Five escapes from Bangkok

Five escapes, all a day trip from Bangkok. Number five, and the closest: Khlong Lat Mayom, a floating market on Bangkok's own canals, at weekends. Four: Bang Krachao, a green lung in a loop of the river, loved by weekend cyclists. Three: Ko Kret, an island of Mon potters, open every day. Two: Maeklong, the market that folds up for a train. And number one, the farthest: a giant pink Ganesha in Chachoengsao, the largest reclining one in Thailand. Save this for your trip. We tell you everything you need to know about Bangkok. Follow for more!

Five escapes from Bangkok, counted down from the closest: Khlong Lat Mayom's weekend floating market, the green loop of Bang Krachao, the Mon potters of Ko Kret, Maeklong's train market and Thailand's largest reclining Ganesha. Save this for your trip.

• Counted down from the closest, by straight-line distance from Bangkok's city hall, measured on the Department of Tourism's own map points: Khlong Lat Mayom about 9 km, Bang Krachao's floating market 11 km, Ko Kret 18 km, Maeklong 66 km, Wat Saman Rattanaram 69 km.
• Khlong Lat Mayom, a floating market in Bangkok's Taling Chan district, opens on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays; the Department of Tourism lists 08:00–17:00 and a 2017 newspaper guide 09:00–15:00, so go in the morning.
• Bang Krachao, a loop of the Chao Phraya long known as the lungs of Bangkok, is popular with weekend cyclists; boats cross from Khlong Toei Pier, and its Bang Nam Phueng floating market opens Saturdays, Sundays and some public holidays, 08:00–14:00 (TAT; Department of Tourism; The Nation, 2025).
• Ko Kret, a river island in Nonthaburi, is home to potters of Mon descent; a ferry crosses for a few baht and the pottery village is open every day (Department of Tourism). A shortcut canal dug across a bend of the river in 1722 slowly made it an island (Ko Kret's local government).
• Maeklong's railway market folds up for each train, four in and four out a day as of October 2026, about 70 km from Bangkok (Seat61); TAT calls the drive nearly two hours (2020).
• Wat Saman Rattanaram in Chachoengsao has the largest reclining Ganesha in Thailand, open every day 08:00–17:00 (Department of Tourism); TAT has run one-day train trips there from Bangkok (2023).

Walk the Soi · as of October 2026
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Sources:
– Thailand Tourism Directory (Department of Tourism): Klong Lat Mayom Floating Market: https://thailandtourismdirectory.go.th/en/attraction/2231
– TAT Newsroom (2 October 2025): Thailand by Day Experiences – 5 Must Do Highlights Nationwide: https://www.tatnews.org/2025/10/thailand-by-day-experiences-5-must-do-highlights-nationwide/
– MGR Online travel (6 January 2017): Khlong Lat Mayom floating market: https://mgronline.com/travel/detail/9600000001606
– TAT Newsroom (13 March 2017): Inner-city eco-tourism – Bang Krachao and Lat Pho Canal: https://www.tatnews.org/2017/03/inner-city-eco-tourism-bang-krachao-and-lat-pho-canal/
– The Nation (AFP, 3 March 2017): Bang Krachao: https://www.nationthailand.com/perspective/30307877
– The Nation (9 February 2025): Bang Krachao travel guide: https://www.nationthailand.com/life/travel/40046090
– Bangkok Post (11 September 2020): Let's explore Bang Kachao – Bangkok's green lung: https://www.bangkokpost.com/life/social-and-lifestyle/1983815/lets-explore-bang-kachao-%E2%80%93-bangkoks-green-lung-
– Thailand Tourism Directory (Department of Tourism): Koh Kred: https://thailandtourismdirectory.go.th/en/attraction/1378
– Thailand Tourism Directory (Department of Tourism): Koh Kret Pottery Village: https://thailandtourismdirectory.go.th/en/attraction/1379
– Ko Kret Subdistrict Administrative Organization: history of Ko Kret (archived 1 December 2017): https://web.archive.org/web/20171201032634/http://www.kohkred-sao.go.th/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19&Itemid=69
– The Nation (3 May 2020): Nonthaburi's Koh Kret ready and eager to welcome tourists: https://www.nationthailand.com/business/30387210
– Seat61: Train travel in Thailand – Bangkok to Samut Songkhram, the market train (page last updated 1 October 2026): https://www.seat61.com/Thailand.htm
– TAT Newsroom (23 October 2017): Thailand's 12 hidden gems a treasure trove of Thai local experiences: https://www.tatnews.org/2017/10/thailands-12-hidden-gems-treasure-trove-thai-local-experiences/
– TAT Newsroom (March 2019): Training in Thailand: https://www.tatnews.org/2019/03/training-in-thailand/
– TAT Newsroom (August 2020): Samut Songkhram's small size belies its rich attractions: https://www.tatnews.org/2020/08/samut-songkhrams-small-size-belies-its-rich-attractions/
– Thailand Tourism Directory (Department of Tourism): Wat Saman Rattanaram: https://thailandtourismdirectory.go.th/en/attraction/621
– TAT Newsroom (25 October 2023): Explore Thailand this cool season via rail tourism: https://www.tatnews.org/2023/10/explore-thailand-this-cool-season-via-rail-tourism/

Facts and sources: https://soibysoi.com/episodes/five-escapes-from-bangkok

Days and hours as of October 2026; check before you go. Distances as the crow flies. Drawings not to scale.
General information. Rules, prices and opening hours change: check them before you go.
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