Bangkok Day 3: Danmoen Saduak Floating Market

Hi Hive! Figured this series of our Bangkok Trip last 2024 was an unfinished business and so I would like to get it done and move on.

Here are some of the previous blogs:

• Bangkok Day 1: Ancient City, Three-Headed Elephant, and Coconut Coffee
• Bangkok's Ancient City Video Tour
• Erawan Museum
• Bam Nam Phueng Floating Market
• The Berkeley Hotel Breakfast Buffet
• The Berkeley Hotel Pratunam Room Tour
• Bangkok Day 2: Ramakien Murals and Grand Palace Garden
• Bangkok Day 2: Strolling Through Icon Siam
• Bangkok Day 2: Late Dinner and then Rain at the Chao Phraya Princess River Cruise
• Bangkok Day 3: Life-Risking Train Market in Maeklong
• Bangkok Day 3: Elephants

Our driver was in a hurry again, this time as it was almost 3 PM. We had to pursue this floating market tour, as the driver said it was just nearby. We headed towards the Danmoen Saduak floating market. There were no signs in the sky of any rain, but after a few minutes of riding the boat, we were greeted with a strong downpour.

So the fee here was, I believe, 500 BAHT per person; there was a discount for the little ones. Had high expectations coming here, but we ended up a bit disappointed. First, it is best to come here in the morning when the market is alive. We arrived in the afternoon; it rained hard, most of the stalls were closed, the tour was long, and so many things were going through my mind, like leptospirosis, etc. Please don't get me wrong, I was just concerned because I have a little one during this trip. I kept on thinking we might fell into the water! Mind you, the boats here were quiet fast!

Look at this machine you guys!

We were somehow shown to a coconut farm and were given free coconut sugar juice. Then we came to some shops selling expensive souvenirs, and although the tour guide, or rather the boat operator, had limited English, he was able to tell us that one of the stall's vendors was her wife.

This was our boat operator; he said he has been a boat operator for more than 5 years now. He has a son and his wife sells at the stalls. We actually stopped in one of the stalls because it rained super hard.

Some of the items at these stalls, I actually was able to buy one mug which has an elephant design. I consider it as my one and only souvenir item from Thailand. The rest of what I bought was for my friends back in the Philippines.

During the rain, there were wild animals emerging from the corners where we stopped. I was actually screaming inside when a reptile swam into the water. Well, the locals were not surprised; in fact, so I had to calm down. This happened multiple times during our tour.

What would you feel when you see these reptiles just right beside your boat?

Actually, when we were on the first part before the rain came, we were excited but we would see other tourists who came before us and they look sad, not even a single one smiled at us while we were on the way into the tour. I just brushed it off as I thought maybe they were just tired.

Let me show you some photos and you be the judge:

You might have noticed that the only ones smiling were the boat operators! Do you agree? Anyway, let's continue. I got curious as to how this became a floating village. According to the boat operator, this has always been the case; their houses had been built with consideration for the waters. After checking online, I found that this emerged by order of King Rama IV, the 32-kilometre (20 mi)-long Damnoen Saduak Canal was constructed to connect the Mae Klong and Tha Chin Rivers.

Check out how their houses look:

Now as I looked into these pictures, my question remains, how's their septic tanks?

We finally reached the floating market:

As mentioned, it would be best to come here by morning; there was no more commotion when we came to the actual market. Well, there were a few stalls open; most of the floating vendors who were on their boats were elderly women, and I wished I could buy from them, but most of their products were bananas and other stuff that can be spoiled the next day.

We spent a few minutes here just taking photographs, my son was still sleeping so my husband took his chance of just clicking the shutter.

The end of the floating market had been reached, and we were all excited to get back to the land. Our tour guide even made a few detours; we saw an airplane that had been used as a hotel, according to our tour guide. Not sure if that was true but I think it is a great idea! Then we also saw more of the reptiles along the way.

Then finally reached the end and because we had been so tired, we decided to go back to our hotel right away and call it a day. This took more than an hour drive. I am still grateful that everything went okay. All of us returned safely and we even decided to go to a mall nearby our hotel for some souvenir shopping!

Our day 3 ended! There are still a few more entries to be posted soon! I hope you stay tuned! You can also watch our video here:

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