Bang Namphueng, Bangkok: Falling in Love with the City's Hidden Green Lung on Our Second Visit
On our first trip to Bangkok, we fled after scams and impending floods, heading south for islands instead. Last month, we returned, determined to explore Bang Namphueng in southern Bangkok. It was love at first sight.
Staying at the stunning new Bangkok Tree House introduced us to this west bank enclave of the Chao Phraya River. After Sukhumvit's skyscrapers and nightlife, a quick river crossing transported us to palm-fringed tranquility, broken only by birdsong. No bridges deter developers, preserving its authentic village charm.
Riverside swamplands stretch for miles. Locals navigate via elevated cement paths weaving through neighborhoods linked to main roads. Renting bicycles, we spotted a massive lizard diving into the water nearby.
This was just 100 yards from Wat Namphueng Nok, featuring a grand Buddha and local market stalls—no tourists in sight, unlike typical Bangkok spots.
From the temple, we biked a main road, got lost in homestay neighborhoods, immersed in untouched wilderness. Bang Namphueng earns its 'green lung of Bangkok' nickname with abundant wildlife, jungles, and waterways.
In one neighborhood, the Herbal Joss Stick house welcomed us. The charming couple demonstrated mosquito-repelling herbal joss sticks, gifted us samples, and shared their home, gardens, cooking classes, and cycling tours. Remarkably tourism-ready yet rarely visited by Westerners.
Though we missed the weekend floating market, we witnessed a unique 'Riding Market'—a truck delivering fresh produce daily to remote homes.
Craving coffee, we found Coffee Professionals, a trendy spot with expert brews, homemade cookies, and prime people-watching. We returned to our tree house for a palm-framed sunset, marveling we were still in Bangkok.
How to Reach Bang Namphueng from Central Bangkok
- Take BTS Skytrain to Bangna station, then taxi to Bangna Nok Temple. Ferry across to Wat Namphueng Nok for 5 Baht.
- From the ferry at Wat Bang Namphueng Nok, motorcycle taxi to floating market for 10 Baht.
- Floating market: Saturdays/Sundays, 8am-2pm.
- Bike rentals at market: 30 Baht/day.
- SpiceRoads offers Bangkok Jungle Tours covering Bang Namphueng and the market.
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