🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Samut Sakhon is a small province, with its town centre on the Tha Chin River where it meets the Gulf of Thailand. The spot most people head for is Mahachai Market (the Talat Thale Thai seafood market and the old Mahachai market), which sits right next to the train station. Walk off the platform and you're at the fish stalls. If you're after the nature side of things, like Na Kluea–Khok Kham or the Phan Thai Norasing Shrine, those are out of town and need another connection. Let's go through each option one by one.
The Mahachai railway line (Wongwian Yai–Mahachai)
This is the most fun and the cheapest way to go if you're starting from the Thonburi side. The first leg of the Mae Klong line runs from Wongwian Yai station to the end of the line at Mahachai station, taking around 1 hour. The fare for the whole route is just 10 THB. Along the way it cuts through trackside neighbourhoods, gardens and markets, and plenty of people ride it purely for the atmosphere.
- Departure: Wongwian Yai station (Thonburi side; about 600–800 m walk from BTS Wongwian Yai, or take a short ride)
- Destination: Mahachai station, right next to Talat Thale Thai — step off and walk straight into the market
- Fare: 10 THB for the whole line, buy your ticket at the station
- Journey time: roughly 1 hour, with several trains a day
- First and last train: leaves Wongwian Yai from around 05:30 in the morning, with the last train in the evening at around 20:10
Check the timetable before you go
The schedule gets tweaked from time to time, so before you set off it's worth checking the latest departures on the railway website (railway.co.th) or snapping a photo of the timetable board at the station. That way you won't miss your train back.
Cross to Tha Chalom by ferry, then carry on by the Mae Klong train
What gives the Mae Klong line its charm is that the track simply stops at the Tha Chin River — there's no railway bridge across. Passengers have to get off at Mahachai, walk to the pier, then take the ferry over to the Tha Chalom side. The crossing costs around 3 THB per person and takes just a few minutes. From Tha Chalom it's about another 800 m on foot to Ban Laem station, where you pick up the second leg (Ban Laem–Mae Klong) to continue on to Samut Songkhram.
- If you're only doing Samut Sakhon: get off at Mahachai, wander the market, no need to take the ferry at all
- If you want to continue to Mae Klong: Mahachai → Tha Chalom ferry (~3 THB) → walk to Ban Laem station (~800 m) → Ban Laem–Mae Klong train (10 THB)
- On the Tha Chalom side: it's an old community with vintage shophouses, Thawai Road and coffee shops — a nice place to stroll before you head back across
Line up the ferry and train times
The ferry runs often throughout the day, but the Ban Laem–Mae Klong train only has a few departures. If you're set on reaching Mae Klong by train, check the Ban Laem station times first, then work out when to leave Mahachai — that way you won't be stuck waiting around.
From Bangkok by van and bus (the Rama 2 route)
If you'd rather not take the train, Rama 2 Road is the main artery linking Bangkok and Mahachai, with both vans and buses running all day. It suits anyone based on the Rama 2 side or setting out from Victory Monument.
Victory Monument–Samut Sakhon van (route Tor 127A)
Gets on the expressway then comes down to Rama 2, stopping to pick up and drop off at key points like Samae Dam, Wat Phan Thai Norasing, Mahachai Mueang Mai and Porto Chino mall before pulling into the Samut Sakhon van terminal. It's the fastest and most direct way from central Bangkok.
Bus route 4-18 (formerly route 105)
Runs from Samut Sakhon down Rama 2 to Krung Thonburi BTS station, so you can connect to the BTS. There are both regular and air-conditioned buses, good for travellers on a budget who aren't in a hurry.
Vans/buses around Big C–Central Rama 2
If you're near the Rama 2 malls, several lines run into Mahachai Market, both vans and buses. Ask at the queues out front of the malls. Handy if you're already starting out from that area.
Dodge the Rama 2 traffic
Rama 2 is notorious for ongoing roadworks and pile-up traffic, especially Friday evenings and Monday mornings. If you can, leave early or take the train instead — you'll keep much better control of your timing.
Driving or renting a car
Samut Sakhon really lends itself to driving, because a lot of the sights are spread out beyond the town centre where public transport doesn't reach. If you have your own car or rent one in Bangkok, you'll have the most freedom — especially if you want to get to Na Kluea–Khok Kham, Don Hoi Lot, or tick off several spots in one day.
- From Bangkok: take Rama 2 Road straight to Mahachai, about 30–45 minutes if traffic's clear
- Car rental: the easiest is to rent at the airport or in Bangkok and drive over yourself — Samut Sakhon itself has few rental outlets
- Parking: Mahachai Market and the larger temples have parking, but it fills up on weekend mornings, so allow extra time to find a spot
- Motorbike taxis: found at the transport hubs and markets, good for short hops around town — agree the price before you get on
How to reach Na Kluea–Khok Kham and Phan Thai Norasing Shrine
These two spots are the highlights for nature and for faith in Samut Sakhon, but both sit off the railway route, so they take a bit of planning to connect to.
Na Kluea–Khok Kham
Wide salt-farming flats along the Gulf of Thailand, with a salt-farming learning centre, cafés, a long red bridge running out along the shore, and one of the country's important stopovers for migratory birds — rare species like the spoon-billed sandpiper drop in over the cool season. Public transport doesn't reach it easily, so driving or renting a car is by far the smoothest way.
Phan Thai Norasing Shrine
A shrine and temple commemorating Phan Thai Norasing, over on the Phan Thai Norasing side. Yellow songthaews run a tourist service, leaving roughly every hour on weekdays and more often on weekends, with a fare of around 25 THB to the end of the line. Or take a Rama 2 van/bus that passes the turn-off and connect from there.
- Na Kluea–Khok Kham: no direct public transport — driving or renting a car is the way to go · the best birdwatching is in the cool season (roughly Nov–Mar)
- Phan Thai Norasing Shrine: yellow songthaews run daily — every ~1 hr on weekdays and Saturdays, every ~20 min on Sundays/holidays, fare around 25 THB
- Don Hoi Lot (Samut Songkhram side): it's in the neighbouring province, so if you want to add it on, driving is easiest, or take the train to Mae Klong and connect by road
Make it a one-day driving trip
If you've got a car, try the route Phan Thai Norasing Shrine → Na Kluea–Khok Kham → back into Mahachai Market for seafood. You'll cover the merit-making, the nature and the good eats all in one day, since these spots are all on the same side and not far apart.
So which option should you pick?
- Want atmosphere and to save money: the Mahachai train from Wongwian Yai, 10 THB, dropping you right at the market
- Want to continue on to Mae Klong: train + Tha Chalom ferry + the Ban Laem–Mae Klong train
- Want fast and direct from central Bangkok: the Victory Monument–Samut Sakhon van, around 60 THB
- Want to visit several spots out of town: driving or renting a car is the most flexible
Keep planning your Samut Sakhon trip — see all the sights, food and places to stay
See the Samut Sakhon guide →