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Along the Chao Phraya in Sing Buri
2 Days of Temples, Local Life & a Retro Market

Sing Buri is a small town on the Chao Phraya River, just over an hour and a half by car from Bangkok. Its charm isn't flashy landmarks but the slow rhythm by the water: old temples that still hold a giant Reclining Buddha, Buddha-image artisans who've passed the craft down for generations, and community markets where locals sell their own home-cooked food. We've put together a 2-day, 1-night route along the Chao Phraya so you can pay respects at the temples, see everyday riverside life, and eat Mae La snakehead fish all in one trip.

🛶 Along the Chao Phraya🙏 Old-temple visits🐟 Mae La snakehead fish
Along the Chao Phraya in Sing Buri 2 Days of Temples, Local Life & a Retro Market

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

This plan keeps Day 1 around the town center and the Chao Phraya riverbank, focused on temples and craft traditions, while Day 2 heads out toward Khai Bang Rachan district and the Noi River, focused on history and community markets. If you want the full Ban Rachan retro market experience, try to time your trip for a Saturday or Sunday, since the market only opens on weekends. We'll point out swap-in options for each stretch if you're going on a weekday.

Overview of the 2-day route

  • Day 1 — Chao Phraya riverside near town: Wat Phra Non Chaksi → Wat Sawang Arom (watch the Buddha-image artisans + the Nang Yai shadow-puppet museum) → Wat Prachotikaram → grilled Mae La snakehead fish by the river for dinner
  • Day 2 — Khai Bang Rachan + the Noi River: Khai Bang Rachan Heroes Monument → Wat Pho Kao Ton → Ban Rachan retro Thai market → Wat Phikun Thong to pay respects to Luang Pho Yai before heading home
  • Total distance: stops are 10–20 km apart, an easy self-drive on good roads with little of the traffic you'd hit in a big city

Getting around

Sing Buri is easiest with your own car or a rental, since the temples and riverside spots are spread out. Public transport within the province is sparse and unreliable. If you're coming from Bangkok without a car, hiring a car with a driver for the day usually works out better than transferring between several rides.

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Day 1 — Chao Phraya riverside near town

The first day starts at the old temples that are the heart of the town, then gradually works down to the Chao Phraya riverbank in Ton Pho subdistrict, the area where riverside life is still clearest to see.

Day 1

Old temples, Buddha-image artisans, and Mae La snakehead fish

08:30
Leave Bangkok via the Asia HighwayAbout 140 km, roughly 1.5 to 2 hours. You can stop for coffee along the way.
10:30
Wat Phra Non Chaksi Worawihan, Chaksi subdistrictPay respects to the giant Reclining Buddha, over 47 m long and one of the largest in Thailand. The temple dates back to before the Ayutthaya period. Free entry, about 45 minutes.
11:45
Wat Sawang Arom, Ton Pho subdistrict, by the Chao PhrayaA temple that still keeps a lineage of Buddha-image artisans descended from the casting houses of old Thonburi. At certain times you can see the craftsmen at work, and there's a Nang Yai shadow-puppet museum too.
12:45
Lunch break in townThere are plenty of noodle and rice-curry shops in the municipal area. Made-to-order dishes start around 50–70 THB a plate.
14:00
Wat Prachotikaram, Bang Krabue subdistrictThe ordination hall holds two standing Buddha images from two different eras as the principal images. It's a spot people like to stop and photograph without the crowds.
15:30
Stroll the riverbank, find a cafe or a spot to watch the Chao PhrayaLate afternoon, when the sun softens, is a good time to walk along the river and take in everyday life: small fishing boats and wooden houses on the bank. A nice pause before dinner.
17:30
Dinner — grilled Mae La snakehead fish by the riverWell-known spots like Mae La Pla Phao along the Asia Highway in Bang Man subdistrict are famous for firm-fleshed grilled Mae La snakehead, eaten with blanched neem shoots and sweet fish sauce.
19:00
Check in to your hotel in central Sing BuriMost accommodation is in the municipal area, making the next morning's start easy.

If you go on a weekday

On some days the artisans at Wat Sawang Arom aren't sitting and sculpting. If you really want to see them at work, try calling the temple ahead, or be ready to walk through the shadow-puppet museum and view the finished pieces on display instead.

Day 2 — Khai Bang Rachan and the Noi River

Day two moves out of town toward Khai Bang Rachan district. This side is about the history of the Bang Rachan heroes, plus a community market and a temple on the Noi River with a large Buddha image.

