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Nonthaburi Temple & Mon Culture
2 Days: Koh Kret + Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat

Nonthaburi sits right next to Bangkok, just across the river, but once you set foot on Koh Kret or reach Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat the mood shifts into another world. Old riverside temples, a Mon community that has lived here for more than 200 years, and pottery that's still made by hand. This is a 2-day plan for paying respects at the temples, eating Mon food, and soaking up life along the Chao Phraya without rushing.

🛕 Old riverside temples🛶 Koh Kret Mon community🏺 Handmade pottery
Nonthaburi Temple & Mon Culture 2 Days: Koh Kret + Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

This trip is for anyone who wants to travel close to Bangkok but get a feel that's different from the city, with a focus on riverside temples, Mon history, and local food. We've laid it out as 2 days: day one is a full day on Koh Kret, while day two is an easy half-day around Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat followed by the riverfront in town. If you only have one day, just take day one and you're set.

Read this before you plan

The markets and shops on Koh Kret are busiest on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, roughly 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM. On weekdays the island is still open, with the temples and community there, but only some shops are running. If you want both the food and the quiet, try a Saturday morning before the crowds arrive.

Day 1 — Koh Kret, full day

Koh Kret is an island in the middle of the Chao Phraya River in Pak Kret district. The whole island has no car roads, so it's walking or cycling only. The main crossing point is Wat Sanam Nuea pier on the Pak Kret side; the ferry across takes just a moment to reach the Wat Poramai Yikawat pier.

Day 1

Koh Kret, a Mon community on the Chao Phraya

08:30
Arrive at Wat Sanam Nuea pier in Pak Kret and take the cross-river ferry to the islandParking at Wat Sanam Nuea is around 30 THB/car. The ferry costs just a few baht per person (around 3 THB during the day) and runs frequently, so you won't wait long.
09:00
Pay respects at Wat Poramai Yikawat and see the leaning pagoda, the island's landmarkThe Mon people call it 'Phia Mu Kia Toeng.' The ordination hall is decorated with materials imported from Italy, and this is a temple restored under King Rama V. The riverside setting is shady and relaxed.
10:00
Stroll the market by the pier and sample Mon food and Thai sweetsThe signature dishes are tod man no kala (fish cakes made with a bamboo-shoot variety that grows only around here) and the Mon-style khao chae with its side dishes. Prices start at a few dozen baht, and you can graze across several vendors.
11:30
Rent a bike and ride around the island, past gardens and Mon homesBike rental is about 40–50 THB/day and you can return it at several points. Some stretches of path are narrow and bumpy, so ride slowly and watch for pedestrians. A loop around the island takes about 1–2 hours with photo stops.
13:00
Break for lunch at a riverside Mon house restaurantThe island has several Mon and riverside restaurants where you can sit and enjoy the river view. Choose from a Mon (Raman) menu or standard made-to-order Thai dishes.
14:30
Walk through the pottery and Mon handicraft communityKoh Kret is known for its intricately patterned pottery, an OTOP local product. At some shops you can watch the potters at work and pick up a small piece as a souvenir.
16:00
Take a boat around the island to see riverside life before heading backIf you still have the energy, there are boats that run loops around the island for about 60 THB/person, letting you see the temples and homes from the water before you catch the ferry back across.

Tips for your Koh Kret day

Bring cash and an umbrella or hat. Most of the paths on the island are out in the open and the small shops usually take cash only. The afternoon sun is strong, so start early and break at a riverside spot around midday.

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Day 2 — Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat + Nonthaburi riverfront

Day two is a bit lighter. Start at Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat Worawihan, a royal temple on the Chao Phraya in Bang Si Mueang sub-district, begun in the reign of King Rama III and completed under King Rama IV. The highlights are the white pagoda and the crystal wall in a Thai-Chinese blended style. Paying respects, feeding the fish and taking photos here is easy and takes about 1–2 hours.

