🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
If you want a temple trip you can do in a single day out and back, Chachoengsao is the easiest pick from Bangkok. It's an hour's drive from the city, or you can take the train to Chachoengsao station and keep things cheap. The three main stops on this trip all sit along the same stretch of the Bang Pakong River, so they line up neatly into one day. We've set the order to start at Wat Sothon in the morning while it's still quiet, then work down to the market and Wat Saman through the late morning and afternoon.
How to get to Chachoengsao from Bangkok
Chachoengsao town is roughly 80–100 km from Bangkok depending on your route. Driving yourself is the most convenient option since the three main stops are spread around different corners of the area. No car? Take an Eastern Line train from Hua Lamphong or hop on at Lat Krabang — tickets are dirt cheap — then grab a songthaew or motorbike taxi to Wat Sothon.
- Self-drive — From Bangkok take Highway 304 or the motorway, around 1–1.5 hours to town. You can park at all three stops, which is ideal if you want to fit everything into one day.
- Train — Eastern Line from Hua Lamphong or Lat Krabang to Chachoengsao station, around 1.5–2 hours. Tickets cost just a few tens of THB, and it's a breezy, easygoing ride.
- Getting around town — From the train station, a yellow songthaew gets you to Wat Sothon in about 10 minutes. Ban Mai Market and Wat Saman are in different directions, so without your own car a chartered motorbike taxi or Grab is the way to go.
Pick your day carefully
Ban Mai Market only opens on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. If you want all three stops in this plan, you have to go on a weekend or holiday. Wat Sothon and Wat Saman are open every day.
Book the activities in your Chachoengsao trip ahead
Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.
A realistic 1-day plan
This trip is built to start in the morning and finish by evening, with no rush and plenty of time for a relaxed riverside meal. Leave Bangkok a little early and you'll reach Wat Sothon before the crowds. Pay your respects, then move on to the market and Wat Saman in order.
Sothon in the morning · Ban Mai Market late morning · Wat Saman afternoon
Wat Sothon Wararam Worawihan — the heart of the trip
Luang Pho Sothon is the revered Buddha image of Paet Riu, and people travel from all over the country to pay their respects. The newer ordination hall is built entirely of marble in an applied-Thai style with a tall, prominent mondop spire you can see from a distance. Inside sits the Luang Pho Sothon image, where people commonly pray for health, work, and good fortune.
- Opening hours — Monday to Friday around 06:30–16:30, weekends until about 17:00. No entry fee.
- Dress — Dress modestly; it's a temple, so bring a shawl to cover your shoulders if you're in a sleeveless top.
- Offerings — Stalls around the temple sell flowers, incense, candles, and boiled eggs, so there's no need to bring your own.
- Busy times — Long weekends and Buddhist holy days get very crowded. For a calmer visit, go before 10 a.m.
Ban Mai 100-Year Market — eat and stroll by the river
Ban Mai Market is an old wooden market over a hundred years old on the banks of the Bang Pakong. Two-storey wooden buildings line both sides of the walkway, with an old-Chinatown feel, Thai–Chinese savoury and sweet bites, vintage toys, and tiny riverside coffee shops. It's great for anyone who loves vintage finds and a retro atmosphere. The key thing to know: the market only opens on weekends and public holidays.
Pak mor noodles
A Paet Riu signature — thin steamed wrappers with a generous filling. Plenty of people come here just for this dish.
Riverside traditional coffee
An old coffee shop in the market brewing in the traditional style, with a retro feel going back decades. Sip and watch the river roll by.
Charcoal-oven sweets & gui chai
Fragrant Thai sweets baked in a charcoal oven, plus thin-skinned gui chai dumplings packed with filling — graze the whole way down.
Best time to go
Stalls open around 08:30 and peak between 10:00–14:00. Come too late in the afternoon and many shops start packing up, so aim to arrive before noon to try everything.
Wat Saman Rattanaram — the reclining Ganesh
Wat Saman Rattanaram sits on the Bang Pakong River and is a famous temple for merit-makers thanks to its pink reclining Ganesh in a pose of contentment — the largest in Thailand at around 16 metres long and 14 metres wide. Around the base are dozens more Ganesh figures in different poses to walk past and pay respects to. People come to pray for work, success, and the arts. The grounds are spacious, with photo spots and offering shops on hand.
- Opening hours — Around 08:00–17:00 daily. No entry fee.
- Highlight — The giant pink reclining Ganesh, plus the various Ganesh figures around the base.
- Making offerings — People commonly offer sugarcane, milk, and sweets in keeping with belief. There are offering shops inside the temple.
- Food nearby — Several restaurants and cafes line the Bang Pakong River — a good place to rest before heading home.
A few ways to make the trip better
- If you come on a weekday when Ban Mai Market is closed, swap in Bang Khla floating market or a fruit-orchard visit instead, and save Ban Mai for next time.
- During mango season (roughly March–May), Paet Riu is known for its nam dok mai mangoes — pick some up to take home.
- Midday heat can be strong, so pack an umbrella or hat, water, and comfortable walking shoes, since both the temples and market involve a fair bit of walking.
- Want to stay over? There are hotels in town, so you can spend the next morning sightseeing without rushing.
See all of Chachoengsao's places to stay and visit
Chachoengsao travel guide →