Day 2

The Bang Rachan heroes, a retro market, and Luang Pho Yai

08:30
Check out and head for Khai Bang Rachan districtAbout a 20–25 minute drive from town.
09:00
Khai Bang Rachan Heroes MonumentA memorial to the villagers of Bang Rachan who banded together to fight the invaders before the second fall of Ayutthaya. It's a wide-open site, pleasant to walk in the cool of the morning.
09:45
Wat Pho Kao Ton (Wat Mai Daeng), Bang Rachan subdistrictAn old Ayutthaya-era temple across from the monument and a strategic site in the Bang Rachan story. You can walk straight over from the monument.
10:30
Ban Rachan retro Thai market (Sat–Sun)A community market on the grounds of Wat Pho Kao Ton, open only Saturday–Sunday and public holidays, 09:00–17:00, selling local food and Thai sweets in a nostalgic setting.
12:00
Lunch at the market or a riverside spot nearbyIf the market is closed (on a weekday), pick a riverside restaurant around Mae La or In Buri instead, such as a river-fish place along the Chao Phraya.
13:30
Wat Phikun Thong, a royal temple on the Noi RiverPay respects to Luang Pho Yai, Phra Phuttha Suwan Mongkhon Maha Muni, a large blessing-posture Buddha image. It's about 16 km from town, in a shady setting on the Noi River.
15:00
Pick up some souvenirs before heading backSun-dried Mae La snakehead fish, Thai sweets, and local products are easy to find around the market and at roadside shops along the Asia Highway.
15:45
Set off back to BangkokLeaving before the Sunday-evening rush means lighter traffic, and you'll reach Bangkok comfortably before nightfall.

Extra temples and riverside spots if you have time

In Buri

Wat Sai, In Buri district

An old Ayutthaya-era ordination hall where banyan roots have wrapped over and held the walls together. It's a semi-ruined, part-historical site with an atmosphere unlike an ordinary temple, good for anyone who likes quiet corners.

Riverside food

Grilled-fish spots along Mae La

Around Mae La subdistrict in Bang Rachan district, several riverside restaurants serve grilled Mae La snakehead as the main dish, in a relaxed waterside setting.

River views

Chao Phraya riverside, In Buri district

North of town, river-fish restaurants along the Chao Phraya open for lunch, handy for a midday stop while driving the northern route.

When is the best time to visit Sing Buri

The Chao Phraya and Noi rivers look their best in the late-rainy-to-early-cool season (October–February), when the weather is just right, the rivers are still full to the banks, and walking the temples and open-air markets is comfortable. In the hot season (March–May) the sun is harsh, so visit the temples in the morning and evening and rest indoors at midday.

  • Ban Rachan market opens only on Saturdays and Sundays, so plan your trip for the weekend if you want to walk it.
  • Weekdays mean fewer people at the temples and riverside and easy photos, but the community market will be closed.
  • Religious holidays bring crowds to the big temples like Phra Non Chaksi and Phikun Thong, so allow extra time to find parking.

Looking for a well-located place to stay in central Sing Buri

See Top 10 Sing Buri hotels →

FAQ

How many days do you need for a Sing Buri riverside trip?

Two days and one night is just right. Spend the first day on the temples and the Chao Phraya riverside near town, then on day two head to Khai Bang Rachan, the retro market, and Wat Phikun Thong on the Noi River. If you only have a single day, just doing the first day still makes for a fun trip.

What days is the Ban Rachan retro Thai market open?

It's open only on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, roughly 09:00–17:00, on the grounds of Wat Pho Kao Ton in Khai Bang Rachan district. It's closed on weekdays, so time your trip for the weekend if you want to walk the market.

What should you eat in Sing Buri?

The signature dish is Mae La snakehead fish, raised in the Mae La River, with firmer, sweeter flesh than elsewhere; it's usually grilled. The famous spots are along the Asia Highway and on the Mae La riverside. There are also noodles and Thai sweets at the community market.

Is Sing Buri far from Bangkok, and how long is the drive?

It's about 140 km along the Asia Highway, roughly 1.5 to 2 hours by car. It's close enough for a day trip, but staying one night lets you enjoy the riverside without rushing.

Can you visit Sing Buri without your own car?

You can, but it isn't very convenient, since the temples and riverside spots are spread out and public transport in the province is limited. Without a car, it's best to hire a car with a driver for the day, or split the cost of a chartered vehicle as a group, to follow this plan more smoothly.

Related

🗺️ Sing Buri travel guide🏨 Top 10 Sing Buri hotels🙏 Wat Phra Non Chaksi, the giant Reclining Buddha

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