Like any other major holiday destination, the city of Bangkok is full of tourist traps aplenty. Amphawa Floating Market bears considerably less name recognition than its hyper-popularized counterpart Damnoen Saduak but offers visitors a more authentic opportunity to experience the Thai tradition of water-borne commerce.
Behind Bangkok’s Waterborne Bazaars
The city of Bangkok, and its storied predecessor
Ayutthaya is situated in a massive region of wet lowlands and expansive valleys, once covered by dense jungle. When the region was first populated, residents quickly settled along the riverbanks, opting to travel and trade via boat rather than trudge through the still-sprawling tropical wilderness.
As Bangkok developed as a capital city and international trade hub, the wetlands were drained by organizing an extensive system of canals – a feature that served to further entrench the budding floating market economies of the time.
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
The market was used for years by the TAT as a promotional feature to attract visitors, and the local community reported that their quality of life increased dramatically with the arrival of these curious tourists. Soon, the community members began to realize that they could charge higher prices than usual and that their Western guests were highly receptive to things like high-level customer service and friendliness. Some experts even credit this “social experiment” with the development of tenets trademarked by Thai tourism, like the world-renowned Thai notion of hospitality and more controversial elements like farang pricing.
Today, thousands of tourists visit Damnoen Saduak every month to the tune of a THB$1,500 entrance fee and faced with nearly double the average prices for everything from food to souvenirs. While still widely touted as a must-visit bucket list item, and rarely disappointing with its energy and uncontested photogenic nature, other long-standing and truly authentic – that is, not government-established – floating markets are beginning to endanger this TAT charade.
Amphawa Floating Market
This small community to the Southwest of Bangkok is one that has long flourished in trade and agriculture. Today, evidence of this water-based community’s land use, livelihoods, and ways of life remain strong, developed over centuries of existing in harmony with their local ecosystem of mangroves, seashore, salt pans, and orchards.
Whereas Damnoen Saduak is characteristically tourist-driven to re-create markets of lore, as is evident in the vendors’ historically traditional dress and style, and of course, the premium price tags, Amphawa, on the other hand, is frequented primarily by Bangkok weekenders. While visually, its historical accuracy may not be as comparable, this evolution of a centuries-old trading style into modern day is unique in and of itself. Along the 50-kilometre stretch of the Amphawa Canal, Buddhist monks still paddle in the morning to accept alms from villagers, residents patronise the floating markets for their produce and other groceries, and those settled along the waterfront continue to rely on its resources within routines of their daily lives like cleaning and bathing.
Because of this legacy, the canal continues to influence the community’s way of life. Its eponymous floating market is only open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., in contrast to Damnoen Saduak’s daily public accessibility.
How to visit
Amphawa has become increasingly popular among locals and tourists alike and so many hotels and travel agents are available to arrange transport or entire tour packages at no hassle. Alternatively, you can take advantage of the Transport Company Limited’s daily minibus service from its Sai Tai Mai, or Southern Bus Terminal on Borommaratchachonnani Road. The hour-and-a-half minibuses run from 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. and drop off right near the floating market.
What to do
While the floating market is only open Friday through Sunday, the sleepy town channels a charming laid-back vibe during the rest of the week, making it a great place to unwind and get acquainted with authentic aspects of daily Thai life along the riverside.
Those on a day trip from Bangkok will likely spend their time navigating the bustling marketplace. While canal-side stalls hawking trinkets and souvenirs are becoming more commonplace, the real draw is the enormous amount of food available. Its close proximity to the sea means Amphawa vendors serve up the freshest prawns, squid, and fish, offered straight up or in any number of classic
Thai dishes.
Read more: Things to do in Khaosan Road, Bangkok
Source The Culture Trip
