Breakfast on the canals of Ratchaburi
Damnoen Saduak is the best-known floating market in Thailand, in Ratchaburi province to the south-west of Bangkok. Vendors in small wooden boats sell fruit, coconut sweets, grilled snacks and bowls of noodles straight from the water, while visitors drift along the canals in rowing boats or long-tails, buying as they pass. Today it is very much a visitor's market, with souvenir stalls along the banks, but the scene on the water is still the picture people come for, and it is a lot of fun for children.
Like most floating markets, it is busiest in the morning, when the boats are fullest. That single fact shapes the whole trip from Pattaya. Arrive late and you will still see boats, just fewer of them, and the midday heat on open water is hard going for small children.
Leaving Pattaya before sunrise
The market lies well beyond Bangkok, so plan on three to four hours on the road each way. To arrive while the canals are lively, that means a start in the dark. It sounds harder than it is: everyone climbs into the van half asleep, the seats recline a little, and most people doze until the motorway gives way to the flat, green country of Ratchaburi. Tell us the date and we will suggest a pickup time.
- Bring a pillow or a light blanket for the early drive
- Carry small notes for boat hire, snacks and souvenirs
- Hats and sun cream — the boats are open to the sky
- Many visitors add the Maeklong Railway Market or Amphawa nearby; extra stops are priced in chat before you go
One driver for the whole loop
Because the market is a long way from anywhere you might be staying, most people keep the same driver for the day: there in the morning, perhaps a second stop, and back to Pattaya by evening. That return and the waiting time are priced in chat before you go, as one fixed number for the whole vehicle with tolls and fuel included. There is no published fare for this route, so the price is always confirmed in chat before the trip.
The Toyota Commuter seats nine and takes eight bags, so it suits families and groups sharing the cost; a couple can ask about a smaller car. On the way home, it is also a cool, quiet place to rest after a morning in the sun. To book a van Pattaya to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, send your pickup address, the date, how many are coming and any extra stops you want. No deposit — you pay the driver in cash when you are home. A Van Pattaya to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market day starts early, but you will have had breakfast on a boat before most of Pattaya is awake.