Alright I'll go a little overboard with the pins this week, since there's a few places we didn't show in this video that are still absolutely worth a try if you make it to the island- including one restaurant where we'd planned to film but it was closed (Bang Kachao is a...laid back place. Expect about a 70% "open rate" as most places are family run, which means if they have anything to do, it's shut for the day.) First, the places show in the video: Grilled Chicken & Som Tam: maps.app.goo.gl/aEANTz7pvaQQkZyj6 Floating Market: maps.app.goo.gl/yAKzFqmtEL4mnomY9 Museum: maps.app.goo.gl/e7MVHzdQocRdfri78 Mango Sticky Rice: maps.app.goo.gl/EPJESkLc3ChaEgpZ7 Coconut Lane: maps.app.goo.gl/T7n4U7Z1jPtYC7PCA Rotisserie Chicken: maps.app.goo.gl/1bd8QijG5pnfzhoV9 *The Night Market is only open on Thursday and Sunday evenings, starting around 5 PM. Didn't pin it when we were there and it's not on the map, but it's maybe 200 meters away from the Rotisserie Chicken spot in the direction of the pier facing Khlong Toei. Now two other places you really should try to visit, that didn't make it into this video: Coconut Shoot Som Tam (!) - We really wanted to film here because it's so interesting, but they were closed the day we came to film. maps.app.goo.gl/yg1LDu7i3o7sqQ2T9 Hiddenwoods: maps.app.goo.gl/AwNq8Ajhb5nhV8mk8
It is not exactly an island but it is the meandering curve of Chao Phraya river ... After digging the shortcut canals around Bang Krachao, the regime at that time had to erect the watergate to to prevent rising sea water from seeping into the fruit orchards and ruined the annual harvest of fruits.
Thanks for the ride. I miss the island. I rode there every week for nearly ten years. Now I’m stuck in Ohio and miss lazy days at the park in my hammock.
I just want to take a moment to say thank you. I only discovered your channel a couple of weeks ago, but it has been full of such great information and ideas that have now been incorporated into my upcoming visit to Thailand, including following this suggestion. Your content is great, and I really appreciate the dive into history and context you make in your episodes.
I finally paid it a visit last Feb. and did the typical bike rental. You're indeed taken back in time but notice gentrification with many upscale and out of character modern homes being developed along the water views........... We did have multiple stops at local eateries we throughly enjoyed. Too bad the floating market was closed day we visited and used her awnings while we biked to refuge for temporary shade. One of our stops was just for refreshments at a eco friendly cafe and tried Butterfly Pea for the first time - and how so refreshing. ! Can you please do a series on Butterfly Tea, its history, prep and health benefits ? ............Love your channel as it's always a learning experience and appreciate the hard work.
Being there and seeing the skyscrapers peeking out of the seemingly endless woodland was so surreal. It feels so remote, yet you’re still always reminded of being in the middle of Bangkok.
GReat video, thanks for sharing - it really makes you want to be there !! Could you tell me how I can get in touch with the Tour Guide - Kaan please? I wil be in Bangkok in a few weeks time and wold like to hire him Thank you. Paul😃
Hi, I believe tha Pétanque was introduced, or at least, made popular by the current King grand mother. You should dig this fatastic journey of the Pétanqur in Thailand. Thailand is or have been multiple World champs for several times.
I was there 15 years ago. This is the only place that represents old BKK without being invaded by concrete developers. But too many tourists, greed, and deterioration of the environment will follow. Including sex, drugs, and criminals like Pattaya, Phuket, etc. Thai politicians are mafia and corrupt, and only locals can keep it beautiful and peaceful as it is. Be strong and fight back, do not permit hi-rise, condo, or cooky cutter developers. Thai locals are naive and become easy victims of the evils.
29:51 Im living there, The market has no more, the local politicians order to change location of the market to another place near bangyor District Office.
The government in the past thought about making Bang Krachao island a large public park. To be the lungs of Bangkok and preserve nature and take villagers out of the area but was resisted by the villagers Therefore, a medium sized public park was made. which expropriated some areas
well, it technically is an artificial island, as the canal was dug that separated the isthmus from the mainland. But 98% of the water surrounding the island is simply the natural river.
