Samut Songkhram (สมุทรสงคราม) is a city in Western Thailand, sometimes considered a part of the Bangkok Metropolitan Area.

Understand

Samut Songkhram is a small province not far from Bangkok. Samut Songkhram is 72 km from Bangkok, covering an area of 416 km². It takes a little more than one hour to reach the province. For those who enjoy cultural tourism and traditional ways of life, this province has much to offer. For example, the people here earn a living from vegetable and fruit farming, and coconut palm sugar simmering. Furthermore, the Tha Kha Floating Market still maintains the traditional way of life of a community by a canal.

There is no evidence to indicate the establishment of the city of Samut Songkhram. It is presumed to have been a former district of Ratchaburi called "Suan Nok" (outside garden). Then, during the transition from the Ayutthaya to the Thon Buri periods, it was separated from Ratchaburi and named "Mueang Mae Klong". Samut Songkhram was historically important during the establishment of Thon Buri as the kingdom’s capital by King Taksin the Great. When the Burmese led an army to Tambon Bang Kung, the king gathered the people to build a fort and prevent the city from the Burmese troops. This was an important act against the Burmese invaders at that time.

Get in

By car

Take Hwy 35 (Thonburi–Pak Tho or Rama II Rd), past the Na Kluea–Maha Chai intersection. At around km63, take the elevated road into the town of Samut Songkhram.

By bus

The Transport Company Ltd offers a daily bus service between Bangkok and Samut Songkhram, leaving the Southern Bus Terminal on Borommaratchachonnani Rd from 05:40–21:00.

By train

From the Wongwian Yai Railway Station, there is a daily train from Wongwian Yai to Maha Chai. Take a boat from the Maha Chai Pier to the Tha Chalom Pier and get on a train from the Ban Laem Railway Station to the town of Samut Songkhram. Or take a bus from the Maha Chai Railway Station straight to the town. For a train schedule, contact the Wongwian Yai Railway Station, Tel. +66 2 4652017, +66 2 8906260.

See

• 1 Amphawa (10 min from the city). Open F-Su.  
• 2 Mae Klong Railway Market. The market operates along an active railway track connecting Bangkok with Maeklong. Being an active railway track train passes through it eight times a day. Every time the shopkeepers and the customers make way for the train to pass. The arrival of the train is announced through a loudspeaker. Within seconds the tracks are cleared and the vendors pull back their specially designed awnings. That’s why the market is locally known as the ‘Talad Rom Hup’, which translates into “Umbrella Pulldown Market.”. The train passes inches away from the waiting crowd, most of whom are busy photographing the unique experience. Once the train is gone the market gets back to its normal activity. 

Go next

Routes through Samut Songkhram

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→ Samut Sakhon → Bangkok