Seafood Dinner by the River at Amphawa Floating Market

19 July, 2011

Floating Markets are usually on the itinerary for most Bangkok trips. However, the definition of floating markets can be very subjective e.g. always check that the floating markets mentioned in your itinerary is not really just a boat cruise along Chao Phraya river where one or two boats will peddle towards you selling you overpriced fruits and vegetables. The real deal floating markets lie outside Bangkok e.g. the very famous and touristy Damnoen Saduk floating market (2.5-hours away) which starts early in the morning – which means you have to leave Bangkok at around 5-6am. While Damnoen Saduk is flooded with tourists every morning, it is as good as you get for a feel for a Thailand floating market.

Another interesting floating market which is more popular among locals (domestic Thai tourists) is the Weekend Evening Amphawa Floating Market (1.5-hours away from Bangkok). The market is open from Friday to Sunday evenings (busiest on Saturday evenings after 5pm). The main activities happen around the bridge where 6-7 boats are parked and seafood e.g. crab, prawns and Thai noodles e.g. phad thai is served from these boats and deliver right up to benches on the pavement. Servings are quite small but cheap e.g. for about SGD $3, you get a small plate of phad thai (20 Baht) and another plate of 5 grilled prawns (cooked right on the spot in the boats). You can also get kopi-o, milk tea for less than SGD $0.80 – perfect price for Bargain Holidays in Thailand

Amphawa Floating Market Weekend Evening seafood boat

This video captures how busy the market is – you might have to tune down your computer’s volume because it can get quite loud (which was what it was like when we were there). Check out the yummy seafood out on display – admittedly, this “al fresco” dining by the river experience is not for everyone, especially for the clean freaks but the Thai dishes served can’t get anymore authentic than this. 🙂

Unlike Damnoen Saduk, there aren’t boat cruises through Amphawa Floating Market – the part of the market that is floating is just the 6-7 boats selling cooked food and they are permanently stationed by the bridge (at least during the opening hours of the market). The rest of the market are makeshift pasar-malam style stalls or permanent shops by the river. This is where you get your “I Heart Amphawa” T-shirts and other Thai snacks. The market goes way beyond the river – the area around the bridge is where it is most crowded with activities but the makeshift stalls also extends into the Amphawa town – you can find just about anything here e.g. T-shirts, magnets, clothes, shoes and accessories – prices are slightly cheaper than those in Bangkok downtown but you will have to bargain a bit to get the best price.

Shopping at Floating Market Amphawa Evening Market Permanent Stalls Shops Food Souvenirs

Amphawa Floating Market also serves as a base for boat operators to run evening fireflies cruises. The price for such cruises typically cost 60 Baht per person and depart from Amphawa at around 7pm and arrives back at the pier at 8pm.

Getting to Amphawa Floating Market

There are minivans that make the 1-hour journey from Bangkok Victory Monument to Mae Klong Railway Market where you will need to transfer to another mini-van which brings you to the area around Amphawa Floating Market in 10 minutes. This ticket will cost about 80 Baht (about SGD $4). You can time your trip so that you can check out the Mae Klong Railway Market with the train coming in at the right time before proceeding to the Amphawa Floating Market.

I am unable to advise on the above mini-van journey as we took the private tour services e.g. Rat Service – http://www.ratservice.com. For a half day private tour of Samut Songkram area which includes the Maeklong Railway Market, Amphawa Floating Market and 2 other beautiful temples, we paid about 2000 Baht for a driver/guide (hourly rate – about 250 Baht/hour), gasoline for the car (Toyota Corolla 1.6) and expressway tolls. The fee is charged at a per car rate so you could share the costs with 3 other friends, making it an affordable and convenient way to tour the area comfortably. Our tour was organised by Vimonrat (can call her Rat) and she is contactable at rat_bkk@hotmail.com (Tell her that PassportChop.com referred you).

We covered the following places during this half-day trip with Rat’s tour service:
– 13.00 Pick up from hotel in Bangkok and drive to Samut Songkram
– Pass by countryside windmills and salt farm with a quick photo stop
– Arrive Maeklong Market, take a walk to see fresh food market. Wait until train comes and see how vendors keep their products and awnings and raise them right away after train passes by
– Visit Wat Bangkae Noi and Wat Bangkung – 2 Beautiful and Unique temples
– Walk around and dinner at Amphawa evening market
– 19.00 Ride along Maeklong river and see fireflies flash over the trees (You will have to pay a separate 60 Baht per person to the boat operator)
– 20.00 Back pier and leave for Bangkok
– 21.00 Arrive hotel

For cheap flights to Thailand, book early and look out for promotions from budget airlines e.g. Tiger Airways and Jetstar Asia.

