While it has a distinctly retro feel, Hua Hin Sam Phan Nam Floating Market in Prachuap Khiri Khan province is actually a new market, which opened earlier this year. Inspired by the designs of many outstanding landmarks located around Hua Hin, the market’s setting provides a glimpse into the past, while offering tourists the chance to browse among an array of stalls, selling souvenirs and local specialties. Covering an area of over 100 rai (16 hectares), about six kilometers away from the center of Hua Hin, the market was designed by a company that established the renowned Ayothaya, the largest retro market in Ayutthaya province. The market, which is managed by the same company (Ayothaya Floating Market), is named after Sam Phan Nam (‘3,000 names’), an extremely long creek nearby that runs through numerous local villages.
The market’s architectural features take their inspiration from several historical sites in Hua Hin that were either built or renovated during the reign of King Rama VI (1910-1925), including the Mrigadayavan Palace and Hua Hin Railway Station. The large red and white sign in front of the market, for example, is based on the same color scheme as the railway station and road signs around the city.
Appetizing Options
The market features a large pond, where up to 40 boats are moored. The vessels are used as stalls by local vendors, who sell a range of mouthwatering local foods and snacks. These scenes will take many visitors back to the not too distant past, when travel by boat was the principal form of transportation in the kingdom. Surrounding the man-made pond are about 200 stores, offering a wide variety of goods, such as local snacks and food, including fruits, as well as items of clothing, home decorative products and souvenirs. To provide visitors with lots of photo opportunities, the market includes lots of vintage-style attractions, including phone booths, post boxes and a small post office, which is operational, allowing shoppers to post a card or letter to a friend or family member from the market.
There’s also a miniature train that operates a circuit around the market, as well as a boat offering a short trip around the pond, providing passengers with some different perspectives of the market. Passengers pay just 20 baht (US$0.64) per ride, per attraction. An unusual form of stage lies just below the surface of the water towards the center of the pond, providing members of the audience with an interesting view. The position of the stage means that it can be seen from just about anywhere, while the performers can often seem to be walking or gliding upon the water, providing members of the audience with some incredible sights. Among the performances taking place on a daily basis are Thai traditional dance, traditional drumming and fire dances.
The market opens daily from 10 am to 7 pm.
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