KHLONG LAT MAYOM FLOATING MARKET

Last updated on April 17th, 2023 at 09:35 am

Khlong Lat Mayom is a floating market close to the city. For first time floating market visitors try this one out for a fun leisurely experience.

The Khlong Lat Mayom experience

I have been thinking about going to a floating market in Bangkok since I visited the country nearly a decade ago.

I finally went to one at the weekend with my 5 year old.

Klong Lat Mayom was an easy choice because we already are on the Thonburi side of the city and a 2 minute walk away from the BTS skytrain station.

We set off just before 9am as we get up very early every day anyway.

Get things done nice and early and there will be more time left to do other things later on.

I am sure every mum out there with a young child could relate to that.

We got off at BTS Bang Wa and looked for exit 1/2.

Fortunately, there was a lift at the station which I find helpful now that I take a pushchair or stroller nearly everywhere I go.

Although the pavements here are not pushchair friendly, it is a relief to not have to carry a child when she is tired or we are both tired and in the heat.

There was a queue of taxis waiting for passengers outside the station.

First try and we were on the road to the floating market!

Baht107 later and the kind taxi driver saw us off to explore.

We arrived at the market relatively early.

It was still quiet so it was easy to navigate the market.

We bought a 1.30 hour canal boat trip ticket for a Baht 100. For locals it is 60 baht.

It was a fun boat trip for me and my daughter. I have not seen her excited about boats in a long time.

Part of the trip was to stop at a temple for 20 minutes.

R watched people offer incense, candles and lotus flower to Buddha and prayed.

She was especially interested at the children praying.

There’s a market on the temple grounds where they have vegetables, fruits and snacks.

Another stop was at an orchid farm.

It was not a big place but to a small child it looked big enough.

They had orchids of different colours and sizes on offer.

We did not buy any plants but we fed the catfish in the canal with a loaf that R bought from the market around the temple.

Yes, my daughter held on to the bag of bread until she was ready to let go of it.

Those fish in the canal were enormous.

It’s the kind a child would remember for the rest of her life.

There were a few boats selling at the market.

I have no other markets to compare it with but the place is good enough for a weekend morning day out with a little one.

The best thing about this trip was to see life along the canal, spirit houses, neighbours chatting, locals on their boats getting on with their lives, a floating vegetable shop (a vegetable seller on a boat), papaya, banana, dragon fruit, coconut palm, pea aubergines, basil plants to name a few things to look at while on the trip.

We were rounded up to go back to where we started.

It was a good boat trip indeed. For first timers especially.

By the time we got off the boat it was only 20 to 11 and the place was already packed.

With tummies rumbling we were ready for a plate or bowl of something to eat before heading back to our hotel.

People were already eating so we waited a good 10 minutes before we had a free table to have a snack at.

There were so many to choose from.

My daughter knew exactly what she wanted to eat – a bowl of noodles!

When it is time to go back for a rest a child certainly knows how to tell an adult.

No fussing but there was only one question left in the bag and it will be asked by someone who is like a broken record.

Out we went to the main drop off area and there was a taxi waiting.

Taxis save the day.

Back to the BTS station in no time. It was 109 baht this time.

That was a great way to spend a weekend morning.

Is the floating market on your list to do when you come to Bangkok?

For more comprehensive floating market guide please check out this post of Mark Wiens.

He is our go to for things to do in Bangkok.

Do you want to see Bangkok on a budget?

Read through our list as well!

How to get to Khlong Lat Mayom floating market

Take a BTS to Bang Wa station.

Find exit 1/2 and take a taxi to the floating market.

It cost us Baht 107 going to and then Baht109 from the market to the BTS station.

Market opening days and times

Open at weekends and public holidays from 8am to 5pm

Conclusion

As this was my first and only experience of a visit to a floating market I have nothing to compare it with.

It was a fun experience to go around market stalls, see how things went in and around the old khlongs.

There was plenty of food and drinks to choose from.

And when I go back I will go shopping for local products.

We would love to hear about your floating market experience.

What did you like about floating markets?

To those who have not been to one, will you go and try a floating market close to the city or go to big and more popular ones?

I recommend spending an early weekend morning in Khlong Lat Mayom floating market next time you are in town.