Zhiqiang & Tingyi

Comments (14)

  • Kevin (BBQ Smoker Site)Reply

    25 July, 2011 at 8:50 am

    The BBQ Prawns look so good! We’ve put Singapore on our “must visit” or “travel bucket list” some time ago!

  • RuthReply

    26 July, 2011 at 12:05 pm

    Thank you for the post regarding the floating markets in Thailand. I visited once a popular floating market alongside a canal in Bangkok, and it was awesome. I found everytihng I needed: from fresh fruits, veggies to luscious sea fooods. I did have a great time. My family and I plan to visit the country again soon.

  • cottatarioReply

    26 July, 2011 at 9:25 pm

    Now i’m hungry 🙂

  • Ashley tanReply

    4 March, 2012 at 7:32 am

    Hi Your blog is great. I would like to take rat’s tour with 2 friends.
    As I have sensitive stomach and thus is not sure if I could eat amphawa’s street food, is
    Does she goes I danoen Saduk floating market?
    Thanks

    • Zhiqiang & TingyiReply

      4 March, 2012 at 9:24 am

      Yes. I believe she does arrange tours to the Damoen Saduk floating market.

      • Ashley tanReply

        11 March, 2012 at 3:13 pm

        Thanks!

  • Damnoen Saduak Floating Market & Shopping Getaway at Bangkok with Ascott Properties | Singapore Travel BlogReply

    21 January, 2013 at 4:58 pm

    […] had checked out the Maeklong Train Market and Amphawa Floating Market and this time, we checked out the famous Damnoen Saduak Floating Market with Rat’s tour […]

  • Clement TengReply

    29 March, 2013 at 8:30 pm

    Hi
    Thanks for your blog regarding fireflies. Always wanted to such boat trip for fireflies but missed them when in Johor.You blog is great for another of our Bangkok trip.
    Has contacted Rat and now her charges for Amphawa & fire fires trip as per your website recommendation for 2 private tour is 3000 baht all inclusive. it is quite on the high side or what say you
    Thanks

    Rat.

    • Zhiqiang & TingyiReply

      30 March, 2013 at 12:00 pm

      Hi Clement

      My understanding is that Rat charges on a per car basis (not per person basis) for her tours. Personally I feel that 3000 baht (about 130 SGD) for a half day private tour is quite reasonable for the convenience and privacy and comparable to the prices for those big bus tours. If you have a group of 4 travellers, the cost can be split even more (down to just 30+ SGD per person).

      For the 2000 baht I paid for the tour to Amphawa Evening Market and Train Market with Rat, it was taken in Feb 2011 and excluded the trip to see the fireflies (as we have seen them in Johor). Adjusting for inflation, rising gasoline costs, the extra hours needed to take the fireflies tour (since Rat charges by the hour) and the boat trip to see the fireflies, this could explain the additional 1000 baht difference.

      Let me do some rough calculations here (note that the prices mentioned below are based on Feb 2011 rates – prices might have increased since then due to inflation): The fireflies boat tour will take about an hour plus (let’s round it up to 2 hours) – 250 baht per hour = 500 baht; the boat trip had cost 60 baht per person. Thus this could potentially have added up to another 620 baht (assuming 2 persons and not adjusted for inflation and gasoline price not taken into account).

      I suggest you ask Rat for the breakdown in the price – usually she provides that. You might want to google for similar tours to check out the pricing. Whether the 3000 baht is on the high side depends on your comfort level. Hope this helps. 🙂

  • ericaReply

    16 November, 2013 at 1:30 pm

    Hi! Fun blog!!

    If its my first floating mkt trip. .. from a foodie and photography perspective. .. would u recommend the morning or afternoon (ampawa) one? We can only choose one. Thanks!!!

  • Temple within a Tree – Wat Bang Kung วัดบางกุ้ง | Singapore Travel BlogReply

    9 December, 2013 at 1:18 am

    […] Amphawa district, Samut Songkhram.  We visited Wat Bang Kung as part of our day trip to Amphawa Evening Floating Market with Rat Tours. The temple within the tree is normally know as Bot Prok Pho […]

  • Day Trip from Bangkok to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market | Singapore Travel BlogReply

    11 January, 2015 at 1:17 pm

    […] checked out the Maeklong Train Market and Evening Amphawa Floating Market during our last trip to Bangkok, we decided to check out the famous Morning Damnoen Saduak Floating […]

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