@OTRontheroad grant you that sir but from an aerial viewpoint has the characteristics of cutoff oxbow lake formation. I think we could agree most of the work was done by nature with a helping hand lol
Having lived here in Thailand for 20 years, I learned to avoid going to BKK whenever possible. So dirty, so filled with disgusting people. Eating on the pavements makes me vomit with all the dust and rats.
It’s a nice island but Koh Kret has the same vibe without the recent development and is a lot more compact if you just want to go around for food, coffee and some countryside vibe. There are better islands and beach towns that are still mostly to completely unspoiled by foreigners but still have decent infrastructure but I won’t name them. Nothing as obvious as Bang Krachao, not sure how it’s considered forgotten when you can see it from like half the tall buildings in Bangkok. Shame all these content creators help ruin these places to make a few bucks.
I’m 40 born and raised in Bangkok. To my surprise I just discovered this place about 2 years ago and now I bought a piece of land already (2 acres) close to Chaopraya river across Bangna. You did an amazing job. The place is hidden gem
My dad used to drive an ice cream truck around the island every week when he was way younger. My grandma's is right across that island, but I've never went there myself. I planned so many times but didn't get a chance to go there myself. This convinced me that i really should go there. Thanks for the tour!
Videos like this are why your channel is heads above the rest, great job! I can see why you were reluctant to release this video as this is such a unique place that you felt like you would be hastening its demise. I really liked what the locals all had to say about the change and how it was not the same as it had been but it was always going to be home to them, I feel the same way about where I live. Change is inevitable and all we can hope for is to preserve what we can of what makes these places special, it's peoples, their culture and as much of their special way of life as possible. I had seen your top ten meals video and I thought that a trip here would be fun, now it is a must see, Thank you!
This was amazing from so many angles. I love the locals evening market, you know that’s my kind of place.....and collectively you guys gave it a fascinating showing. It looks like you are loving life, as you should. This is now my favorite video you have done.....I hope it helps the people of this area.....it needs to be as it was and I think you have helped them. You did it, the perfect video, history, food and activism......I hope people take note and protect this area and it’s wonderful culture......
Your content is always amaZING!, every one of them! Even I am a local of Bangkok, Khlong Toei boy here, I also learn lots of national and local history. But everytime I come here, I always learn something new from your vid. I am SPEECHLESS! Love and will always follow. Peace
Discovered this little gem over 10yrs back with a bicycle tour operator named "Co van Kessel" (mother of bicycle tours in "The Big Mango")...-even before Mark Wiens did one episode there😄...like the Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bang Krachao belongs to Prov. of Samut Prakarn. It was light developed at that time when visited the island, but it has been discovered by expats/tourists some years back...it's still nice during the week, less people...if you have a scooter, there are more hidden places in my hometown Krung Thep❤....love ur channel, keep exploring guys!👍🏼
Well, we (actually probably a lot of Phra Pradaengian) would rather secede from Samut Prakarn and either become part of Bangkok or regain independent. There is a resentment of the local for the politician from the other side of the river (Pak Nam). One of their family passed away recently and we kinda celebrate it in the social media.
I’m Thai…..and I’m all for the conservation of this island. The conservation law must stand for this island. If the developers want to build modern buildings, let them go elsewhere!! Thailand must have city planning……areas for residence, areas for factories, areas for conservation, areas for business district, areas for ancient architecture, etc…….don’t mix them all up. In Phuket town, there’s a great area, with old buildings kept the way they were 200 years ago….it’s a great, great , nice tourist place.
Another one of the same "Unbeaten paths of Bangkok" video, That's what I thought. and I found this incredible gem! So detailed so deep so entertaining. Keep them comings!
10:37 Ugh, I know where this is. It’s in Medan Selayang, province of North Sumatra. Those poor ducks 😭 People are horrible, I tell you. Anyways, thank you for introducing us to Bang Kachao. A food tour on bicycle sounds good!
What a gorgeous place. But it is facing some of the same problems that we have in Koh Samui as well. Let's just hope that overdevelopment can be kept out of places like these.
We’ll be in Thailand soon. Definitely will make the trip there. Not sure my own Thai relatives who live in Bangkok know the existence of this island. Love every video you produced.
