Touring a Bangkok Floating Market

Summary

A traveler reflects on the transformation of Bangkok's floating markets from local commerce hubs to tourist attractions during a recent visit.

Abstract

The author recounts a visit to the Damnern SA-Duak floating market in Bangkok, highlighting the significant changes observed over a span of 49 years. Initially, the market served as a bustling trade center where Thai people in boats sold goods to local families along the riverbanks. However, the current scene is dominated by tourists, with Thai vendors now stationed along the canals selling a variety of items. The article emphasizes the necessity of bargaining when purchasing and notes the availability of food at riverside restaurants. Despite the changes, the author acknowledges the market's enduring appeal, purchasing a framed photo taken at the beginning of the tour as a memento.

Opinions

The author observes that the floating market has transitioned from a local marketplace to a tourist-centric attraction.
There is a sense of nostalgia for the market's past, as the author compares the current experience to their memories from nearly five decades ago.
The author suggests that bargaining is an expected part of the shopping experience at the market.
The author appreciates the convenience of being able to stop at restaurants along the tour for refreshments.
The purchase of the framed photo at the end of the tour indicates a positive impression of the experience and the desire to preserve the memory.

Floating markets have changed

photo from the Floating Market

We are in Bangkok for 4 days. On our first day, we paid for a tour to see a floating market.

I first saw the floating market 49 years ago when I was backpacking through Thailand. From what I remember the floating market was a crowded busy scene on a river with Thai people in boats selling fruits, vegetables, and household items to Thai families living along the banks of the river or canal. Things have changed.

We drive almost 2 hours through heavy traffic from Bangkok to Damnern SA-Duak, and the entrance to the floating market. We got into a boat with a driver who managed the boat, and then we started moving through a complex of canals. The canals were dug between 1866 to 1868 to connect the Mae Klong and the Tha Chin rivers.

The canals are now full of boats with people moving through the market, but today all the people in the boats are tourists who are buying goods from Thai people sitting in their stalls on the sides of the canals. What a change from what I remember, but one of my reasons to revisit a place that I have already seen is to see what has changed.

Here are some scenes from the floating market from our tour:

Boats full of tourists with the vendors sitting in their stalls. (photos by author)

Paintings, handbags, fruit, and dresses are all for sale. (photos by author)

Thai women in paddle boats sell fruit, drinks, and coconut ice cream to tourists in their motorized boats. (photos by author)

If you go on the tour and decide to buy something, remember to bargain. They will price it as high as they think they can get from you and expect you to bargain the price down. Most of the vendors spoke enough English to understand what you wanted but you can always resort to bargaining via a calculator. Just show them the number you are willing to pay and let the bargaining begin.

We didn’t buy anything but we did stop at one of the restaurants along the way. They showed us the menu while we sat in the boat and then when we decided to actually order something, we climbed out of the boat to sit at tables in the shade. The food and Thai iced tea was delicious.

When we returned to get our ride back to Bangkok, they had the photo at the top of this story framed and ready to sell to us. They had taken the photo as we left at the beginning of the ride. It was a great photo and nicely framed, so we bought it.