Sampran area along the Tha Chin river

It’s a large fresh vegetables and food, not the floating market that tourists expect and not one of the main touristic markets (Amphawa and Damnoen Saduak). It’s interesting to visit though, it’s more local, you won’t find anything to bring as a souvenir, the market is famous for some specific food items, mainly stews. It’s riverside with a few floating shops and small boats selling goods. We ate at one of the riverfront restaurants, right next to the river which was teeming with large catfishes waiting to get fed.

This is a countryside-themed park inside the Suan Sampran complex, basically a nicely landscaped park with quite a few activities, for children and adults like, that revolve around explaining the country Thai life, planting rice, raising buffalos, the different kind of vegetables usually farmed. Patom is also a brand of organic products, they own farms around there and I guess it’s the same family that owns everything in Suan Sampran. It’s pleasant and the entrance is really cheap, 100 THB I think.

Nestled along the scenic Tha Chin River, this hotel stands out as one of the few upscale options around Samphan area, and it comes at a reasonable price point, with rooms in the new modern building typically priced at around 2,000 THB. For a touch of old-world charm, the older building offers rooms with river views at a slightly higher cost, and there are also traditional Thai wooden houses available for those seeking a more vintage experience.

The hotel boasts a swimming pool and strolling through the lush gardens and riverfront area adds to the overall experience. It’s a wonderful place to unwind just outside of Bangkok, offering a relaxing retreat at an affordable rate.

A restaurant with a small zoo, featuring a pond graced by the presence of swans, as well as enclosures with a variety of farm animals, including turtles, goats, and rabbits. Colorful birds like flamingos, toucans, and parrots also inhabit the premises, and you can freely wander among them. The cozy café serves delectable Thai cuisine and some Western dishes. The atmosphere is relaxed, surrounded by nature, and enhanced by the presence of lovely animals, making it a delightful and unique dining experience.

The place is a bit old but still worth to visit. It’s quite huge but mostly shows lots of crocodiles and elephants. There’s a crocodile show and elephant show, which we didn’t see. You could feed elephants but in general it felt like the place was pressuring you too much to buy stuff, pay for taking photos with elephants for example. They have dual pricing and it’s quite expensive for foreigners (I paid the normal price with the work permit though).

My daughter was really keen on trying elephant riding, and although I initially had reservations (and even had to act like I was leaving to get the standard Thai price for the ride), it turned out to be a nice experience. The elephants at this place are incredibly massive, and the ride takes you through a beautiful garden, making it a memorable adventure.

For tourists who may not be well-informed (or informed by medias that focus on how they are domesticated), it’s easy to have concerns about elephants in captivity. However, I personally didn’t sense any mistreatment during our visit. Elephants are huge and powerful creatures, you do want a mahout to control them. These elephants are born domesticated, and without such parks, they might face bleak fates nowadays when they are not used in agriculture or war anymore, being too expensive to maintain, they would have no opportunities to reproduce. The park at least plays a role in their conservation, as their numbers are going down in the wild.

This restaurant offers a decent selection of Thai food, complemented by a scenic river view. The menu features many dishes with a Chinese influence, including Peking duck. There is pleasant outdoor seating options right by the river, allowing you to enjoy your meal in a serene and picturesque setting.