🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Koh Kret was formed when a canal was dug to cut across a bend in the river during the Ayutthaya period, leaving this strip of land marooned as an island in the Chao Phraya. The real draw here isn't fancy views — it's a living Mon community where people still actually reside, still make pottery, and still sell homemade Mon sweets out of their own houses. Visiting feels less like a theme park and more like wandering through a village where everyday life carries on.
One thing to know before you go: Koh Kret is busiest on weekends and public holidays, when the most stalls are open — but the crowds come with them. Weekdays are far quieter, with many shops closed; it's easy to walk around but your food options shrink. If you want the full walk-and-eat market atmosphere, come on a weekend. If you prefer it quiet and relaxed for photos, a weekday works fine.
Temples and sights on the island
The heart of the island is Wat Poramai Yikawat (locals just call it Wat Poramai), a Mon temple restored under King Rama V. The spot everyone comes to see is the leaning pagoda by the river in front of the temple — it tilts because the riverbank has subsided over the years, and it has become the island's signature landmark. Inside the temple grounds you'll also find a reclining Buddha and a small museum displaying old Mon everyday objects.
- The leaning pagoda (Phra Mutao) in front of Wat Poramai Yikawat — the island's emblem, with great river backdrops for photos and soft light in the late afternoon
- Wat Poramai Yikawat — a Mon-style ordination hall, a reclining Buddha, and a community museum; you can make merit and walk around
- Wat Sao Thong Thong — another old temple on the island, with a tall pagoda and a shady, calm atmosphere; fewer people, an easy follow-on from Wat Poramai
- Pottery centre and potters' houses — watch artisans at work, and at some houses you can try shaping clay yourself; a highlight of the Mon community
Dressing for the temple
Wat Poramai Yikawat is an active temple where people still come to make merit, so a sleeved top and trousers or a knee-length skirt will let you in more comfortably. The island is hot and you'll be walking in the sun, so bring an umbrella or a hat.
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Pottery and Mon craft
Koh Kret pottery is what the island is genuinely famous for. Mon families have made it here since the late Ayutthaya period, and the signature is the carved decoration drawn from nature — lotus-petal, leaf, and flower motifs — with every piece shaped by hand. It's earned a Geographical Indication (GI) registration under the name Koh Kret pottery. Walk along the riverside path and you'll pass row after row of pottery shops, from tiny plant pots to ornately patterned water jars.
If you want more than just something to take home, some potters' houses let you sit down and shape clay alongside the artisan. The activity costs a few hundred baht, your hands get messy in a fun way, and you go home with your own piece. Kids love it — just ask at any house with a sign inviting you in.
Street food on the island
Part of Koh Kret's appeal is grazing your way along the path the whole time you're there — a few hundred baht is plenty to leave you full. Here's what people coming to Koh Kret tend not to miss, focused on local dishes and Mon food that's hard to find elsewhere.
Tod Man No Kala (fish cakes with kala palm shoots)
The island's signature dish — fish cakes mixed with no kala, the tender shoots of the kala palm grown around here. They have a light crunch a bit like young coconut shoot, and they're very hard to find anywhere else.
Khao Chae Mon (chilled rice, Mon style)
The Mon version of khao chae: rice served in cool jasmine-scented water with several side dishes such as fried shrimp-paste balls, sweet shredded pork, and sweet stir-fried pickled radish. Perfect for cooling off in the heat.
Deep-fried flowers
Edible flowers dipped in batter and fried crisp — sesbania, cork-tree blossoms, butterfly pea, and ixora — eaten with a dipping sauce. An unusual fried snack you'll spot right from the path up off the ferry.
Mon and traditional Thai sweets
The island is known for handmade desserts: layered khanom chan, khanom kong, thong yip and thong yot, and Mon sweets like kalamae. Easy to pick up as gifts to take home.
Boat noodles and riverside noodle stalls
Stalls along the path serve nam tok noodles and boat noodles you can slurp hot while you wander. The small bowls go down quickly, so you can order several.
Riverside cafés
Lately several new cafés have opened along the river — sit with a coffee or iced tea and watch the boats go by. A good spot to rest your legs before walking on or heading back.
Bring cash
Many of the small stalls on the island take cash only — some have PromptPay, but not all. Carry small notes and it'll be easier when you're buying food a stick or a piece at a time.
Koh Kret in half a day to a full day
You can comfortably walk a loop of Koh Kret in half a day. If you'd rather take it slow, set aside half a day to a full day. Here's a rough plan you can actually follow.
Ferry — temple — food
Pottery — café — heading back
Getting to Koh Kret
There's only one way onto Koh Kret: the ferry across. The main pier people use is Wat Sanam Nuea pier (behind Wat Sanam Nuea in Pak Kret), and the crossing to the island takes only a moment. The fare is just a few baht per trip, and ferries run frequently all day, so you rarely have to wait.
- Private car — drive and park near Wat Sanam Nuea or a lot close to the pier, then walk over to the ferry. About 30–50 minutes from inner Bangkok if traffic is light
- Bus — line 166 from Victory Monument or line 505 to the end of the route near Pak Kret market, then walk or take a motorbike taxi on to Wat Sanam Nuea pier
- Chao Phraya Express Boat — take a northbound boat to Pak Kret pier (N33), then a motorbike taxi or short walk to Wat Sanam Nuea pier; good if you want to ride the river along the way
- Taxi / Grab — get dropped right at Wat Sanam Nuea, then walk to the pier behind the temple; the easiest option if you're in a group
Which day to go
Koh Kret only runs its full walk-and-eat market on weekends and public holidays; on weekdays many shops are closed. If you're coming for the food and the market, aim for a weekend — but be ready for crowds and strong sun, and come early for an easier time.
Plan more of Nonthaburi after Koh Kret
See the Nonthaburi travel guide →