Koh Kood Fishing Villages
Ao Salad, Klong Chao & Stilt Houses by the Sea

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

Koh Kood sits at the southern tip of Trat province, right on the Cambodian border. It's Thailand's second-largest island and still fairly undeveloped. The west coast is sandy beaches and resorts; the east coast is old fishing communities that were here long before tourism arrived. Houses perch on wooden stilts out over the sea, with planked walkways instead of roads. The people here are both Thai and of Khmer descent, and fishing has been the main livelihood for generations. Walk in and it feels like time moves a little slower than it does anywhere else.

Ao Salad — The fishing pier and the giant Buddha

Ao Salad (Ban Ao Salad) sits in the island's northeast corner — a U-shaped bay with no beach, but a working fishing pier and rows of sea-village houses standing over the water. The thing everyone remembers is the roughly 30-metre golden Buddha on the temple hill above, looking down over the whole bay. It's a landmark that photographs well in both morning and evening light. The wooden walkways through the village are narrow, doubling as both footpaths and motorbike lanes. Follow them down to the pier and you'll see fishing boats moored side by side and villagers busy with their nets and crab traps.

Ao Salad is also one of the island's main ports. Some ferries and speedboats arrive and depart here for the crossing to Laem Sok pier on the Trat mainland, so some visitors actually set foot in Ao Salad on day one without realising it. Most people, though, step off the boat and rush straight to the beach side, missing the chance to wander the village. If you have time, circle back and walk it again — unhurried this time.

• Distance — about 10 km from the Klong Chao area (the main accommodation zone), roughly 25–30 min, on a winding road through forest and hills.
• Best timing — mornings, when the fishing boats come in and you can watch the catch being sorted; evenings, when the soft light is perfect for shooting the giant Buddha over the bay.
• Eating — there are small seafood spots on the pier and up on the hill, open on days when there are customers, so be prepared for some to be closed.

Ao Yai — A quiet village and bay views from the hilltop sala

Ao Yai (Ban Ao Yai) is on the southeast side, closer to Klong Chao than Ao Salad — about 4–5 km from Klong Chao over a few gentle rises. Just before the village there's a viewpoint with a sala (pavilion) looking down over the rooftops lined along the bay: a quietly beautiful fishing-village scene. The village itself is sleepier than Ao Salad, with no souvenir shops and little in the way of tourist infrastructure. It suits people who want to see the real way of life more than a photo spot.

The charm of Ao Yai is the waterfront seafood restaurants where you genuinely sit out over the sea. The fish, crab, prawns and shellfish on the table mostly come from boats right here. Some places also run homestays, so you can stay the night and listen to the waves under the floorboards.

Klong Chao — A river-mouth village and a wooden bridge

Klong Chao is the area travelers know best, since it's home to Klong Chao beach, Klong Chao waterfall and most of the island's accommodation. But at the river mouth where the canal meets the sea there's still a small community — wooden houses along the water, longtail boats moored in rows, and a wooden bridge crossing the canal. In the evening, a stroll around the river mouth shows villagers paddling boats, kids swimming, and tourists in kayaks heading upstream to see the mangroves below the waterfall. It's the spot where village life and tourism blend most comfortably on the island.

Waterfront seafood in the fishing villages

What stands out at the fishing-village restaurants is freshness — the fish and crab really do come from boats nearby. Prices per dish run higher than in Trat town because you're on an island, but you get both the flavour and the waterfront view. We've listed them by area to make planning easier. Prices are rough ranges; check with the restaurant, especially for crab sold by the kilo.

An unhurried route through the fishing villages

If you want to cover all three villages, plan for about a day and a half — an easy loop by vehicle from the Klong Chao side. We've laid out a route as a rough guide; adjust it to wherever you're staying.

What to know before you go (the honest version)

• Boats stop during the monsoon — many speedboats and ferries don't run during the heavy rains around June–September (some years May–October), when the sea is rough and many places close. Always check the boat schedule and your accommodation's status first.
• It's a long trip — boats leave from Laem Sok pier in Trat (about 30 km from Trat town), then it's roughly 1–1.5 hours by boat. Adult fares start around ฿350 each way; book ahead in high season.
• Island prices are high — food, fuel and supplies are all shipped over by boat, so prices run higher than on the mainland. Bring extra cash, as many restaurants and piers don't take transfers.
• Limited signal and power — mobile signal is weak or absent in some spots, and some resorts supply electricity only during set hours. Download offline maps beforehand.
• Ride carefully — the roads to Ao Salad and Ao Yai are narrow, winding, and hilly, with some steep sections. Ride slowly, wear a helmet, and if you're not used to it, consider hiring one of the island's songthaew taxis instead.
• Check the weather for snorkelling and boat trips — snorkelling trips to the surrounding islands depend on sea conditions. On windy days boats may not go, so ask the operator before paying.