🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
If you've come to Amphawa and want to see something beyond the floating market, Wat Bang Khae Noi is the kind of stop a lot of people leave impressed by. The temple sits on the Mae Klong River right at the mouth of Khlong Bang Khae, in Khwae Om subdistrict, Amphawa. The real draw isn't the size of the temple — it's the teak ordination hall whose interior walls are carved across every surface. One look and you understand why people make the trip just to see it.
The Ordination Hall, Carved Entirely in Teak
Step inside the ordination hall and the interior walls become one continuous run of carved teak wrapping the room. They tell the life of the Buddha — from his birth to his enlightenment and his passing — alongside the ten Jataka tales. The work is fine, deep, and crisp, the hand of carvers from Phetchaburi province, long known for its traditional craft trades. Carving on this scale takes years, and it's the main reason people travel out to the temple.
Another detail people like to notice is the floor, laid with large slabs of golden takhian wood about 2 inches thick. Each slab runs 40–44 inches wide, and just a few of them cover the whole room — a hint at how big the timber used back then really was. Inside you'll also find the principal Buddha image and a relic of the Buddha enshrined on a tiered pedestal.
A tip for viewing
Light inside the hall is fairly low and there's only one doorway, in the maha-ut style. The carving reads most clearly from mid-morning into the afternoon. If you want to photograph the woodwork, skip the flash, and always take your shoes off before going in.
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History and Origins of the Temple
Wat Bang Khae Noi was founded around 1868 by Khunying Noi (Jui) Wongsarot, the younger sister of the founder of nearby Wat Bang Khae Yai — which is why the two temples are almost always mentioned together. The teak ordination hall you see today came later, its boundary stones consecrated toward the end of King Rama V's reign. The hall is built in the maha-ut style, meaning a single front doorway and no chofa or bai raka roof finials of the kind you'd see on a typical temple.
- Location — on the Mae Klong River at the mouth of Khlong Bang Khae, Khwae Om subdistrict, Amphawa, Samut Songkhram
- Highlight — a teak ordination hall with walls carved throughout, telling the Buddha's life and the Jataka tales
- Craft — the work of master carvers from Phetchaburi province
- Structure — maha-ut style hall, a single front door, floors of large golden takhian slabs
How to Get to Wat Bang Khae Noi
The temple isn't far from central Amphawa, and there are two main ways in: by road or by boat. By road you can drive right up and park at the temple, which suits an easy, unhurried stop. By boat means heading out from the Amphawa pier, which is more fun and gives you the full Mae Klong riverside atmosphere — it takes about half an hour from Amphawa.
On your own (by car)
A few minutes' drive from central Amphawa, with parking at the temple. Good if you want to see the hall quietly, without watching the clock.
Temple boat trip
Board at the Amphawa pier. Wat Bang Khae Noi is often one stop on a trip visiting several temples along the Mae Klong.
More to Do Around Here
The nice thing about this area is that the temples and sights line up along the water, so you can string several together in one trip. A lot of people pair Wat Bang Khae Noi with the temples nearby, then finish at Amphawa Floating Market in the evening.
- Wat Bang Khae Yai — the sister temple close by, with old murals and architecture to see
- Wat Bang Kung — the chapel wrapped entirely in the roots of a banyan tree, an enduring image of Samut Songkhram
- Amphawa Floating Market — canal-side food in the evening, followed by a firefly boat ride
- Don Hoi Lot — the mud flats at the river mouth, with fresh seafood and an estuary feel
Straight talk
Wat Bang Khae Noi isn't a big attraction that fills an hour. Most people spend around 20–30 minutes here, and the one thing not to miss is the teak ordination hall. Opening hours for the hall can be a little unpredictable at times, so if you've come specifically to see inside, aim for mid-morning to afternoon and check with the temple first to be safe.
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