🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
If you want a temple trip that doesn't feel like every other temple, Wat Hong Thong is an easy reach from Bangkok. What people come for is the long walkway that stretches out into the Bang Pakong gulf, ending at a golden chedi and a hall set out in the water — look out from there and it's just sea and horizon. There's a cool breeze the whole way, so come in the early morning or late afternoon when the sun isn't harsh.
The walkway and the chedi in the water
The heart of the temple is the concrete walkway that reaches out from shore into the sea, with mangroves and open water on either side. After a short walk you reach Phra That Khongkha Maha Chedi Pricha Praphakorn, a multi-tiered chedi with Buddhist murals and Buddha images to pay respect to inside, and a golden chedi enshrining a relic of the Buddha at the very top. From up there you get a 360-degree view of sea and land all around. The ordination hall stands out in the water too — come at high tide and you'll get the clearest view of the hall sitting above the surface.
- Walkway over the sea — reaches out into the gulf with a breeze the whole way; flat and easy to walk, no steep climb
- Chedi in the water — climb up to pay respect and take in the view of the sea on every side
- Ordination hall in the water — a hall standing out in the sea, at its best at high tide
- Thao Wessuwan — three statues near the car park where people stop to make a wish
When the breeze is best
For a cool sea breeze and softer light, come before 10am or in the late afternoon toward dusk. At high tide the hall and chedi look like they're floating on the water; at low tide you'll see wide mudflats instead.
Want more out of Chachoengsao? Book tours & activities
Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.
Feed the fish, catch the breeze
There are fish-feeding spots along the walkway. Buy fish food near the temple, toss it in and watch the shoals gather — kids love it, and it pairs nicely with a slow stroll in the breeze. Sit a while in one of the pavilions along the path and just look out at the sea. If you like taking photos, you can get the golden chedi, the hall in the water, and the sea horizon all in one frame.
The glass Seawalk
The other spot people come to check out is the Seawalk, a viewing bridge with a clear glass floor that juts out over the sea — look straight down and you can see the water below. If you're scared of heights your legs might wobble a bit, but the railings are solid and it's easy to walk. Before you go up you have to put on shoe covers so you don't scratch the glass; they're available to rent or buy at the entrance.
Fees and opening hours
- Opening hours — daily, roughly 6am–8pm (walking the temple grounds and the walkway over the water is free)
- Glass Seawalk — rental shoe covers about 30 THB a pair, or buy a new pair for 60 THB
- Viewing point up top — the Katanyu building charges around 20 THB for the lift
- Fish food / donations — whatever you wish to give; fish food is cheap and sold along the walkway
Prices can change
The shoe-cover and lift fees are what past visitors have reported and may shift over time, so treat them as rough figures. Carry a bit of cash, since many spots here only take cash.
Food out front — Bang Pakong dried seafood
About 100 meters in from the entrance you'll find two or three local stalls selling dried seafood. This is a fishing community on the gulf, so what's on sale is genuinely local — good to take home as a gift.
Salted gulao fish / needlefish
Naturally sun-dried fish with no bleaching, a local specialty around the Bang Pakong fishing area. Take some home to fry up.
Dried shrimp / dried squid
Dried shrimp and squid from local vendors. Pick the size that fits your budget; keeps well and easy to pack.
Dried mullet / anchovy
Sun-dried local fish at easy prices. Stalls open from morning till evening.
Getting there from Bangkok
The temple is in Song Khlong, Bang Pakong district, and driving from Bangkok is easiest. Take the Bang Na–Trat road, then turn onto the Chachoengsao–Bang Pakong route, go under the bridge onto Old Sukhumvit Road and continue about 14 kilometers; the temple entrance is on your left around the 62–63 kilometer marker. It's about 1.5 hours from Bangkok if traffic is light, and there's a large car park out front.
- Own car — easiest by far; just drop a pin on "Wat Hong Thong Bang Pakong" in your maps app. Plenty of parking.
- From Chachoengsao town — about 40–50 minutes driving down toward Bang Pakong; pairs well after a visit to Wat Sothon
- No car — public transport is fairly tricky; renting a car or hiring one from town is the way to go
A half-day at Wat Hong Thong
Wat Hong Thong + dried-seafood souvenirs
If you have the whole day, head back into Chachoengsao town after Wat Hong Thong to pay respect at Wat Sothon Wararam, or stop by Wat Saman Rattanaram to see the giant Ganesha, then wrap up with dinner along the Bang Pakong River.
Before you go
Bring a hat and water, since the walkway over the water is open with no shade. Put on sunscreen if you're coming later in the morning, and dress modestly — it's temple grounds.
Plan a full day around Chachoengsao
See the Chachoengsao travel guide →