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The Old Bang Phli Floating Market

The Old Bang Phli Floating Market

The Old Bang Phli Floating Market is situated on a wooden floor on Khlong Samrong in Tambon Bang Phli Yai and was formerly known as “Sirisophon” Market. It is assumed that Chinese traders firstly opened their shops here
around 1857. It is the only old market on Khlong Samrong that survived a fire and still maintains its original condition. A large community with a glorious past, it used to be a transportation hub for goods and passengers from the east coast to Bangkok. In former times, boats, either rowing or sailing, were a principle mode of transportation by which traders came to exchange their goods on Khlong Samrong. A distance of nearly 1 km. along both sides of the canal has been occupied by long-existing shops selling various kinds of goods, including delicious food, desserts, consumer’s products, household decoration items, souvenirs, as well as, beauty salons, boutiques, pet shops, etc. A canal thronged with
boats commuting and vending food, sweets, and seasonal fruits
makes a scenic sight for visitors. Walking further into the heart of
the market, there is an exhibition of old photos called “Old Photos
Tell Stories” in which are displayed old photographs of the market
since its first days and well-kept fishing and farming equipment
from the olden days donated by senior people of the community.
The Market is a historical canalside marketplace with a simple way
of living and long inherited culture worth to be conserved and treasured by younger generations. Visitors arriving in Samut Prakan on the Bang Phli side should not miss 3 major activities and places of interest; namely, gilding the heart of the Buddha image at Wat Bang Phli Yai Klang, paying respect to seek a blessing from the image of Luang Pho To at Wat Bang Phli Yai Nai, then, before returning home, spare another hour to shop for delicious food and desserts or souvenirs while also admiring the canalside lifestyle at the Old Bang Phli Floating Market behind the temple. For further details, please contact the Bang Phli Subdistrict Municipality at Tel. 0 2337 3086,0 2337 3930, 0 2751 1127 – 9 ext. 26, or visit
www.bangplee.go.th. To get there: From Bangkok, head for Samut Prakan using Sukhumvit Road. Turn left at the Bang Na Intersection and follow
Bang Na – Trat Road for approximately 12 km. Make a U-turn and enter King Kaeo – Bang Phli Road for about 2 km. before turning left into Wat Bang Phli Yai Nai. A short-distance walk toward the back of the temple will lead to the canalside market. Parking is available at Wat Bang Phli Yai Nai.There are buses running on the Bang Na – Trat route; namely, bus Nos. 132, 133, 365, 537, 552, and 553 and connect to a Song Thaeo (the Ratwinit Bangkaeo – BigC Bang Phli route) in front of Ramkhamhaeng University 2 or Chularat 1 Hospital. On the Thepharak route, the Market is accessible by buses running between Samrong – Bang Bo and Samrong – Bang Pla, and vans running between Bang Bo – Bang Phli (get off at BigC
Bang Phli and connect to a boat behind