My maternal family is from Phrapradeang and every year we would visit our Mon cemetery to clean it up. I’ve OK ly recently realized that the market near the cemetery was in Bangkrachao during a company trip to the market and I happen to walk past our family cemetery. I was literally ordained as a novice monk at that temple and dnver realized.
It's technically not even in Bangkok. It's a part of Samut Prakan Province. It is such as lovely place! If you go during the weekdays not many restaurants and shops will be open though. If anyone want to enjoy both the peaceful and lively Bang Kachao in the same trip, go there on Friday so you can enjoy a very peaceful Bang Kachao and stay for a night then go to the markets and some other places on Saturday. After watching the video, I feel Khun Wan, the owner of Coconut Lane looks and sounds so familier. She could actually be my colleague from almost 20 years ago. Maybe I should visit Coconut Lane and try to find out!
I just finished watching ALL of your videos now. Did you know, that when you watch them in a row (with some discontinuitiy, I admit, but still), that (nearly) in every video you mention something that's the best food you ever had? Must be a lot of best foods. 😄 This is not meant as criticism! I can totally understand, just found it interesting. Please never stop finding the best food. Maybe some time I'll come around to at least taste some of it. Never got more east than Bahrain until now...(I'm from Germany) Btw: how on earth do you manage to stay that lean???
I went there 10 years ago when I graduated from high school. It is still one of the most memorable places in Bangkok I went to. I really love that I could bike any where on the island. Cheap and good local food. Not too many tourists. I will definitely go there again this year when I visit Bangkok before what I experienced 10 years ago disappear.
I really surprised for your research. some of information in this clip you can't find by Google especially the reason that made Bang kachao famous for tourists.
Very interesting, and somewhere to potentially add to my list for my impending visit to Bangkok. I'll have to figure out whether my aging knees are up to riding a bike around there first, though! I do have to ask though, what's with the "Once in Royal David's City" in the soundtrack near the beginning??! 😁
My first time in Thailand I went with my best mate. We met some girls and one day this girl made plans for our date. The night before however I got steaming drunk, despite the fact she wanted to meet at 9am. I woke up severely hungover, and incredibly nervous, (admitting the pre date butterflies in the stomach). We cycled around Bang Kachao for 8 hours in the blistering heat. I felt horrendously sick. However, Bang Kachao was cool on any other day I’d have probably enjoyed it 100 times more. To be quite honest, I didn’t even know it was Bang Kachao, until I just watched this video… I give myself top marks…
My mate Ellis wr linked to me this video. My wife and I are returning to Thailand next March from Australia and will definitely be checking this place out. I LOVE your channel. It was Ellis' video on Sangkhlaburi and then yours that made us decide to visit that place last December with our family and we absolutely loved it! Keep doing your thing! ❤
After watching this video, my boyfriend and I booked a hotel room in Bang Kachao right next to the Pae Jaeb pier and stayed there a few days last week. That was the best decision ever made while travelling across South-East Asia. We made a bike tour with a guide on the island. He showed us all the gems and told us the story of this hidden part of Samut Prakan. Now we want to go back there and explore more. Thank you for revealing this insider tip. Your quality videos are very instructive and valuable. Keep up the good job, mate!
I'll be visiting Bangkok later this month and will definitely want to visit Bang Kachao. Sounds like Sunday would be a good day to visit since both the Floating Market and the Night Market will be open. Can I assume the halal fried chicken stall at 27:20 would be close to where the rotisserie chicken pin would be? Also, I'm wondering how early I'd have to be to get the Hor Mok at the Floating Market. I noticed some Muslim ladies eating at the Culinary Heritage Zone in your Hor Mok video, it makes me wonder if the Kanom Jeen/Green Curry is halal. I'll ask when I get there.. I'm pretty sure the Hor Mok would be. 😁 I assume there would be other halal food elsewhere, too.. the mango sticky rice would be something else to try.
This is so depressing, Sorry. I took my mates on a massive all day bike ride around Bang Krachao in 2016. We were almost the ONLY falang there it seemed. We went on the wrong day for the markets (rookie mistake) so i actually came back again the next year with a diff mate and we had Gak Fruit juice, boat noodles, and Found a half built hindu Ganesh temple (*which many years laters looks a LOT more complete). Even the Google Satellite images of this island now show a story of vanishing Greenery, receding nature. But i guess change is constant. We cannot stop it. I'll be back next March with 2 completely different friends yet again, and this video has put some urgency i to me to bring them to Bang Krachao as well.
