Tha Chin Riverside Markets, Nakhon Pathom
Don Wai, Tha Na & Lam Phaya in One Foodie Trip

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

The Tha Chin was Nakhon Pathom's main goods route back before there were any roads — rice, pomelo, vegetables and fruit all went by boat to be sold at the riverside markets. Once the roads came through, many markets faded, but some have come back to life as weekend day-trips for Bangkok folks. The draw is cheap food, a retro mood that's still real, and a drive of only about 50–60 km from Bangkok.

The Tha Chin riverside markets fall roughly into two groups. The first is old riverside markets that open every day, like Don Wai and Tha Na — good for a weekday visit without the crowds. The second is floating markets that only open on Saturdays and Sundays, like Lam Phaya and Wat Klang Khu Wiang, which have paddle boats selling food and local performances only on weekends. Knowing this ahead of time saves you from disappointment when you plan.

Don Wai Floating Market — the old market famous for braised duck

Don Wai sits next to Wat Don Wai in Sam Phran district, and it's the riverside market Bangkok people know best around here. It's open daily, roughly 7:00–17:00, but the stalls are fullest and most open on Saturdays and Sundays. The walkway is a long row of old wooden shophouses stretching along the Tha Chin, with food, gifts to take home, and riverside seating where you can watch the boats go by.

Don Wai's most famous dish is braised duck (pet phalo), with several vendors lined up side by side. Well-known names like Pet Nai Nap and Nai O sell it as a set with offal and noodles, starting around 200 THB and going up to large sets of several hundred. The braising aroma hits you the moment you walk into the market. Beyond the duck there are riverside restaurants serving stir-fried and deep-fried seafood dishes at roughly 100–300 THB a plate.

• Braised duck — the signature dish, sets from around ฿200 up, with several vendors to compare
• Thai sweets and khanom chan — a long row of dessert stalls, around ฿25–50 a piece, great to take home as gifts
• Coconut ice cream, fish cakes & fried snacks — walk-and-eat snacks, priced in the tens of baht
• Riverside dishes — tables right on the Tha Chin, order a stir-fried seafood plate and eat with a view of the boats

Tha Na Market, Nakhon Chai Si — a century-old market on the Tha Chin

Tha Na Market is in the centre of Nakhon Chai Si district, right on the Tha Chin River. It's an old fresh market that has been part of the community for over a hundred years — once a pier for shipping rice and goods, and still a place where locals come to do their real grocery shopping every day. It opens roughly 8:00–18:00. The spot people love to photograph is the old wooden shophouses and the yellow-toned commercial buildings along the river that still hold their retro feel.

The food at Tha Na is a mix of fresh-market and local fare — there's braised and roast duck here too, plus old-school coffee shops, Thai sweets, and the area's prized Nakhon Chai Si pomelo. The charm of this place is that it isn't dressed up purely for tourists, so it still feels like a real local market. It suits anyone who wants a calmer mood than Don Wai.

Lam Phaya Floating Market — weekends only, with real paddle-boat vendors

Lam Phaya Floating Market is in Lam Phaya sub-district, Bang Len district, also on the Tha Chin. It differs from Don Wai and Tha Na in that it opens only on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, roughly 8:00–16:00. It's a community-style floating market that still has genuine paddle-boat vendors, with a lively, easygoing mood.

• Grilled prawns & grilled fish — fresh from the river, grilled to order in front of the market
• Coconut ice cream and Thai sweets — local desserts at gentle prices
• Riverside boat rides — there's a service taking you along both banks of the Tha Chin on weekends
• Seasonal vegetables & fruit — from local growers, fresh and cheap

Wat Klang Khu Wiang Floating Market — a weekend market that isn't packed yet

Wat Klang Khu Wiang is in Sam Pathuan sub-district, Nakhon Chai Si district — a small floating market open only on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, roughly 9:00–17:00. What people mention is the traditional folk toys and the shady riverside temple setting. It's much smaller than Don Wai, so it works better as a stop along the way than as a main destination — but if you want a floating market that isn't too crowded, it fits nicely.

A one-day Tha Chin riverside food crawl

A relaxed 2-day, 1-night plan

How to get there and where to park

• By car — from Bangkok take Phetkasem or Borommaratchachonnani Road, about 50–60 km to Nakhon Chai Si / Sam Phran, roughly a 1-hour drive
• Parking — Don Wai has a car park, but it fills fast on Saturdays and Sundays; arrive before 10am for an easier time
• Public transport — there are vans and buses from Bangkok to Nakhon Pathom, then a local ride into the market, but a private car is still the most convenient
• Boat rides — at certain spots there's a boat service linking the riverside points; check on the day, on weekends