🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Paet Riu (the local name for Chachoengsao town) is great for a slow weekend trip. The draw is the cluster of cafes along the Bang Pakong River, spread across both the town center and the Ban Mai Market area, plus an old town where you can pay respects at temples, look at old Chinese shophouses, and find good food all within a short walk. This plan keeps day one focused on cafes and walking, then catches the century-old market on the second morning before heading home. Feel free to swap the order depending on which days you visit.
Read this before picking your dates
The 100-year-old Ban Mai Market is only open Saturday–Sunday and public holidays, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM. If you want to catch the market, plan your trip across a Saturday or Sunday. The in-town cafes are open every day.
Day 1 — Riverside cafes + old town walk
Leave Bangkok mid-morning, arrive in Paet Riu before noon
Day one is deliberately light on walking, focused on lingering over coffee, with the old town saved for late afternoon when the sun softens. If you take your coffee seriously, you can add Good Barista & Coffee Beans — the owner is a Q grader who selects the beans personally, and the shop is minimal in warm brown tones.
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.
Day 2 — 100-year-old Ban Mai Market in the morning
Catch the century-old market before the crowds, then head home
About parking
Ban Mai Market has a private parking lot across the street — just walk across and you're there. Parking runs about 30–40 THB. It gets crowded on weekends, so arriving before 9 AM makes finding a spot easier.
The Bang Pakong riverside cafes we picked
Nava House Cafe
A riverside cafe on the grounds of Pukae Riverside. There's an air-conditioned room with seats right on the river, so you don't have to sweat it out, or you can take the shaded outdoor zone under the trees when the weather's nice.
Tang Seng Chua Saen Phudat
The big new branch of Tang Seng Chua, a mooncake-pastry brand with over 90 years of history. The Korean-palace-style building has become a photo landmark, with a cafe, pastries, and a souvenir zone all in one place.
9 Ma Café
Sits just before Ban Mai Market, with an outdoor zone right on the Bang Pakong River. Relaxed vibe and good food and desserts — a nice stop right after the morning market.
Good Barista & Coffee Beans
A shop for serious coffee people — the owner is a Q grader who selects the beans personally. Minimal decor in warm brown tones, with photo corners and quiet seats to sip your coffee.
Woody Haus Café
A Korean-style cafe with a clean, easy-on-the-eyes tone. There's a soft-lit indoor zone and a stylish outdoor corner, plus a range of bakery items. Great for photos.
Chan Mak
A contemporary Thai-style riverside cafe with a leafy, shaded setting. The simple design suits a slow, unhurried break by the water.
The prices listed are rough ranges per drink and may shift depending on the menu and the time. We chose places with consistent reviews that were still open at the time of writing, but check each shop's page before you set out for their weekly closing day.
Making the most of Paet Riu old town
- Wat Sothon Wararam Worawihan — pay respects to Luang Pho Sothon, the province's most revered Buddha image, on the Bang Pakong River. Open daily from early morning. Dress modestly.
- Riverside old-town quarter — wooden shophouses and traditional Chinese shops, good for photos and picking up small souvenirs.
- 100-year-old Ban Mai Market — a century-old wooden riverside market, open Saturday–Sunday, with plenty of food, an old-style coffee shop, and folk performances.
Planning a weekday trip
If you come on a weekday when Ban Mai Market is closed, swap it for more old-town walking and in-town cafe-hopping — places like Woody Haus or Good Barista — and save the market for next time.
Getting there and where to stay
Driving from Bangkok to Paet Riu is easiest — take the motorway or the Bang Na–Trat road, about 1–1.5 hours. If you're not driving, take the Eastern Line train to Chachoengsao station and connect with local transport in town. The town isn't big; the cafes and old town are close together. Ban Mai Market and a few of the riverside cafes sit slightly outside town, so having your own car makes things smoother.
Staying in town makes everything easier — the cafes, old town, and temple are all a short drive apart. If you want to compare hotel prices and locations, see the summary on our accommodation roundup.
Want a well-located hotel in Paet Riu town?
See the Top 10 places to stay in Chachoengsao →