The best floating market in Bangkok!
Floating markets are popular destinations for tourists and locals in Thailand.
A floating market is characterized by the fact that it is located on the water. Often these markets are located on a river or canal and the goods are sold from small or larger boats. A floated market can contain street food as well as clothes or just fruit, vegetables and fresh products for cooking.
The big floating markets are especially popular with tourists, selling souvenirs, clothes, jewelry as well as handbags and much more. Depending on which of these markets you visit, you will quickly notice whether it is a tourist market or rather a local market. Often you can find small and sometimes bigger turtles on tourist markets, which can be let into the river by yourself for a fee.
But the floating markets all have one thing in common: they are a real experience. Not only the direct location on the water and the boats, which alone make a fascinating picture, but of course also the variety of goods, street food stalls or even small attractions make these markets something special.
The Bang Nam Phueng Floating Market
The Bang Nam Phuend Floating Market in Bangkok is only open on weekends (from Friday to Sunday) and attracts countless visitors during this time. So we also found our way there on Sunday. On the way to this market I thought in the meantime, we have landed in the last corner of Bangkok and have also doubted that we really still get to a floating market. The way there led through small, narrow streets and in the surrounding area was also nothing else to recognize. When we then drove around the last curve was there then but suddenly the Bang Nam Phueng Floating Market.
Quickly out of the cab, down from the road because already the next cab wants to pass and poof you are at one of the many entrances of the market. At first it seems here but rather like a “normal” market. From floating boats is far and wide nothing to see. But there are a lot of people streaming through the aisles — locals as well as a few tourists from time to time. Before entering the market, as always, the temperature is checked, you have to disinfect your hands and sign a list.
Immediately you are welcomed by small stores and stalls selling interesting and also delicious smelling things. What exactly it is, you sometimes just do not know, because the descriptions are often only in Thai. Likewise, you can already buy small fish in knotted plastic bags at the beginning. Right next to it is a tiny cage with small hamsters that seem more dead than alive. Unfortunately, this is a picture that can be found more often on markets. Be it for the tourists or the locals — I always find it very sad and would love to save all the animals but that is not possible.
Would you rather feed fish or goats?
At the Bang Nam Phueng Floating Market you can do both. I had to look three times when I discovered large water basins with colorful fish. There, the fish are all cavorting in one place, where someone holds a small plastic bottle in the water. Almost like a baby bottle. On closer inspection it becomes clear that the fish are being fed with the baby bottles. Right next to the water basins there are small stands where you can buy such a bottle for 20 baht (about 50 cents) to then feed the fish with it.
Already crazy but we had to try it out. Inside the little baby bottle is a slightly cloudy liquid (I’m guessing water) and little brownish beads that I think are the fish food. Small colorful plastic chairs have been placed around the water basins so that the fish can be fed in peace. As soon as I hold the bottle in the water, the fish flock to me and frantically try to suck on the bottle. They know very well that their food is in there and they have to suck to get it.
It is a hectic hustle and bustle in the water and depending on the water it is not so easy not to drop the bottle. Especially the bigger fish are really sucking and jerking the bottle. Somehow very cool! And another advantage: the fish are fed and the Thais get paid by their idea to let the visitors feed the fish.
One aisle further, you’ll find the same concept, but this time with goats. You can buy food (palm leaves or carrots) and feed the goats in their enclosures. The goats are happy — just like the fish — about constantly new food while the visitors are happy to be able to feed a goat for once. I think especially children and also tourists find here ran great pleasure but we also observe some adult Thais who excitedly feed the goats. A win-win for all involved!
What else is there to discover?
Besides these two — really very fancy attractions — you can really find almost everything at the Bang Nam Phueng Floating Market. There are countless stalls with food and desserts but also creative souvenirs, clothes, shoes, handbags, jewelry and and and. One thing to say: this market is incredibly huge. We didn’t find any floating rafts or boats but the entire market is built on the water. Stilts separate the aisles and market areas from the water and so it is somehow a floating market.
Also very interesting is that the new Netflix series “Squid Game” is probably very popular in Thailand. There are pancakes with Squid Game figures on them, shirts or even the famous green tracksuits with the numbers or the red overalls with the different masks. Also action figures or key chains in Squid Game design may not be missing of course. Even handbags or jute bags with famous Squid Game scenes can be found from time to time. Who would have thought it but the Asians are probably on this series :-D
In the middle of the market and all the alleys is a small green oasis with small bamboo huts and tables directly on the river. A large heart formed from bamboo canes offers the ideal photo spot and next to it there is a small viewing platform. Normally around this place are probably a few restaurants. Many probably had to close (as mentioned so often now) due to Corona. A great pity. But you hardly notice Corona in the market itself. People crowd close together and there is no spot that is not filled by another stall. It is a very large, impressive and beautiful market that offers the perfect mix of local and touristy stalls.
A really great place for a weekend getaway!
