1-Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Thailand’s market culture is incredibly rich and is an essential part of any trip to the country. I want to visit Ice Ice Sister at the Maeklong Railway Market, Fruit Fairy at the Ratchada Train Night Market, and also take a boat ride at the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.
The experience of buying things while riding a boat is particularly enjoyable. Along the way, many vendors will row their boats close to you. Some sellers use a hook to pull their boats over to pitch their products, which include fruits, coconut ice cream, grilled pork, souvenirs, and more. However, items at the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market can be quite pricey. For cheaper options, you might want to visit the Maeklong Railway Market, where prices are at least half the cost. The entire boat ride lasts about an hour, and watching the diverse people on the shore and the vendors energetically calling out from their boats keeps you entertained throughout.
With over 100 years of history, the market is known as the “Venice of the East.” The traditional water market was once characterized by a network of intersecting small boats, creating a unique scene. Whether you’re joining a tour or hiring a car, it’s recommended to plan your visit to the Maeklong Railway Market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market on the same day, as they are not far from each other.
Transportation: The market is quite far from downtown Bangkok, so it’s recommended to either hire a car or book a half-day (or full-day) tour online in advance. The drive takes about 2 hours. I booked a half-day tour through Ctrip.
Opening Hours: 7:00 AM — 11:00 PM
It’s advisable to go early, as it is cooler and less crowded.
2-Maeklong Railway Market
I had always wanted to visit this place, and the famous “Ice Ice Sister” is also at this market. Unfortunately, she wasn’t there on the day I visited! The market is located on either side of the railway tracks. When a train passes, vendors quickly move their awnings and goods aside, and once the train has passed, they return everything to its original place. This spectacle attracts a large number of tourists who come to watch the process of moving and restoring the items.
The train passes at the following times: 6:20 AM, 8:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:10 AM, 11:30 AM, 2:30 PM, 3:30 PM, and 5:40 PM.
The market allows for bargaining, and the people here are very down-to-earth. You can find spices, fruits, seafood, candies, and more. The mango sticky rice here is very affordable and tastes great—just 50 baht, and you can take it to go.
You should definitely experience the small train as well. It’s an old-fashioned carriage without air conditioning, usually with open windows. It’s best to sit in the train’s head position for the best experience.
3-GAI HOUND
Any trip would be incomplete without delicious food, and as a food lover, I felt a great sense of happiness in this city.
When it comes to Thai cuisine, the first thing that might come to mind is Tom Yum Goong, followed by coconut chicken and various fruits. However, there’s so much more to it. Bangkok has an abundance of delicious options, from street food snacks to Michelin-starred Thai restaurants, each offering its unique flavors.
This restaurant, featuring organic chicken as its main highlight, is located on the 6th floor of the EmQuartier mall and has recently opened. The chicken and vegetables are all completely natural. For those who love rice and chicken, this place is a must-try. Don’t worry about not understanding the menu—every dish comes with a photo, so you can be sure that what you see on the menu matches what you get.
The restaurant’s decor is minimalist yet cozy. I enjoy sitting near the glass for a better view, which makes the dining experience even more enjoyable. The chicken breast in the chicken rice set is incredibly tender, with no dryness at all. The chicken skin is handled perfectly—rich but not greasy. The chicken is cooked with minimal seasoning, preserving its original flavor. When dipped in the tangy, spicy, and aromatic sauce, the taste is explosive. The set also includes organic jasmine rice and winter melon chicken soup, all for 180 baht.
I really enjoy this organic fried chicken. The chicken is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, paired with a creamy and lime sauce that’s tangy and sweet.
The sour plum juice is truly “refreshingly sour,” with pieces of sour plum fruit in it. Adding sparkling water makes it even more refreshing, providing a cool relief from the intense heat of Bangkok.
4-Greyhound Café
On the second floor of EmQuartier mall, after lunch, you walk through a sky garden to get there. As soon as I arrived at the entrance, I couldn’t stop taking photos—I really loved the letter wall. The interior has a whimsical, “Greenery” feel with glass houses, making it very cozy. It’s a Thai restaurant with multiple branches in Bangkok.
By the time I arrived, it was around 4 PM, and I ordered a few desserts. Each one had a great flavor. My favorite was this one: the red part is water chestnut, the white part is coconut strips, and it also contains coconut milk. It has a crisp texture and a rich coconut milk flavor.
Thai coconut and mango are really delicious, and many desserts feature these ingredients. I also love this mango sticky rice ice cream—its soft and chewy sticky rice combined with the sweet mango and creamy ice cream is incredibly tasty.
