Don Wai Floating Market - Nakhon Pathom, Thailand

     Don Wai Floating Market The floating market at Wat Don Wai (near Wat Rai Khing) has become very popular for Thai and foreign tourists. It is located on Nakhon Chai Si River, Nakhon Pathom Province, and only about 30 km. from Bangkok. Tourists can take a boat trip along the river which is very naturally beautiful while having lunch on the boat. The boat trip can be as short as one and a half hour and the fee is from 60 - 80 Baht per person.

     Don Wai Market has been around for over a hundred years. However, it is only recently that it has started to become popular with day trippers from Bangkok as it only takes 45 minutes to the market from Bangkok. The market was originally famous for the boiled ducks, but now there is a much greater variety of food. Not just curries and snacks, but also Thai sweets. Judging by all the pictures on display, a lot of celebrities and politicians also come to this market.

     It is best to go to this market as early as you can in order to beat not only the heat but the crowds as well. It opens at 6 a.m. Before getting to the market, you can drop at Wat Rai Khing first to pay your respects to the highly revered Buddha image. They have a popular fair here in April. The temple is also famous for the fish sanctuary where you can buy bread to feed the fish. It is possible to catch a boat from here to Don Wai Market for only 60 baht. It will be crowd in the midday; it will take you an age to pass the crowd through the market.

     Tourists are not going to the market just to buy food. They are going to eat at one of the many floating markets that lined the river. In fact, there are so many of these restaurants that as you walk along the market you don't get a clear view of the river. However, you do get fine views when you sit down to eat. Just don't go too late in the morning. Maybe best to come here is for a brunch.

     How to get to Don Wai Floating Market and Wat Rai Khing

     By Car :
     Just dive from the Pinklao bridge directly to Road Pinklao - Nakhonchaisri through Phuttamonthon 1-2-3 when on Phuttamonthon 4, notice the sign to turn left to Phuttamonthon 5, then turn left to Phutthamonthon 5 and drive through about 1 km to find intersection, then turn right. Heading to Wat Don Wai. Make sure that you arrive early if you want to park a car. This costs 20 baht. There is more than one place to park. Just keep driving along the road.

     By Van :
     From Tesco Lotus Pinklao - Wat Don Wai - Wat Rai Khing takes about 20 -40 minutes on Petchkasem Road, you can use Air-conditioned bus line 84 to match the entrance of to Wat Rai Khing. Change to minibus to Wat Don Wai or use motorcycle service there.

     By Bus :
     Southern Bus Terminal. You can use the bus to go to Nakhon Pathom, Ratchaburi, Kanchanaburi.

     Don Wai Floating Market is opened daily from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

See Nakhon Pathom in bigger map

Don Wai Floating Market The floating market at Wat Don Wai (near Wat Rai Khing) has become very popular for Thai and foreign tourists....Read More	Phra Pathom Chedi this is a first class royal monastery. The temple houses Phra Pathom Chedi, the largest pagoda in Thailand. Phra Pathom Chedi is the official provincial symbol of Nakhon Pathom....Read More
Wat Rai Khing Wat Rai Khing is located in Tambon Rai Khing 32 Kms. from Bangkok. It is a civilian monastery built in 1791....Read More

Options in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
     Only 100 kilometers from Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom can be reached easily for either a day trip or weekend getaway. Either by car, bus, or train, it’s only around 1 ½ hours from Bangkok to Nakhon Pathom, where local transportation is available to take you around the sights.

    Getting to and from Nakhon Pathom

    By Train:
    The State Railway of Thailand operates daily trains from Bangkok to Nakhon Pathom. There are regular trains departing throughout the day for the two hour ride from Bangkok’s Hua Lumphong Station to Nakhon Pathom. For more information contact Bangkok’s Hua Lumphong Railway Grand Station tel: 1690, 0 2223 7010, 0 2223 7020

    From Thonburi’s Bangkok Noi station to Kanchanaburi’s Nam Tok station it is possible to get off at Nakhon Pathom. Until recently, this twice daily service was a provided for the benefit of commuters, but because a portion of the line is part of the historic ‘Death Railway’, built by WWII prisoners of war during Japanese occupation, rates for foreigners have been set higher than for ordinary commuters, though its still an enjoyable way to make the day trip to Nakhon Pathom. For more information contact the Thonburi Railway Station tel: 0 2411 3102.

    By Car:
    From Bangkok, drive along the old route of Petchakasem Road (Highway No.4) through Aom Noi, Aom Yai, and Sam Phran to Nakhon Pathom, or drive on the new route from Bangkok through Buddhamonthon and Nakhon Chaisi to Nakhon Pathom.

    By Bus:
    From Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal on Boromrajajonnani Road there are two bus services.

    Old Route (Bangkok-Aom Yai-Sam Phran-Nakhon Pathom):
    There are several lines of 2nd class air-conditioned buses: Bangkok-Nakhon Pathom, Bangkok-Ratchaburi, and Bangkok-Bangli. There are also 2 lines of non air-conditioned buses: Bangkok-Nakhon Pathom, Bangkok-Ratchaburi, and Bangkok-Suphanburi.

    New Route (Bangkok-Buddhamonthon-Nakhon Chaisi-Nakhon Pathom):
    There are 2 lines of 1st class air-conditioned buses: Bangkok-Nakhon Pathom and Bangkok-Dan Chang (blue bus).

    For more information, contact the Southern Bus Terminal on Boromrajajonnani Road. Non air-conditioned buses - tel: 0 2434 5557-8 and Air-conditioned buses - tel: 0 2435 1199.

    Getting Around Nakhon Pathom

    There are Tuk-Tuks (motor tricycles) available for chartering around Nakhon Pathom town.