Sai Noi floating market – Nonthaburi’s little known treasure

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Sai Noi floating market
Nonthaburi’s little known treasure

The Sai Noi floating market is a very authentic Thai floating market tucked away on the Phra Pimonrat canal in Sai Noi district Nonthaburi about 30 km from Bangkok’s northern city limits.

Sai Noi is the district at the northern edge of Nonthaburi on the west bank of the Chao Phraya where the area is less densely built-up than the east bank. The district isn’t even on the tourist maps.

Located next to Wat Sai Yai, this floating market sells various deserts, fruits and cooked food produced by the people in the neighbourhood.

Visitors get a chance to see the life style of the canal side community and the natural environment this community lives in.

Life on the canal

For directions to get there, go to the map to Sai Noi floating market

Vendors in front of Wat Sai Yai

The floating market consists of stalls in the open area in front of Wat Sai Yai, a row of stalls on one canal bank and another row on pontoons in the canal.

Vendors on the canal bank

Previously there were no pontoons, only boat vendors.

View of the floating food stalls taken from the pedestrian bridge

However, I only saw about five or six boat vendors that morning. A sluice gate installed by the Irrigation Department along the canal has blocked other boat vendors who live beyond the gate from coming to the market by boat.

Last of the boat vendors

It would be hasty to compare the Sai Noi floating market with Taling Chan or Bang Namphueng. The latter two are bigger and busier with more visitors.

However Sai Noi has its own special feature. On a late Saturday morning in December, life here had a distinctly leisurely pace.

Catnap in session

I didn’t have to squeeze my way through narrow and crowded passageways between the vendors.

A leisurely stroll

Food vendors on the pontoons have created a dining area with a very pleasant ambience.

The dining area

Another section of pontoons has benches for visitors to sit and relax to pass the day or feed the fish and ducks.

Watching life go by

I sat by the canal to have a cup of strong local coffee as I watched these boys enjoy some of the simple things in life.

The joys of childhood

The canal is teeming with them

Life by the canal is peaceful and scenic; there are hardly any passing boats. A morning at the Sai Noi floating market is a very pleasant way to spend a weekend away from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok.

Peace and serenity

I just couldn’t help taking this shot through the bus window as we were about to go.

You won’t see this in Bangkok!

Map to Sai Noi floating market

View Map to the Sai Noi floating market in a larger map

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How to get there

If you are driving, proceed along Rattanathibet Road and cross the Phra Nang Klao Bridge. Continue on Rattanathibet Road till you reach the Bang Kruai – Sai Noi Road on the right.

Turn right into the Bang Kruai – Sai Noi Road and carry on till you see the Sai Noi Hospital on the right.

The road to the Sai Noi floating market is on the left after you have passed the hospital.

Mini-buses to Sai Noi are available from
PATA, Pin Klao
The Mall, Ngam Wong Ngam
Victory Monument

Air-conditioned bus service no. 528 from the Victory Monument

The floating market is open every weekend from 8 am till about 4 or 5 pm. It's OK as long as you get there by late morning.

Acknowledgements

My thanks to the Museum of Nonthaburi for organizing a tour to discover this cultural gem in the province.

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