Hotels in Damnoen Saduak

Introduction

Damnoen Saduak is a district of central Thailand famous for its floating market. If you’ve seen pictures of floating markets in Thailand, chances are it was of this market. Only about 100km from Thailand’s capital city of Bangkok or about a two hour drive, this is a popular day trip for travelers who want to see something a little different than the cosmopolitan madness that is Bangkok. The town is mostly a morning type of town, as the market is only active from 8:00 to about 11:00, so by the afternoon, most of the activity peters out and gives in to the heat.

History of Damnoen Saduak

Historically, Damnoen Saduak is the name of a canal dug during the reign of King Rama IV. In the days before there were rivers and canals built by man, this transportation hub became a strategic place in terms of trade. In modern times, Damnoen Saduak is home to a number of people living on the sides of the canal, a majority of them being agriculturalists. The main industry here is of course fruit and vegetables such as oranges, grapes, papayas, cabbage, beans, onions, etc. The land here is quite fertile, so over time this became the standard industry for this town. The canal not only provides a convenient way to transport goods to other regions, but it also provides water for those said goods. Therefore, it’s understandable as to why a majority of the people who live here live incredibly close or basically on the canal. Over 200 canals have been dug by locals in order to get water to their crops.

Surrounding Environment

Samut Sakhon

Located off the Chao Phraya river, Samut Sakhon has a major industry in producing salt, and thus is a fantastic place to visit for those interested in purchasing and being better versed  about various kinds of salt that are produced in this region of Thailand. It was previously  a Chinese trading port, so there are some influences of Chinese culture left behind.

Kanchanaburi

Known from the movie On the River Kwai, Kanchanaburi is a tropical, lush jungle region home to a a multitude of national parks as well as Erawan Falls, a seven tiered waterfall that has a concrete slide as well as few swimming pools that have fish that eat the dead skin cells from your feet, a popular activity mostly for tourists  in Thailand. Kanchanaburi is both a historical and natural place nearby that’s absolutely worth checking out.

Bangkok

One of the busiest places in SE Asia, Bangkok is truly an international city with a little something for everyone. It’s a slowly booming industry in both tech and other types of businesses among both expats and locals.

Hotels

Ruen Ton Num Resort

A jungle paradise, this resort makes you truly feel like you’re on vacation. A serene and peaceful place to hang out and relax after a full day of markets, Ruen Ton Num Resort has basic amenities but still is far removed enough to make you feel like you’re in the jungle. There is WiFi, TV, refrigerators as well as air conditioning.

Hometown Hostel

A home away from home for the budget backpacker type traveler. The hostel has all the basic amenities, plus a friendly staff always ready to answer questions and help you out. There’s a cafe, supermarket, WiFi, restaurant, bar, groceries, bicycle rentals, as well as air conditioning.

Pomelo Amphawa The Local Residence

A gorgeous spectacle to observe, these unique facilities will make you feel right at home. The restaurant is known to cook up some fantastic food if you’re still hungry after all the market goodies.

Ruen Namyen Resort

A resort with all of the facilities you could possibly want, and then some! There’s parking, coffee and tea in the lobby, a restaurant, bar, tour bookings, a terrace, and most rooms have a garden view so that you can further enjoy your stay.

Baan Suan Nuanta

A beautiful guesthouse with all the amenities you could want, this is the right place to stay to explore the markets. There’s a pool, lounge chairs for you to hang out on, laundry, parking, and a restaurant that serves up all the Thai meals you could eat.

Transportation

By Plane

The nearest airport to Damnoen Saduak is Bangkok, and from there you can take a variety of methods to get here.

By Bus

The Southern Bus Terminal has buses running regularly to the main village in Damnoen Saduak. The buses begin running at 6:00 and leave every 40 minutes to an hour. The drive takes about 2 hours depending on traffic, and the cost for the bus is about 50 THB one way. Be aware that the buses sometimes drop people a kilometer or so away from the village when they feel like it. If you’re not able to speak Thai, this can be incredibly confusing and frustrating, as boat connections or taxis will often try to charge you 1000 THB or more. Transportation in Damnoen Saduak Most of the town can be reached by foot, and if not, bicycles are easily rentable, and sometimes hotel and guesthouses have them to use for free. Taxis here are not usually metered, and you will have to negotiate.

Attractions

Coconut Sugar Farm

A place to appreciate the magic of the coconut, as here you can see all of the things that can be made with coconuts, from soap to sugar to milk to cream You’ll be offered a taste of the products, and of course be able to take some home should you choose. A great place to get some gifts for friends back home!

Maikaew Pier

A gorgeous place to visit for the view. Nothing particularly special here, but it’s beautiful and definitely a cool place to hang out for an hour or two.

Activities

The Floating Market

Of course this is the top activity to do in Damnoen Saduak. There are actually three markets in total, Ton Khem, Hia Kui and Khun Phitha. All three can be visited by a boat taxi, which can be rented/hired by the hour, usually costing about 300 THB per hour. There are also paddle boats that you can rent for much less, as the boat taxi is primarily for tourists. You can also just walk if you don’t to deal with boat taxis and the like. It’s a good idea to do some research with pictures for what’s available at the markets, as you don’t want to miss out on an opportunity to try out all of the local delicacies just because you don’t know what they are!

Opening hours: 8am to about 11am, so wake up early!

Entrance fee: free, but bring plenty of money to purchase goodies and of course, as many snacks as you can fit into your stomach.

Elephant Activities

There are plenty of elephant activities nearby, but make sure to do your research as to which facilities treat their animals well and humanely. The best ones are the ones where you do not ride the elephant, but instead feed them and hang out with them, perhaps washing them with mud and water.

Travel Tips

• Do your research in terms of snacks - khao niao ma muaeng (also known as mango sticky rice) is a local favorite here. You’ve probably had some variation of it in other places, but do try it here as the sticky rice is made fresh and the mangoes, especially when they’re in season from February to May are the best in the world, as they’re grown here and didn’t have to be shipped halfway around the world.
• Bartering - bartering is a common practice in Thailand and should be practiced here. It’s expected for all products except for food, which is usually a set price.
• Tipping - tipping is not a common practice in Thailand, although it is acceptable and often appreciated by vendors for exceptional service. Tipping your tour guide for doing a great job is highly appreciated.