Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

It’s a bit like shopping at Walmart, only imagine that Walmart is floating on a river and you’re making your purchases from a boat. Okay, so it’s nothing like shopping at Walmart but a visit to one of Thailand’s floating markets is so novel that it just has to be included in your travel plans. 

Although they are found in many countries over Asia including Indonesia, Vietnam and Sri Lanka to name a few, Thailand really is the home of the floating market. It boasts the largest one in the world and has successfully marketed this shopping experience as a bucket list activity. 

Before you clamber into one of those long-tail canal boats, back up one second. This article will tell you everything you need to know about visiting a floating market in Thailand, including the history behind them, the best ones to visit, and tips for getting your money’s worth!

The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is among the most popular floating markets in the world. Over one hundred years old, this market is Thailand's most famous floating market. James Bond fans will recognise it as part of certain scenes from the 'Man with the Golden Gun'. One can expect to venture the market through cramped klongs (canals) and witness several female traders attired in traditional mo hom apparel and broad-brimmed straw hats selling merchandise on compact wooden boats referred to as sampans.