Tung Prong Thong Pak Nam Khaem Nu
A Mangrove Boardwalk

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

When people hear "Tung Prong Thong," many think of the one at Pak Nam Prasae in Rayong first. But Chanthaburi has its own golden mangrove field at Pak Nam Khaem Nu, Takat Ngao subdistrict, Tha Mai district — a stretch of mangrove forest at the river mouth where Prong trees grow packed together until the whole place is green as far as you can see, with a wooden boardwalk leading you in for a closer look. What's nice here is that it's on the same route as the blue church and the Tha Mai coast, so a half-day trip comes together neatly.

What is Tung Prong Thong Khaem Nu, and how do you walk it?

Tung Prong Thong is a patch of mangrove forest where Prong trees grow thick like a carpet. Their yellow-green leaf tips turn gold when the sun hits them — which is how the place got its name ("golden Prong field"). The local community built a raised wooden boardwalk out into the middle of the field so you can look at the Prong trees, the roots, the fiddler crabs, and the birds feeding in the wetland without sinking into the mud. Keep walking and the boardwalk takes you out toward the waterfront, where the view opens up onto the river mouth and the fishing boats.

• The path — a raised wooden boardwalk, easy and flat, fine for kids and older walkers. It isn't very long; a relaxed round trip takes about 30–45 minutes.
• Photo spots — the popular angle is the boardwalk running in a long line against the green Prong field, plus the waterfront view at the far end.
• What you'll see — the Prong field, fiddler crabs, mudskippers, shore birds, and the kind of wetland quiet that's hard to find near a city.

Opening hours, entry, and the best time to visit

Tung Prong Thong Khaem Nu is a community-run attraction, so it's easy on the wallet — there's no formal entrance fee (there may be a small donation box or a little parking charge depending on the time). It's open for walks from daytime into the evening, roughly 7am–4pm. It's worth double-checking the hours on the spot, since some days it closes early depending on the tide and the weather.

• Morning, 7am–9am — the sun isn't harsh yet, the air is cool, and the soft morning light makes for good photos and an easy walk.
• Late afternoon, 3pm–4pm — the sun softens, the Prong field deepens in colour, and you finish right in time to head over for sunset at the bridge.
• Avoid midday — between 11am and 2pm the sun is strong and it gets very hot, since the boardwalk has no shade.

The sunset spot at the Pak Nam Khaem Nu bridge

Just a short hop from Tung Prong Thong is the Chaloem Phrakiat Bridge, which locals simply call the Pak Nam Khaem Nu bridge — a span across the river mouth along the Chaloem Burapha Chonlathit road. As the light softens in the evening, this area turns into one of Tha Mai's good sunset spots, looking out over the river mouth, the fishing boats, and the orange light reflecting off the water. It's an easy place for a stroll and a few photos.

Where to go next around Tha Mai and Laem Sadet

The good thing about Pak Nam Khaem Nu is that it sits in the Tha Mai coastal zone, where the sights line up along the seaside road. A few more minutes of driving gets you to several other places, so it works well as a half-day to full-day trip.

• Lan Hin Si Chomphu (Pink Rock Field) — inside the Khung Krabaen Non-Hunting Area, with pinkish red-brown rocks by the sea and a nature trail along the beach and up the hill. Open roughly 8am–5pm; entry around 10-something THB.
• Khung Krabaen Bay Royal Development Study Centre — another wooden mangrove study boardwalk, shadier and genuinely informative. A good pairing with Tung Prong Thong.
• Laem Sadet–Chao Lao Beach — a long beach along the coastal road, with plenty of seafood restaurants and beachfront spots to sit and relax.

An easy-walking plan for Pak Nam Khaem Nu

Coming from Chanthaburi town, it's about a 30–40 minute drive out toward Tha Mai — enough to fill a morning-to-evening trip within one zone, without having to move around far.