A Fun Floating Market for Shopping and Food in Bangkok's East EndA traditional weekend floating market on the outskirts of Bangkok near Minburi, Thailand. It's not a tourist site, so it's a more local, interesting experience.
A nice discovery on the outskirts of Bangkok is the Kwan-Riam Floating Market, or ตลาดน้ำขวัญเรียม in the Thai language. Located on the Saen Seab canal on Ramkamhaeng Road in between Bangkapi and Minburi, it's a about a 1 hour taxi ride from the city center (40 minutes with less traffic on Sunday).
This weekend floating market is different from the floating markets located in the heart of Bangkok, because this is not a tourist attraction. In fact I was the only non-Thai there on a Sunday afternoon. While the other markets are bogged with tourists, this market has a more local feel. You also need to get into a boat to visit the shops at the other floating markets, but at Kwan-Rian you can access everything from land. The boats are tied to the dock so you can step onto them for eating or shopping, then step off.
When you first arrive, a free shuttle can take you to the canal from Ramkamhaeng road, but it's a short and pleasant walk if you skip the shuttle. An outdoor market of food, clothes, purses and assorted accessories greets you on the Ramkamhaeng side of the canal. You can cross two bridges on foot to get to the other side, where there is a lot of food. Boat restaurants are docked along the canal, so it's easy to step onto them and have a nice meal. Tables and chairs are available, and the boats are large enough not to sway much on the water. It's a pleasant lunch or dinner on the canal. The food choices are wide, from seafood to pork, chicken or duck. All are traditional Thai dishes, sum tum papaya salad, tum yum goong, and the like. Very delicious.
Lots of desserts are sold elsewhere on the land side markets, from coconut ice cream to sangria. We even found blueberry cheesecake. It's a fun weekend afternoon for walking and shopping...and eating. Benches and tables seem to be in greater supply than at the Chatuchak weekend market. It's a welcome site when you need to rest a bit. The market is wider-spaced, less congested, and cooler than most other crowded markets. That also makes for a pleasant afternoon.
Two Temples
There are 2 Buddhist temples on either side of the canal. Wat Bamphen Tai and Wat Bamphen Nuea are beautiful and worthy of some photos. You cannot go inside, but the outer buildings are spectacularly ornate. You can take an optional boat tour of a small stretch of the canal and see the second temple without the long walk.
How to get there
By Taxi or car, go to Ramkamhaeng soi 185, which will take about an hour from most areas within the center of Bangkok.
By Bus: several buses also go there, including air-conditioned bus 113, 173 and 514 from Silom area.
By Boat: take the boat along the canal from Central World (Prathunam Pier) to the Mall Bangkapi Pier, then a short 10 minute taxi from there.
The market is open only on weekends, Saturday and Sunday from 7:30am until 8pm.
After the floating market, take a peek at the new Paseo shopping center, which you passed on the way.
The official Kwan-Riam Floating Market website is only in Thai, but you can check it for more photos and information. Have a good time at the market and its surroundings.
Enjoy your trip to Bangkok!
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