Day 2

Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat and the town riverfront

09:30
Pay respects at Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat Worawihan and see the white pagodaA shady riverside temple with blended Thai-Chinese architecture. The crystal wall and the ordination hall make for lovely photos.
10:30
Feed the fish and stroll the Chao Phraya riverfront in front of the templeThere's a pier in front of the temple where you can sit, rest and feed the fish. The mood is calm and suits anyone who wants to visit temples without rushing.
12:00
Lunch at a riverside restaurant or Nonthaburi boat noodlesNonthaburi is known for boat noodles, and it's easy to find a shop around town to fill up at. Prices are friendly.
13:30
Wander the Tha Nam Non area, with its old market and riverside walkTha Nam Non is a Chao Phraya Express Boat hub with markets and riverside cafés. Take a relaxed stroll to wrap up the trip before heading back.
15:30
Take the Chao Phraya Express Boat or the Purple Line backIf you want river views, catch the express boat from Tha Nam Non down to Bangkok, or use the MRT Purple Line to head into the city. Either is convenient.

The temples and highlights in this plan

Koh Kret

Wat Poramai Yikawat Worawihan

The Mon temple at the heart of Koh Kret, with its leaning pagoda as the landmark and an ordination hall decorated with materials imported from Italy.

Bang Si Mueang

Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat Worawihan

A royal riverside temple from the reigns of Rama III–IV, with a white pagoda and a crystal wall in a blended Thai-Chinese style; pay respects and feed the fish.

Handicraft

Mon pottery community

Intricately patterned pottery, an OTOP craft passed down within the Mon community of Koh Kret.

Mon food worth trying on the island

  • Tod man no kala — fish cakes made with no kala, a bamboo shoot native to Koh Kret, with a taste and texture you won't find anywhere else.
  • Mon-style khao chae — rice in chilled jasmine-scented water with several side dishes such as fried shrimp-paste balls and stuffed sweet peppers; sets start at around 60 THB.
  • Thai and Mon sweets — sweet-shops line the riverside walkway, great for a snack or for taking home as a gift.

Getting around and budget

This trip doesn't cost much. The main expenses are the ferry crossings, bike rental and food, so a full, easy-on-the-wallet day on Koh Kret comes to just a few hundred baht per person.

  • Getting to Koh Kret — park at Wat Sanam Nuea for about 30 THB/car, then take the ferry across for a few baht per person, or come by bus or the MRT Purple Line to Pak Kret and continue by local transport.
  • On the island — walk or rent a bike for 40–50 THB/day; a boat loop around the island is about 60 THB/person.
  • Day two — Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat is on the Bang Si Mueang side, reachable by car, cross-river ferry, or the Chao Phraya Express Boat to a pier near the temple.
  • Heading back to Bangkok — take the Chao Phraya Express Boat from Tha Nam Non, or the MRT Purple Line connecting to the Blue Line.

Straight talk

If you come on a weekday, the shops and food vendors on the island won't all be open the way they are on holidays, but you'll get the quiet and temples with fewer people. If you're here for the food and the markets, come on a Saturday or Sunday; if you're here to pay respects and take calm photos, a weekday works well.

See where to stay and the full Nonthaburi travel guide

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FAQ

How many days do you need for Nonthaburi temples and the Mon community?

2 days is about right. Day one is a full day on Koh Kret, paying respects at Wat Poramai Yikawat, eating Mon food and seeing the pottery, while day two is a half-day at Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat followed by the town riverfront. If you only have one day, just do Koh Kret.

Can you visit Koh Kret on a weekday?

Yes. The island is open every day and the ferry runs as usual, but the markets and shops are busiest on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, roughly 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM. On weekdays only some shops are open, which suits anyone who likes a quieter mood.

How do you cross to Koh Kret, and how much is the ferry?

The main crossing point is Wat Sanam Nuea pier on the Pak Kret side, with the ferry going to the Wat Poramai Yikawat pier. The fare during the day is around 3 THB per person, and parking at the temple is about 30 THB/car.

What Mon food on Koh Kret should you try?

Tod man no kala is the signature dish because the no kala bamboo shoot grows only around here. Another is the Mon-style khao chae with its side dishes, with sets starting at around 60 THB, plus the Thai and Mon sweets from the shops that line the riverside walkway.

What is Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat Worawihan known for?

It's a royal temple on the Chao Phraya in Bang Si Mueang, begun in the reign of King Rama III and completed under King Rama IV. The highlights are the white pagoda and the crystal wall in a blended Thai-Chinese style, ideal for paying respects, feeding the fish and taking calm photos over about 1–2 hours.

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