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2 Samut Songkhram Samut Songkhram 3 Bangnoi Floating Market 4 Samut Songkhram CONTENTS HOW TO GET THERE 7 ATTRACTIONS 7 Amphoe Mueang 7 Amphoe Amphawa 11 Amphoe Bang Khonthi 23 INTERESTING ACTTIVITIES 25 Boat tour 25 Ecotourism 25 Agro-tourism 26 Homestay 26 EXAMPLES OF PROGRAMMES 28 EVENTS AND FESTIVALS 30 FACILITIES IN SAMUT SONGKHRAM 30 Accommodations 30 Restaurants 35 LOCAL PRODUCTS AND SOUVENIRS 37 USEFUL CALLS 40 Samut Songkhram 5 Rom Hup Market Samut Songkhram 6 Samut Songkhram Samut Songkhram is a small province not HOW TO GET THERE far from Bangkok. It takes a little more than By car Take Highway 35 (Thon Buri–Pak Tho or one hour to the province. For those who enjoy Rama II Road), past the Na Kluea – Maha Chai In- cultural tourism and traditional ways of life, tersection. At around Km. 63, take the elevated this province has much to off er. For example, way into the town of Samut Songkhram. the people here earn a living from vegetable By van There are many routes available and fruit farming, and coconut palm sugar including the Victory Monument-Mae Klong, simmering. Furthermore, the fl oating market Mo Chit–Mae Klong, Bang Na–Maha Chai–Mae at Tha Kha still maintains the traditional way Klong, and Lotus Pin Klao–Mae Klong routes. of life of a community by a canal. By bus The Transport Company Limited of- There is no evidence to indicate the establish- fers a daily bus service between Bangkok and ment of the city of Samut Songkhram. It is Samut Songkhram, leaving the Southern Bus presumed to have been a former district of Terminal on Borommaratchachonnani Road Ratchaburi called ‘Suan Nok’ (outside garden). from 5.50 a.m.–9.00 p.m. For an air-conditioned Then, during the transition from the Ayutthaya bus (Damnoen Tour), Tel. 0 2894 6355, or visit to the Thon Buri periods, it was separated from www.transport.co.th. Ratchaburi and named ‘Mueang Mae Klong.’ By train From the Wongwian Yai Railway Sta- Samut Songkhram was historically important tion, there is a daily train from Wongwian Yai during the establishment of Thon Buri as the to Maha Chai. Take a boat from the Maha Chai kingdom’s capital by King Taksin the Great. Pier to the Tha Chalom Pier and get on a train When the Burmese led an army to Tambon Bang from the Ban Laem Railway Station to the town Kung, the king gathered the people to build of Samut Songkhram. Or take a bus from the a fort and prevent the city from the Burmese Maha Chai Railway Station straight to the town. troops. This was an important act against the For a train schedule, contact the Wongwian Yai Burmese invaders at that time. Railway Station, Tel. 0 2465 2017, 0 2890 6260, Samut Songkhram is 72 Km. from Bangkok, or visit www.railway.co.th. covering an area of 416 sq km. The province is divided into three districts: Amphoe Mueang, Distances from Amphoe Mueang to Amphoe Amphawa, and Amphoe Bang Other Districts Khonthi. Amphoe Amphawa 6 km. Amphoe Bang Khonthi 12 km. Boundary North borders Ratchaburi. ATTRACTIONS South borders Phetchaburi and Amphoe Mueang (OlT_BO_CYO*) the Gulf of Thailand. Don Hoi Lot (6O;MODMGO6) West borders Phetchaburi and This famous tourist attraction of Samut Song- Ratchaburi. khram is a bar on the mouth of the Mae Klong East borders Samut Sakhon. River. It was formed by the sedimentation of sandy soil called by villagers here as ‘Sai Khi Samut Songkhram 7 Don Hoi Lot Pet.’ The bar of 3 km. wide and 5 km. long cov- and are caught easily. The lime should not be ers two zones: Don Nok is on the mouth of Ao directly spread on the bar since it will kill all Mae Klong, accessible by boat; and Don Nai other shellfi sh in the area. The best time for a is located on the beach of the Chuchi village visit is around March–May because the low tide in Tambon Bang Chakreng and on the beach will last longer and the bar will emerge to be of the Bang Bo village in Tambon Bang Kaeo, seen. Tourists can hire a boat from the Aphon accessible by car. In the area of the bar, there Pavilion (near the Krommaluang Chumphon are many shellfi sh, such as Hoi Lot (razor clam), khetudomsak Shrine) to visit Don Hoi Lot. The Hoi Lai (undulated surf clam), Hoi Puk (Ridged charter boat fee is 60 Baht (not over 6 persons), Venus clam), Hoi Pak Pet (tongue shell), Hoi or 10 Baht per person. To visit the bay mouth, Khraeng (cockle), etc. Hoi Lot is mostly found it costs 200 Baht per boat (not over 