Oh i was hoping to see my favourite BKK cafe in this video :) please if you go back visit Toys Cafe, small soi after the bridge next to floating market. Oh yeah there are excellent sausages on the market, but try to go early to avoid long line, only place with a long line 555 and i hope they will bring kayaking thru the canal back
Believe it or not I was born in Bangkok more than seventy years ago I never heard of the bang Kachao before much to be thousands of places in Thailand I never heard or never been to any of them. But I'm glad and Appreciate you for showing and sharing an awesome places in the land of freedom the land of Thailand.
I would just like to take a moment to follow-up on this video in particular. My partner and I went to Bang Kachao when we were in Thailand in November. It was a huge highlight in our trip. So, thank you, OTR, for what you do. But also, follow this advice. If you like to be a little off the beaten path, it is a place for you.
Beyond the usual Chang and Singha? Sadly doesn't seem that way. If there was something like a Chit Beer (the brewpub on Koh Kret) on Bang Kachao I might never leave
Following your very good advice, I've been to Bang Kachao during my too brief stay in Bangkok, last week. Long story short, the grilled-chicken stand was closed… and it rained, like a lot! On the other hand, a very, very good surprise, the Thai foodcourt a little before the gates at the beginning of the street that leads to the ferry. Good music, fresh "Leo" and the best hot-pot of my life!!!
Love it, will have to check it out next time I’m there. I also love the betel leaves in miang Kam:) also I notice hor mok is the Thai version of Cambodian dish “amok”! Makes complete sense! Loved the vid thanks am subscribing :)
Heres a fact fact not everyone knows Thailand themselves have destroyed 80% of forst just to grow crops and they talk about preserve wildlife and what else Thailand than most countries money talks .
Love your video. Thanks to Adam, Jasper and Daria! As a Bangkok resident, I'd never cared to check this place out ... until I saw this lovely video. By the way, บางกระเจ้า should be spelled "Bang Kra-chao". As a very bad habit, MANY Thai locals do not care to pronounce the clusters in many words (and we can manage to understand one another with no problem, unlike in the English language), and it's getting worse and worse among the younger generations. Anyway, seeing you all enjoy our country is so rewarding---it's probably the same manner, in which I enjoy many parts of the U.S. and Europe. Will you come back to our country for more and for better? You're always welcome!
Great video again, notice the amount of thai people that never go to Bang Kachao the reason being theres not a lot to do, hence being safe enough to cycle round, and you can only eat so much, take away the food and the fact its more peaceful than the hustle and bustle of the city, you dont really feel the urge to go back! :-)
There are 2 islands that I know very near Bangkok Koa Kred and Bang Krajao both have Mon people. I've known of them years ago more of Koa Kred than Bang Krajao anyway, l've never been to either of them. Love to go there before they or I'm gone.
Their mannerisms seem way more laid back than in bkk. So close to the city, yet they behave so differently. The woman in the glasses is angel 👼 I might head over tomorrow 😄
bangkok is "not a protitute city"./ it is a extremely hot humid, dusted city. only the food is of attraction plus with low cost. if one has lumps of money then he can create waterfall moss garden with misty sprayed. this is the truth of bangkok
I love greedy rich people. the just know the perfect way to ruin precious things that people love ! thankfully there are people like the coconut lane people who at least try to do good with their m0ney
Thank you for another excellent story on this island. I've always wondered about this green spot on Google maps that I've only discovered recently-which I thought was odd being in the middle of Bangkok. I didn't even have a clue about this "island" growing up in Bangkok in the 70s and early 80s. Like I've said before, I always learned something about my home country from your videos.
I went to that island earlier this year and I loved it. Encountered a huge monitor lizard crawling out of a canal and loved the narrow back roads on bike.
My wife comes from that island. I have never heard them speaking about Bang Kachao. Phra Pradaeng is common name for it. I think Bang Kachao is small part of that area, but I am not sure....
