Located just 2 hours from Bangkok Chachoengsao is Thai province rarely visited by tourists but has some local gems worth checking out. Discover temples with legendary stories like Wat Sothon, wander the historic Ban Mai Market, and enjoy riverside charm along the Bang Pakong River. It’s a relaxed, cultural gem, offering a genuine Thai experience.
A quick look at Chachoengsao
Country: Thailand
Population: 733,131
Language: Thai
Currency: Baht
Best Month to Visit: December
Must See: Wat Sothon
Must Eat: Pak Mo
How to get to Chachoengsao
Train: Regular trains run from the Hua Lamphong station in Bangkok to Chachoengsao Junction. The journey takes about 2 hours and tickets only cost 13 baht .Buy tickets from the station and you can check the Thai rail website for departure times.
Car: If you have a car or can hire one it takes about 1.5 hours to drive from Bangkok and will give you more freedom to explore the province.
Getting Around
If you don’t have a car the only option is tuk tuk or Songthaew. Drivers will hang around the train station where you can pay them a daily rate and they will drive you around to all of the destinations.
When is the best time to visit Chachoengsao?
The best time to visit is between December and March where you will have hot and mostly clear days. It can rain quite a lot during rainy season so if coming on a day trip plan to visit on a day with no rain predicted.
Things to do in Chachoengsao
Wat Sothon
This is the most popular temple in the region and also one of the most beautiful. Wat Sothon has two different areas that both have interesting stories. The first area behind the main temple people leave offerings of boiled eggs some people leave giant stacks where most leave a little basket. If you would like to leave an offering of boiled eggs you can find vendors all around the temple.
The main Wat Sothon temple has a legendary story behind it. The story goes a monk back in the Ayutthaya period had reached enlightenment and had transcended his body into a buddha statue and this statue floated down the Bang Pakong river looking for a home to whoever was worthy of having him. For days the buddha floated down the river, and with each village he passed the locals would try and retrieve him but failed, until he arrived here in Charchoengsao where the locals where able to pull the buddha out of the water and built the temple in his honour the Sothon Monk and the temple Wat Sothon. Legendary stories aside this is also a beautiful temple worth visiting on its own but the story just makes it way more interesting.
Banmai Market
The Banmai market is a charming and historical market in Charcheongsao that sits on the banks of the Bang Pakong river. The market is over 200 years old and is like stepping back in time with all the original wooden shophouses that have not been modernised and still in their original state. The Banmai market is popular with Thai tourists but you wont see a single farang here. Most of the stalls are street food and handy crafts so this is a great place to come for street food and local Thai snacks.
Wat Saman Rattanaram
This temple is made famous by the large reclining Ganesh statue that has an interesting story. To make a wish to the Ganesh you need to whisper your wish in the ear of one of the giant rat statues that are dotted in front of the Ganesh. You then pay the rat a tip and they will pass on your wish onto the Ganesh. This is a really cool temple right beside the Bang Pakong river that also has a really beautiful Guan Yin statue and super colourful temple dedicated to the female buddha.
Wat Pak Nam Jolo
Another temple that is beside the Bang Pakong river, this temple is also known as the “Bat” temple due to hundreds of bats that live in the trees on the temple grounds. You can come here and see them hanging upside-down from the branches of the trees. The temple is also quite striking as it is completely covered in gold inside and out.
Bang Khla Floating Market
Nice little floating market on the Bang Pakong river where you can get lots of street food and local snacks. There is also long tail boat cruises on the Bang Pakong river which we would recommend also doing while you are here.
Phanom Sarakham Old Market
Really old local Thai market here you can experience a proper local market that sells fresh food to local businesses and residents. Its a bustling market that is a sensory overload of sight, sound and smell! keep an eye out for scooters as they drive right through the market! The setting is beautiful as well surrounded by old wooden shop houses just like the Banmai market(minus the tourists). This is a morning market so you will need to arrive early to see it in full swing. There isn’t a lot in the way of street food but once the market winds down there are loads of shops that open up serving the local dish Pak Mo.
Where/What To Eat & Drink
Aunt Nue
Excellent Restaurant in the Banmai market with river views and good food.
Khao Man Gai Phanom
Legendary Khao man gai joint in Phanom Sarakham. They only serve is Khao man gai so arrive early as once they sell out that is it.
Pak Mo
Local dish only made in this region and must try when passing through. Pak Mo is a soup dish and the chef will make fresh dumplings and pop them straight into your soup bowl! The chef will have a station and all the seating is around the station. You choose the fillings for your dumplings and the chef will make them one by one and plop them straight into your soup! and you can have as many rounds as you want and will be charged at the end. This is one of my favourite dishes in Thailand and one of the more unique food experiences as well. We will put a couple of the best places to try Pak Mo on the map.
Mae Som Kliang
Another really nice restaurant next to the Bang Pakong River in Chacheongsao with fantastic views of Wat Sothon.
Gluay Tod Phanom Sarakham
The original and best Gluay Tod(banana fritter) shop in Phanom Sarakham. Located in the old market area this place has been making Gluay tod and Khao Mao (another type of banana fritter but with a softer goopy shell) forever.
Next Stop:
- Ultimate Bangkok Chinatown Food Tour
- Discover Ayutthaya: Thailand’s Ancient Capital
- Mae Kampong: A Northern Thailand Gem
Also check out our YouTube video below 👇
