Renowned for its ornate shrines and lively street life, Thailand’s capital, Bangkok offers interesting, affordable and luxury shopping experiences for all. While the city is home to myriad of malls and street markets, there are several floating markets here where one will encounter a whole new shopping experience.
Check out below some popular floating markets of Bangkok shoppers should not miss when in the city:
Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market
More of a riverside market, Khlong Lat Mayom is a beautiful place preserving its classic old world charm and drawing huge crowds of shopaholics and food lovers. From locally made homeware, handicrafts and antique jewellery to toys, accessories, postcards and souvenirs, you can buy them all here at great prices. You can visit here with your family and friends and take an early morning boat tour that takes you all around the markets, and some canals and restaurants in the vicinity. Foodies can try here some special dishes like Pad Thai, Noodle soups, Kanom Jeen (cold rice vermicelli), Hoi Tod (oyster omelette), dry meat, and the famous Thai-style marzipan sweets.
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Popular among tourists as the most amazing floating market in Thailand, Damnoen Saduak lies a few kilometres away from Bangkok. It is known for offering a wide range of flowers, decorative accessories, items of daily use and eatables such as tropical fruits. You can also find here a stunning collection of antique jewellery and other accessories. What attracts the most about this place is the female traders wearing traditional attire with straw hats and selling goods on wooden boats. You can hire a long tail boat to discover the market at its best and have an ideal shopping experience.
Bang Nam Pheung Floating Market
An interesting place to explore in the eastern part of Bangkok, Bang Na Pheung is a relatively small market popular among tourists and locals alike. There are a number of tiny shops within the market that sell locally made products such as jute mats, dresses, accessories and decorative items; and the market operates for most part of the day. Tourists would love to explore here a number of shacks where they can enjoy a wonderful range of authentic cuisines and delicacies prepared using natural herbs and spices. Some of the must-try dishes here include dry fish, Hoi Tod (oyster omelette) and different types of noodles.
Taling Chan Floating Market
Scattered on the outskirts of Bangkok, Taling Chan is counted among the most crowded markets in the city. A visit to the market is a must-do experience in Bangkok, and the wide range of food stalls and shops selling a wonderful collection of products are a treat to explore. There are a few Thai spa shops as well in Taling Chan. If you happen to be a foodie, there is no chance to miss out on spending a day here and enjoying prawns on small barbecues, fish, blue crabs, the old-fashioned meat-on-a-stick and the famous Som Tum (green papaya salad).
Amphawa Floating Market
An afternoon floating market located around 50 kilometres from Bangkok, Amphawa is a perfect place for a unique shopping experience. It is one of the large floating markets in Thailand that is best known for offering an exclusive collection of products and goods at reasonable prices. It is one of the top tourist attractions of Samut Songkhram where a large number of foodies are spotted enjoying grilled seafood on wooden boat. The seafood served here is prepared using authentic flavours. You can also discover several gift and souvenir shops on either side of Mae Klong River.
