Thai Floating Market

In Damnern-Saduak, Thailand, you must experience the floating market. Unlike any grocery experience you have ever had, this is truly something remarkable! Located about 50 miles from Bangkok, you can take a bus ride to get there.

When arriving, you will be met with a vision that is difficult to describe. Wear cool clothing and comfortable shoes since the days are commonly hot when the market is open. At the floating market, you will see small boats filled with every type of food items imaginable.

The locals bring these items to the banks where you get into a boat and literally bargain with the sellers. For example, there is fresh fruit and vegetables, spices, coconut milk, and more. Just keep in mind that even when bargaining, you will typically pay a good price but think of the experience as entertainment. You can also stay on the banks to bargain if you like. Either way, you will be in for a real treat, taking home a cherished memory of Thailand’s culture.

While some of the sellers and merchants float along the water in small rowing boats, others choose long-tailed boats that have a pushing motor. These farmers will come as early as 3:00 a.m. to their orchards and farms to choose the food or items they will bring to sell that day. To do this, they must pick, clean, prep, and then load the food onto the Ruilla Pai, which is the long-tailed boat. Then around 6:00 a.m., the Buddhist monks row their small boats down the canals to receive alms.

With the actual farmer stays in the field working, typically the grandparents are the ones that seek blessings from the monks for their family and business by participating in the Buddhist ritual, which occurs each day. Once the food has been placed carefully in the boat, the monk is not permitted to take it, only receive it. After receiving food and offering a blessing over the family, the monk will quietly paddle his way to the next house. Once all the food is carefully placed in the boat, the wife rows to town, leaving her husband to continue working.

Sometime around 8:00 a.m., all the wives head toward one of the three floating markets found in this part of Thailand. These three markets include Ton Khem, Hia Kui, and Khun Phithak, with Hia Kui being the most active. Because of that, you see a much larger selection of foods and goodies and more people bargaining down prices. If you prefer to take the boat instead of buying from the bank, then you can hire a Hang Yaaw or motorized long-tail boat for .30 in US money.

In addition to having the opportunity to buy right on the water, you will have the advantage of seeing the wood, stilted houses on either side of the canal up close. At the Hia Kui market, you will immediately notice the sound of the boats becoming louder and louder. The wives in the boats wear large-brimmed hats with colorful clothing. They are friendly to buyers and while selling what their husbands grow, they have time to visit with friends while catching up on the latest town news.


Last Updated: 10/19/2006 3:14:00 PM

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