Water chestnut coconut sago, which also includes water chestnut and coconut, is another favorite. I like to let the ice cream melt and mix it together. After a long day of shopping, you can take a break here, enjoy the view outside the window, and savor the desserts slowly. It’s a nice way to slow down time.
5-Savoey Seafood
When in Bangkok, you can’t miss seafood. Somboon Seafood is a 5-star rated restaurant and was awarded the Best Merchant of 2022. It’s an authentic Thai restaurant that I visited based on its reputation. The seafood here is incredibly fresh, with each crab having its own “single apartment.”
The environment is excellent, with a luxurious yet fresh decor style. It features large floor-to-ceiling windows, private rooms, and a spacious area suitable for company team-building, events, and even karaoke.
The yellow curry crab is a signature dish. The crab legs are packed with meat, which is very tender. The crab meat should be eaten with the curry and egg for the best experience—it’s soft and smooth, with excellent texture and flavor. Priced at 230 baht per 100 grams, it usually weighs around 800 grams. The curry with egg is also delicious and can be mixed with rice.
The Tom Yum soup has a very authentic taste—sour and spicy, and it’s very appetizing. The level of spiciness is such that even someone like me, who doesn’t usually eat spicy food, can handle it. The prawns are large and very fresh, and the ingredients are plentiful. The combination of ingredients and the soup is perfect, making it hard to stop eating.
Another dish I recommend is the Lemon Fish. The meat is very tender and flavorful, with the taste improving the longer it’s heated. I really enjoy how Savoey uses Thai chili and lemon soup to make this special dish. The price is 450 baht.
The fried crab meat looks like a lucky bag and is packed with crab meat, without needing to crack the shell—perfect for women. It costs 360 baht. The stir-fried shrimp has a crispy exterior and tender meat inside. Dipped in the sauce, it tastes absolutely fantastic.
I highly recommend the Mango Sticky Rice Sago and Kale Frappe.
The Mango Sticky Rice Sago contains sticky rice, which has a great chew and isn’t overly sweet. The combination of sour mango and sweet coconut milk is simply perfect, making it a delightful drink after lunch.
The chilled Kale Frappe was very special to me. I expected it to be bitter, but it had a slightly tangy flavor instead. It was refreshing and invigorating.
It’s very convenient to get here—take the BTS to Prompong Station, and it’s just a 5-minute taxi ride away.
Address: 120/4 Soi Sukhumvit 26, Klongton, Klongtoey, Bangkok, Thailand 10110
6-CentralWorld
When in Bangkok, you can’t resist shopping. I visited CentralWorld, one of the top three shopping districts in Bangkok. It has a comprehensive range of brands, including both luxury and popular ones. On the day I went, there was a Chinese New Year event, with Thai celebrity Mark and his girlfriend Kim attending, along with a 168-meter-long dragon dance performance. The place was packed with people.
Inside the mall, there were also red envelopes to be given out, each containing a 100 baht voucher. The feeling of getting money on the spot was fantastic.
On the first floor, there are various brands of cosmetics and skincare products. Using Alipay, you can get a 10% discount, and it can be combined with the New Year red envelopes. When in Thailand, you must not miss L’Oréal, as its prices are the lowest globally. You can bring products like the Revitalift Eye Cream, Advanced Night Repair Serum, and True Match Foundation back home for friends and family—they are often half the price compared to domestic prices!
On the second floor, you’ll find a wide range of lingerie with many styles, discounts, and sizes. The fitting rooms are plentiful, and the service is excellent. Wacoal and Triumph are particularly affordable here. Besides latex pillows, Wacoal lingerie is a great buy in Thailand. Their breathable lingerie is extremely comfortable, and there are also natural latex options.
The sixth floor is dedicated to children’s items. If you have a baby, you should definitely check it out. You can buy many things for your baby and enjoy the parent-child space for playtime. The service center is also on the sixth floor, making it convenient to handle tax refunds. There are many counters, and the tax refund counter is opposite the rest area with a drinking water station.
The seventh floor is the Living House space, featuring home living items, food, and Thai souvenirs. You can relax here after shopping, enjoying both shopping and dining. The open food court includes Thai cuisine, Michelin-recommended Thai snacks, international food, and desserts.
Transportation: Take the BTS to Chit Lom Station. You can enter the mall via the BTS skybridge. From the skybridge, you can also see the Erawan Shrine, which is diagonally across from the mall.
