflects the life of the residents of the Tha Chin riverside.
It highlights several delicious foods that the vendors
carry in their boats and sell at reasonable prices.
Besides, succulent seasonal fruits are what you are
recommended to buy.
Wat Lamphaya Floating Market
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Traditional Thai desserts are also famous here. Tourists
can opt for hiring a boat to enjoy the scenery of the
Nakhon Chaisi River. The market is open on weekends
and national holidays from 08.00 to 16.00 hrs.
Don Wai Floating Market
This is another floating market of Nakhon Pathom established
in the reign of King Rama VI (reigning 1910-1925). There
are no boats floating in the river but the sellers set
up their shops on land near Wat Don Wai on the river
bank of the Tha Chin River in Samphran County.
Tourists can have a good time shopping a lot of delicious
foods and fresh fruits and having a scrumptious meal
with families. Of course, there is a cruise service
to let visitors have a close look at the riverside
lifestyle.
These are only examples of floating markets in Thailand.
Other interesting floating markets are such as Bang
Khu Wiang Floating Market in Nonthaburi and Ban Phaeo
Floating Market in Samut Sakhon.
In conclusion, floating markets are attractions with
unique charm because they are not only where you can
shop but are also where you will be impressed with the
riverside scenery and experience the life by the river.
This weekend, why not go to a floating market? You are
going to love it. And who knows you may want to go there
again and again.
PRODUCTS SOLD AT
A FLOATING MARKET
At a floating market, whether there are boats floating
to sell things or not, you will find almost the same
things available at an ordinary supermarket. But shopping
at a floating market allows you to have an opportunity
to absorb a natural atmosphere and enjoy bargaining.
Items that become symbols of a floating market are
"boat noodles" and ancient-style coffee.
Local fruits and vegetables mostly fresh from orchards
are on sale. A wide variety of Thai specialties range
from rice and curries, papaya salad, roasted chicken,
chilli paste to all kinds of Thai desserts. Plant
lovers will also enjoy shopping various kinds of plants
as well.
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