Prachinburi–Bangkok Day Trip
Herbal Shopping, Temples, Back by Evening

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

This trip is built for anyone who wants a short break close to Bangkok with good souvenirs and a temple visit to lift the spirits. The main stops are in Prachinburi — the Abhaibhubejhr building and the genuine herbal shop. On the way home you don't drive straight back to Bangkok; you loop out through Chachoengsao to stop at Wat Sothon first, so you hit three provinces in one day without backtracking. It works best if you drive yourself, but there's a way to do it without a car too, which we'll get to.

Why pair Prachinburi and Bangkok like this

Prachinburi and Bangkok are close enough for an easy day return, and there are good things to stop for along the way. The main route is Motorway 7 (Bangkok–Chonburi), then turning onto Highway 359 into Prachinburi. On the way out you drive straight to the town of Prachinburi first; on the way back you drop down Highway 304 through Chachoengsao to stop for Luang Pho Sothon, then loop back into Bangkok via Bang Na–Trat. It forms a neat circle, so you never retrace the same road.

• Distance Bangkok to Prachinburi is about 130 km, roughly 1.5–2 hours of driving; the return through Chachoengsao adds only a little.
• Good for the spiritually inclined who want to pay respects, plus health-minded travelers who want genuine herbal products, and anyone with only one day to spare.
• When to go this herbal-and-temple trip works year-round; it doesn't depend on the rainy or dry season.

Full-day plan — morning in Prachinburi, afternoon temple, evening home

Where to buy Abhaibhubejhr herbs in Bangkok

If you don't have time to go up to Prachinburi, or want to restock after you're back in Bangkok, genuine Abhaibhubejhr herbal products do have a few outlets in the city. The best-known is the Pho Ngern–Abhaibhubejhr Thai medicine shop near Talat Phlu on the Thonburi side, an old Thai apothecary that sells products from the Abhaibhubejhr line. Beyond that, many items are available at Big C and through the official online store. But if you want the fullest and freshest selection, the source in Prachinburi still has more on the shelves.

Souvenirs worth taking home

Can you go without a car?

This Prachinburi–Chachoengsao loop is easiest if you drive yourself, since it crosses three provinces in one day. Without a car you can still do it, but you'll have to split it across days. Take a van from Mo Chit or Ekkamai to Prachinburi for a day's herbal outing in town, out and back. As for Luang Pho Sothon in Chachoengsao, it's very easy by Eastern Line train from Hua Lamphong — get off at Chachoengsao Junction, then take a songthaew to the temple in under ten minutes. That can easily be its own day.

• Prachinburi — vans from Mo Chit/Ekkamai to the town center, then grab a hired motorcycle or rent a scooter to Abhaibhubejhr Hospital.
• Chachoengsao (Luang Pho Sothon) — Eastern Line train from Hua Lamphong, get off at Chachoengsao Junction, take a songthaew to the temple; doable as a one-day round trip.
• If you have a car — combine both stops in a single day as a loop, the best use of time and fuel.

Tips for a smooth trip

• Leave early — leave Bangkok around 7 a.m. to fit in both Prachinburi and Chachoengsao before the temple closes at 5 p.m.
• Bring cash — some herbal shops and stalls in front of the temple are easier to pay in cash, so keep small bills handy.
• Dress modestly — to enter the ordination hall at Wat Sothon, dress neatly and remove your shoes first.
• Avoid traffic on the way back — leave Chachoengsao before 4 p.m. and take Bang Na–Trat into Bangkok to skip the evening crush.