Joanna James
If the concept of a floating market is unfamiliar, think of it as a marketplace in the water. Vendors row about in boats selling their fare and usually, the customer's bargain from an adjacent boat.
Watch the moon's phases before you step out to visit the Tha Kha Market as it opens only every four to five days in accordance with the movements of the moon. This is a fairly small floating market when compared to the more tourist-focused ones, but it is of great value for someone who wishes to learn about the local culture and eating habits. As much as a Chao Phraya river cruise Bangkok allows one to see the spectacular side of life, this market opens one's eyes to the simpler pleasures that prevail among the villagers.
The more widely spoken of and highly acclaimed cousin of Tha Kha is Amphawa which is found in the waters about 50km away from Bangkok. The prices are reasonable, the food is great, and the atmosphere is colourful at all times. The crowds can be a bit overwhelming at times, but a trip down the winding canals to visit the temple and enjoy the fauna and flora on either side make it a refreshing expedition.
As famous and infamous as Amphawa, the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is another trendy place that attracts a large number of foreign visitors. Fruits, Thai food, handicraft items and trinkets can be found across the length and breadth of these waters. There is a performing arena for street performers close to Damnoen Saduak, making it, even more, tourist drove. This has resulted in the prices of items sold in the market to rise to be a tad more than reasonable; hence, it is usually the more opulent visitors that shop here.
Those with a craving for all kinds of Thai street food should visit the Bang Nam Pheung Floating Market on Saturday or Sunday. The mangroves and forest terrain that surround the area in which the market is, add a touch of serenity to the commercial area. It comes as no surprise that tourists enjoy visiting the market to dig into some Thai grub and relax in the shade of a clump of trees by the river. Being tucked away in the wild helps to keep unnecessary crowds out and even you would need to follow Google maps intently if you want to succeed in your mission of locating the area.
An affordable little haven that lies close to Bangkok where one can purchase delicious food, fresh produce and handcrafted items. This market resides in the Chak Phra River which is a tributary of Bangkok Noi not too far from where you could sail away in Anantara Cruises. As this is a small floating market, there are only a few vendor boats. Given the numbers, it is viable only to operate on weekends where the market opens by 09.00 am and closes at about 05.00 pm.
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