Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market

Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market, also referred to as Talat Nam Khlong Lat Mayom, is a quieter, local floating market in Bangkok, on the outskirts of the city off the beaten track. The market has a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere with plenty of unique, cute indoor trinket stalls and a plethora of Thai snacks and freshly cooked dishes.

Best Floating Market In Bangkok?

Surprisingly, not much of Khlong Lat Mayom market is actually on the canal. Apparently, this is more authentic and normal of a floating market in Thailand – the majority of the shops and food stalls are undercover, on land. However, there are still a few areas of the khlong where you’ll find Bangkok locals selling produce from the back of their rowing boats.

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Unlike other more renowned floating markets in Thailand, Khlong Lat Mayom attracts significantly less foreigners and doesn’t have the tourist trap atmosphere that comes with some of Bangkok’s other attractions (one floating market worth avoiding for this is Damnoen Saduak). The peaceful khlongs here don’t share the bustling vibe associated with other floating markets, but instead attract the local Bangkokians escaping the business of the city.

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You can take a 30 minute paddle boat ride along the canal of Khlong Lat Mayom to the tranquil lotus pond for just 20 baht (no tourist prices here). Alternatively, you can even take a horse ride for just 80 baht from the market’s ‘Mafia Farm’.

Shopping at Khlong Lat Mayom

The indoor market area at Bangkok’s Khlong Lat Mayom is surprisingly big; It consists of a huge variety of little stalls selling handmade trinkets, crafts and carvings such as enchanting wind chimes and embroidered cushions. Many of the souvenirs and home decorations here are unique to Khlong Lat Mayom floating market and different to the standard repetitive products you might find in most Bangkok markets.

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In addition to the decent selection of merchandise in the shops, many of the items at the market have price tags – quite a rarity in Bangkok. This means you’re a lot less likely to be ripped off and preyed upon – Khlong Lat Mayom just doesn’t have that kind of walking-dollar-sign atmosphere like other places. The market also sells a variety of clothing, quirky key rings and toys – great for souvenirs to take home or to decorate your apartment in Bangkok.

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Thai Food At Khlong Lat Mayom

The food section at Khlong Lat Mayom is even bigger than the souvenirs section. Pretty much every kind of food in Thailand – you’ll find here. The food market is absolutely perfect for sampling all the strange Thai treats and signature dishes of Thailand.

You can try Khlong Lat Mayom’s special omelettes with minced coconut and vegetable filling, or more popular Thai nibbles such as steamed pumpkin cakes, Thai dumplings, papaya salad, summer rolls and a whole lot more. The food market also has a huge choice of fresh seafood with plenty of live crabs and giant fish on display.

Although the food section is undercover and not on the canal, there is still some available seating at the canal side – it’s just a little higher in demand.

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How to get to Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market Bangkok

Bangkok Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market is open on the weekends from 9.30am until 4.30pm; a good time to visit is early in the morning at about 10am. One of the great things about Khlong Lat Mayom is that it’s very close to the centre of Bangkok – you don’t need to take a 2 hour bus ride to get there as with some of the more well-known markets such as Amphawa.

The best way to get there is to take the BTS to Wongwian Yai station, then flag down a taxi and ask him to take you to ‘Talat Nam Khlong Lat Mayom’. It can actually be quite tough trying to find a taxi driver who will actually recognise the name so you should be prepared to go through a few taxis.

 

Floating markets near Bangkok… Talat Nam Khlong Lat Mayom – the best floating market in Bangkok

Amphawa Floating Market

Bangkok To Amphawa

Amphawa Floating Market is located about an hour’s drive outside of Bangkok and can easily be reached direct by minibus. Out of all the many floating markets around the Bangkok area, Amphawa is perhaps one of the biggest and more popular markets among local and Thai tourists.

Amphawa Floating Market has a fantastic atmosphere: heaps of delicious food stalls and quirky clothes shops squeezed along the board walks, paddle boats parked along the sides of the canal with barbecues onboard brimming with fresh seafood, and visitors relaxing at small tables perched along the edges enjoying the cuisine… the whole environment of Amphawa is pretty relaxed and not at ally pushy or tourist trappy.

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If you class yourself as a bit of a food connoisseur, or just plain love trying different regional foods and snacks, Amphawa is ideal for tasting and nibbling as you go. Whether you sample the steamed buns, roti pancakes and all the hundreds of other Thai desserts, or eat the freshly grilled choice of seafood, river prawns and Thai dishes; you will love the eating your way along the Thai canals!

Boat tours are available at various points along the river and typically sit between four and ten passengers. Khlong boat fares are a standard price of 60 baht per person or 400 baht per group for about an hour’s ride. The boat will stop whenever you ask so that you can have a taste of the freshly cooked Thai food along the way. Food and boats… who wouldn’t like these things?

amphawa floating market

Although the standard tours from Bangkok to Amphawa tend to take passengers to the floating market in the early hours or during the daytime, the market actually get’s at it’s most interesting during the evening time. A good time to get to Amphawa Floating market is around 3pm or 4pm, while the weather is a little more mild and the crowd a little less restless.

Amphawa day trip

If you head to the market during the evening, you’ll find cosy fairy lights brightening the walkways and adding a charm and magic to the atmosphere. Live acoustic music will add to the chilled out atmosphere as it starts to sound from the hidden, laid back Thai bars. Amphawa floating market stays open until 10pm (the bars until later) so travellers can have fun cork shooting at random stalls for 10 baht; shop for hand made souvenirs, pretty clothing and quirky accessories; or relax with a beer in one of the canal-side bars and restaurants.

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Amphawa, Samut Songkhran

The area of Amphawa is packed full of beautiful temples, markets* and parks and is definitely worthy of an overnight stay away from Bangkok. Transport around the town is rather lacking, however there are many boat tours available to take you to all the main sights and temples of Amphawa. Hotels can usually easily arrange these boat day tours for you.

Due to the lack of tuk tuks and songtaews, it’s best to stay close to the floating market and main hub of activity. A particularly good hotel in an ideal location right next to Amphawa floating market is Amphawa Nanon Hotel & Spa. Not only does staying overnight in a hotel Amphawa mean that you can relax in the bars along the floating market, but it also means that you can take a trip to watch the notorious fireflies of Samut Songkhran distict.

How To Get To Amphawa Floating Market

To get from Bangkok to Amphawa floating market, you can catch a mini bus from the Victory Monument station for around 100 baht one-way. The mini bus conveniently takes you directly to the market. It will drop you at a stop just next to a bridge which has steps down to the canal.

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*My personal recommendation is to avoid Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. On the whole, the market is not as authentic or charming as many other floating markets and the canal is dirty, full of litter and lacking in atmosphere. In my experience, despite being quiet and less popular among tourists, Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is a pretty bad tourist trap full of unfriendly and pushy people.