Bang Nok Khwaek Floating Market

Bang Nok Khwaek Floating Market runs on a canal in Bang Khonthi district, Samut Songkhram, a short drive from the better-known Amphawa market. It operates weekends and connected public holidays only, roughly 08:00-17:00, and stays closed on ordinary weekdays.

Century-old wooden shophouses line the canal bank, giving Bang Nok Khwaek a claim to being one of the longest-running riverside markets in the province — it was a significant regional trading hub in its own right before newer roads and modern retail pulled commerce away from the water. Vendors still sell from wooden boats moored or drifting along the canal: fresh produce, seafood, and cooked food including crab noodles, shrimp pad thai, and grilled dishes prepared on board. A run of shops and stalls on the canal-side walkway sells snacks, desserts, and local goods alongside the boats.

Compared to Amphawa a short distance away, the crowd here leans more local and the pace is calmer — this is closer to a genuine weekend market for Bang Khonthi residents than a tour-bus stop, though weekend visitor numbers have grown as day-trippers look for a quieter alternative to Samut Songkhram’s bigger markets. The old shophouse architecture along the bank is a big part of the draw for visitors interested in the area’s trading history, not just the food.

Watch out: This is a weekends-and-holidays-only market. Arriving on a weekday means shuttered stalls and an empty canal — check the calendar before making the drive.

Insider Tip: Combine a visit with Amphawa Floating Market the same day — they’re close enough to pair into one Samut Songkhram canal-market outing, with Bang Nok Khwaek’s quieter morning trade a good contrast to Amphawa’s livelier afternoon and evening crowd.

There’s no direct public transport to the market — a car, taxi, or a tour bundling it with Amphawa Floating Market is the practical way in from Bangkok, roughly 90 minutes to two hours by road. The Samut Songkhram hub page covers the wider province’s canal markets, including Tha Kha Floating Market if you want a third, even quieter stop on the same trip.