Sa Kaeo in 1 Day
Rong Kluea Market–Sdok Kok Thom

✍️ By Doctor Chat

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

The day's two highlights sit close together in the eastern part of the province. Rong Kluea Market is in Ban Khlong Luek, Aranyaprathet district, right next to the border checkpoint, while Sdok Kok Thom temple is in Khok Sung subdistrict, Khok Sung district. It's about a 40–50 minute drive from the market to the temple, so a single day is plenty if you want to shop for secondhand finds in the morning, walk the Khmer temple late morning, and wrap up with lunch in Aranyaprathet town. The plan below follows real times you can actually keep, and you can speed it up or slow it down as you like.

The one-day plan at a glance

This plan splits into three parts. In the morning you walk Rong Kluea Market for secondhand finds while it's still cool and the stalls are fully stocked. Late morning you drive to Sdok Kok Thom temple in Khok Sung. In the afternoon you head back into Aranyaprathet town to eat and pick up souvenirs. Total distances are short, which suits anyone with their own car or a rental for the day, since the temple sits outside town and public transport doesn't reach it.

• Morning — Rong Kluea Market (Border Friendship Market), Aranyaprathet, shop for secondhand goods
• Late morning — Sdok Kok Thom temple, Khok Sung, see the laterite Khmer temple
• Afternoon — lunch in Aranyaprathet town + grab souvenirs before heading back

Morning — walking Rong Kluea Market

Start the day at Rong Kluea Market, officially called the Border Friendship Market, in Ban Khlong Luek, Ban Mai Nong Phai subdistrict, Aranyaprathet, right next to the Khlong Luek–Poipet border crossing. This is the biggest secondhand and wholesale market in Thailand. Stalls sell everything from secondhand clothes, bags, and shoes to odds and ends, kitchenware, and toys. People come to stock up on cheap goods and unusual finds you don't see elsewhere. Go a little early and you'll have an easier walk, fully stocked stalls, and no harsh midday heat yet.

The market had quietened down for a while because of the border situation, but after the Thai–Cambodian ceasefire signed in late 2025, vendors on both the Thai and Cambodian sides have gradually started reopening their stalls and the atmosphere is slowly picking back up. Even so, the number of stalls open on any given day still depends on the situation, so check before you go whether the market is operating normally that day.

• Secondhand goods — graded secondhand brand clothes, bags, and shoes, prices from tens to hundreds of baht, haggling welcome
• Household and odd finds — kitchenware, toys, spare parts, and bits and pieces that are hard to find elsewhere
• Snacks — there are food stalls and snack spots scattered through the market, so you can graze while you shop

Late morning — Sdok Kok Thom temple

The day's other highlight is Sdok Kok Thom temple, in Ban Nong Ya Kaeo, Khok Sung subdistrict, Khok Sung district, about a 40–50 minute drive from Rong Kluea Market. The temple is built of laterite and sandstone in the Khmer Khleang–Baphuon style, dating to roughly the 10th–11th centuries CE, and it's the largest Khmer temple in eastern Thailand. Its standout features are the lintels and the Sdok Kok Thom inscription, which records the line of Khmer kings and ancient rituals, making it an important piece of historical evidence. The Fine Arts Department restored it using the anastylosis method (dismantling and reassembling the original stones), a process that took years until it stood tall again. Around the temple is a wide historical park, easy to walk and photograph.

Sdok Kok Thom Historical Park is normally open daily from 08:30 to 16:30 and there's no entry fee yet. There's an information center where you can read up on the temple's story before you go in to see the monument itself. It gets especially busy on the days when the sun aligns through the temple's gateway arch, which happens only a few times a year, so if you want to see that you'll need to check the dates with the park in advance.

• The temple itself — a beautifully restored laterite Khmer temple, walk around to see the lintels and carved patterns
• Information center — tells the story of the Sdok Kok Thom inscription and the restoration, stop here first and you'll understand more
• Park grounds — a wide, shaded area, good for photos, with quiet corners to sit and rest

Lunch in Aranyaprathet — what to eat

Head back into Aranyaprathet town to eat. The food around here has a strong Vietnamese and Chinese influence — nam neuang, Vietnamese kuai chap, and braised noodles. We've picked spots that locals and passers-through mention often and that are actually open, so you can choose based on how your day is going. Some places shine for their noodles and broth, others for the Vietnamese dishes, so go with whatever you're craving. Prices are rough ranges depending on the dish and how many plates you order.

Grabbing souvenirs before you head back

Before heading back you can pick up souvenirs two ways. The first is to go back to Rong Kluea Market and stock up on more secondhand goods or wholesale-priced household items. The other is to buy local food in Aranyaprathet town, like nam neuang, moo yor, and fermented goods, which Vietnamese restaurants often sell to take home too. These are the souvenirs people love carrying back from Sa Kaeo — pick ones that keep a bit longer if you have a long drive.

Getting there and making the day trip work

Sa Kaeo has no airport, so most people come by their own car from Bangkok via Highway 33 (Suwannason), about 3–4 hours to Aranyaprathet, or take a bus/van on the Bangkok–Aranyaprathet route, and there's also a Bangkok–Aranyaprathet train. If you come by public transport, you'll want to arrange a rental car or motorbike for getting around the province, since Sdok Kok Thom temple sits outside town and public buses don't reach it. The whole plan doesn't involve much driving, but the sights sit right along the border, so always check the situation first.

• From Bangkok — drive Highway 33 about 3–4 hours to Aranyaprathet, or take a bus/train into town
• Within the province — rely on your own car/rental, the temple is outside town and public transport doesn't reach it
• Border matters — check the situation, checkpoint hours, and documents before every trip. If the checkpoint or temple is closed, adjust your plan