5 persons). here and it has become a landmark of this place. To admire the beauty of the mangrove forest, Hoi Lot is a species of bivalve mollusks, having it is 350 Baht per boat (not over 7 persons). For muddy white meat in a straw-shaped shell and more details on the times of the high and low living in mud. Hoi Lot will be caught during low tides, contact the Bang Chakraeng Sub-district tide. A small stick previously dipped in lime will Administration Organization at Tel. 0 3472 3749 be put in a hole where the shellfi sh live. Because or the Krommaluang Chumphonkhetudomsak of the lime, they will be stimulated to appear Shrine Foundation at Tel. 0 3472 3736. 8 Samut Songkhram Wat Satthatham or Wat Mon Here, there is a Krommaluang Chumphon- (Rama II Road), and at the foot of the Phra khetudomsak Shrine, and traditional Thai Phutthaloetla Naphalai Bridge or around Km music is performed monthly on the fi rst and 64, follow the direction sign to Don Hoi Lot for third weeks on its front lawn during 3.00 around 5 km. –4.30 p.m. By bus A bus service is available all day from Furthermore, many restaurants and souvenir the market in Amphoe Mueang Samut Song shops here off er fresh and dried seafood, Hoi khram to Don Hoi Lot in Chuchi village. Lot, fi sh sauce, shrimp paste of Khlong Khon, By boat A boat service of various sizes is coconut sugar, palm sap, etc. available from the pier on the Mae Klong River To get there : to Don Nok. For a group of 60-250 peoples, By car (contact Khun Phonthip Saengwanit) at the Sun 1.To the Bang Bo village in Tambon Bang Kaeo, Huat Heng Sawmill in advance at Tel. 0 3471 take the Thon Buri–Pak Tho Road (Rama II Road), 1466, 0 3471 2558, 0 3471 2451, 08 1378 5858 and before Km 62, follow the direction sign on Fax 0 3471 4240 (Food can be ordered to serve the left to Don Hoi Lot for around 7 km. on the boat.), or contact the ferry ticket booth 2. To the Chuchi village in Tambon Bang at the pier by the Mae Klong River. Chakreng, take the Thon Buri–Pak Tho Road Samut Songkhram 9 Wat Satthatham or Wat Mon (I6JES 9:T:EECS mer village in Phetchaburi. Later, the villagers MEYOIS6CO) helped restore the temple and renamed it ‘Wat is located at Mu 5, Tambon Bang Chakreng. Take Ban Laem.’ the Thon Buri–Pak Tho Road (Rama II Road). At Most of the villagers of Ban Laem are fi shermen. around Km 64, follow the route to Don Hoi Lot Once they went fi shing in Ao Mae Klong and for around 1 km. This temple is on the right found two Buddha images in their trawl net. before Don Hoi Lot. A landmark is the Ubosot One was a seated image and the other was a (ordination hall) built by Phrakhru Samutwisut- standing fi gure. The seated image was brought thiwong (former abbot) in 1992. The ordination to Wat Khao Takhrao in Amphoe Ban Laem, hall is made of golden teak with mother-of- Phetchaburi, while the other was enshrined pearl-inlaid walls both inside and outside. The here in Wat Ban Laem and commonly called designs are exquisite, depicting the Lord Bud- ‘Luangpho Ban Laem.’ The standing Buddha dha’s history and Ramayana episodes. Housed image holding an alms bowl is around 167 inside the ordination hall are Buddha images: cm high. (The original alms bowl was lost in Luangpho Ban Laem, Luangpu Thuat Yiap Nam the sea. Somdet Chaofa Krom Phraya Phanu- Thale Chuet, and Luangpho Phuttha Sothon, phantwongworadet off ered a new one of blue which are worshipped by the people of Samut glass instead.) Because of its sacredness, the Songkhram and nearby provinces. On the image has gained respect from the villagers. temple grounds, Kalamae-Raman or coconut Wat Ban Laem was developed to be a large toff ee is sold by the Raman Phatthana Group of temple since faithful people continued to Housewives. It is a famous dessert of the temple make merit and pay homage to the image. for its sticky, sweet and creamy taste. The sweet Later, it was promoted as a royal temple of the is uniquely wrapped in Kap Mak (leaf sheath of third class and given a new name as ‘Wat Phet a betel nut tree). Visitors can also see Kalamae Samut Worawihan. Inside the temple making in a giant wok at the temple. For more compound, there is a Sangha museum information, call Tel. 0 3471 1305. with displays of Buddha images, amulets of different periods, ancient artefacts, Wat Ban Laem or Wat Phet Samut Wora blue-and-white porcelain, and a pulpit of the wihan (IS6<T;`MGC MEYOIS6_@-ELCZ9EIEIVMTE) Ayutthaya period.