🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
If you've got just one day off and want to get out of Bangkok somewhere that isn't far, Chachoengsao is an easy call. It's about an hour's drive from Bangkok, or you can take the Eastern Line train and get off at Chachoengsao station. A single town gives you a few different kinds of trips, so we've sorted things into temples, nature, and old town — pick and match to your own travel style.
Lucky temples people flock to for blessings
Chachoengsao is well known for its temples, especially the lucky ones where people come to pray about work and money. The three below are the ones that come to mind first, and they're all within driving distance of each other in a single day.
Wat Saman Rattanaram
The top lucky temple in Paet Riu. The highlight is the giant pink reclining Ganesha, about 16 metres long, with a base ringed by 32 forms of Ganesha. People come to ask for blessings on work, money, and success. Plenty of photo spots, and you can walk for a while.
Wat Sothon Wararam Worawihan
The town's signature temple, home to Luang Pho Phuttha Sothon, a revered Buddha image with a legend of having floated in on the river. People come to pray for work and health. The big white ordination hall on the bank of the Bang Pakong River is a real sight.
Wat Hong Thong
A temple out in the sea at Bang Pakong, with an ordination hall and a chedi reaching out over the water. You walk a wooden bridge for views of the river mouth. The standout is a clear glass-floor seawalk about 40 metres long — windy, with open views, best in the late afternoon.
A little tip
On weekends Wat Saman and Wat Sothon get crowded and the parking fills up fast. If you can go in the morning before 10am it's easier on both the heat and the parking. Wat Hong Thong is windy, so wear shoes you're comfortable walking the wooden bridge in.
Want more out of Chachoengsao? Book tours & activities
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.
Nature along the Bang Pakong River
The Bang Pakong River is the lifeline of the province, and the source of Paet Riu's standout nature activity: the dolphin boat trip. This one really depends on the season, since the dolphins aren't around all year.
Dolphin boat trip at the Bang Pakong river mouth
Irrawaddy dolphins (snub-fin dolphins) come in to feed when the saltwater pushes up, and you'll see them best from around November to February. You board from a pier in the Bang Pakong area and head out toward the river mouth. Out of season they're hard to spot, so check the schedule with the operator first.
Bang Pakong riverside in town
On the town side there's a riverside walkway and several waterfront cafes that have opened more recently. Sip a coffee and watch the boats go by in the late afternoon — an easy stop before or after temple-hopping.
About dolphin season
Dolphins are wild animals — there's no guarantee you'll see them on every trip, even in season. Treat it as a bonus rather than a sure thing. If you come in the hot or rainy season, a riverside view cruise or temple visit instead is the better-value swap.
Old town and the riverside market
The other side of Paet Riu that a lot of people fall for is the old-town feel, especially the riverside market that has kept its old wooden houses in good shape. You walk and eat well for not much money, and pick up some retro-atmosphere photos along the way.
- Ban Mai 100-Year Market — a wooden market on the Bang Pakong River, over 100 years old, with two-storey wooden shophouses dating back to the reign of King Rama V. Lots to eat — traditional sweets, noodles, old-style coffee — at friendly prices. Open daily 08:00–17:00, but far more shops open and the place is much livelier on weekends than on weekdays.
- Riverside old-town quarter — wander around the market and the riverfront, where there are old buildings, Chinese shrines, and small shops to drop into. Good for photos and a stroll to walk off the food from the market.
- Paet Riu souvenirs — nam dok mai mangoes are a local specialty in the hot season, along with mooncake-style pastries (khanom pia) and regional snacks you can pick up around the market and souvenir shops in town.
Make the time count
On weekdays not all the shops at Ban Mai Market are open. If you want to eat your way through it properly, go on the weekend. But if you don't like crowds, a weekday late morning is still a relaxed walk — you'll just have fewer food options.
How to plan a trip that flows
Paet Riu's main sights are spread across two main zones: in town (Wat Sothon, Ban Mai Market, the riverside) and the Bang Pakong side (Wat Hong Thong, the dolphin boat trip). Wat Saman sits outside town, off on the other side of Mueang district. Having your own car is the smoothest way to do it, since the spots are a fair distance apart.
Temple half-day
Wat Saman + Wat Sothon, then finish at Ban Mai Market for a walk and a bite before heading home. Good if you've got half a day to a full day.
Nature + old town
Morning dolphin boat trip (if you're in season) or head to Wat Hong Thong, then in the afternoon go into town to walk Ban Mai Market and the riverside, ending the day at a riverside cafe.
Plan a full day in Paet Riu, with places to stay and eat
See the Chachoengsao guide →