Suntara Wellness Resort — a riverside wellness resort on the Bangpakong where you wake up to the quiet river
If you want a Chachoengsao stay where you can sip coffee by the Bangpakong River in the evening and watch the sky change as the sun goes down, in a calm resort setting rather than a hotel block in the market — Suntara Wellness Resort & Hotel is the name people who come to pay respects at Luang Pho Sothon and then want a riverside stay tend to reach for. It's a 4-star riverside wellness resort on the Bangpakong River in the Khlong Na area, with several room types — many of them facing the river with a balcony — plus a large outdoor pool, a kids' pool, a spa, a gym and made-to-order breakfast. Rooms start from around ฿1,400/night, which is good value for a genuine riverside setting.
The Bangpakong River is the lifeline of Chachoengsao, and as much a symbol of the town as Wat Sothon itself. The Khlong Na side is quieter than the market, still feeling like easygoing riverside country with big trees and a cool breeze off the water. Hotels that genuinely face the river are not common in Chachoengsao, and Suntara Wellness Resort is one of the few where many rooms look straight out over the Bangpakong — especially the upper-floor rooms that gaze far across the water, which is the main reason people choose to stay here.
The resort is a low-rise resort-style building with around 82 rooms in several types to suit different budgets and group sizes. They run from Double and Superior Rooms for couples or two travellers up to Deluxe Garden View and river-facing rooms with a balcony for watching the Bangpakong. Every room has air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, a fridge, a work desk and a private bathroom. Most reviews praise the rooms as spacious, clean and comfortable to sleep in, with genuinely lovely river views when you get a room facing the right way — though several guests agree the building is starting to show its age, with some rooms feeling dated and the air conditioning a little noisy.
"Spacious, clean room with a beautiful river view, especially in the evening. The staff were friendly, the pool is big and the kids loved it. Peaceful and quiet — a good place to relax with the family."
The appeal here is that it's a riverside wellness resort built around quiet relaxation. There's a large outdoor swimming pool with a separate children's pool, a riverside garden, sitting areas looking out over the water, a spa and massage service, a gym and a karaoke room. The points guests mention most often are the big, clean swimming pool — ideal for families with kids — and the made-to-order breakfast with a decent spread of choices. There are two on-site restaurants and bicycles to borrow for a ride along the river. It suits families, couples and groups of friends who want to relax by the water rather than find somewhere to wander at night.
The resort sits in Khlong Na on the bank of the Bangpakong, about 10 minutes' drive from Wat Sothon Wararam Worawihan (Luang Pho Sothon) and not far from central Chachoengsao. It works well for people coming to pay respects at Luang Pho Sothon, visit the Ban Mai 100-Year-Old Market, or break a journey towards the eastern provinces. There's free parking, so it's best for self-drivers. One thing to know is that the area around the resort is fairly quiet — there are no convenience stores or restaurants within walking distance — so without a car it can be inconvenient to head out for food at night.
On the numbers, Suntara reviews well. The average from real guest reviews sits around 7.7 out of 10, with Trip.com around 7.7 from roughly 23 guests and TripAdvisor around 3.7 out of 5 (one of the top-ranked hotels in Chachoengsao). What gets praised again and again: the Bangpakong views — especially at sunset — the large, clean pool, friendly staff, made-to-order breakfast and the quiet, private feel. The recurring complaints are that some rooms feel dated and the air conditioning can be noisy, that renovation work at times brings paint smell and dust, that some staff speak only limited English, and that the location is a fair way from any shops.
To be honest, Suntara is not a brand-new five-star resort and doesn't set out to be one. Its selling point is being a genuine riverside wellness resort on the Bangpakong, quiet and peaceful, with a big pool, at a price you can reach. If your trip is about relaxing by the water, bringing the family for a swim, waking up to a river view and coming back to a quiet night after paying respects at Luang Pho Sothon — it fits nicely. But if you need pristine new rooms, excellent soundproofing, or to walk to restaurants and shops, adjust your expectations and ask for a recently renovated room up front.
A tip from reading plenty of reviews here: specify a river-facing room on an upper floor if you want the full Bangpakong view, because not every room sees the water. If you're concerned about room condition, ask whether you can have a recently renovated room when you book. In the evening, find a spot by the water to watch the sun set over the Bangpakong — it's when the resort looks its best. And if you bring children, the large pool with its separate kids' pool is what they'll enjoy most.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Beautiful Bangpakong river views, especially in the evening
- ✓ Large, clean swimming pool — easy for kids to enjoy
- ✓ Spacious rooms, comfortable beds, friendly staff
- ✓ Quiet and private — a good place to relax with family
- ! Some rooms feel dated; air conditioning can be noisy
- ! Renovation work at times brings paint smell and dust
- ! Quiet surroundings — no convenience stores within walking distance
- ✓ Riverside Bangpakong location, quiet and relaxing
- ✓ Large pool, kids' pool, spa and gym on site
- ✓ Made-to-order breakfast with plenty of choices
- ✓ About 10 min from Wat Sothon — handy for temple visits
- ! The building is starting to show its age in places
- ! Some staff speak only limited English
- ! Inconvenient without a car for finding food at night
- 💡If you expect pristine new rooms and excellent soundproofing — the building is showing its age, with some dated rooms and noisy air conditioning → ask for a recently renovated, river-facing room when you book.
- 💡If you don't have your own car — the resort sits on the river in Khlong Na with quiet surroundings and no convenience stores or restaurants within walking distance → best for self-drivers; without a car, bring food or choose a stay in town.
- 💡If you want the full river view — not every room sees the water → specify a river-facing room on an upper floor when you book for the full Bangpakong view and sunset.