🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Mahachai and Tha Chalom have been twin towns for a long time, facing each other across the Tha Chin River. The Mahachai side has the fresh market, the Talay Thai seafood market, and the train station; the Tha Chalom side is quieter — an old Chinese community that settled here for fishing and trade over a hundred years ago. The appeal here isn't a big landmark. It's the slow wander past weathered wooden shophouses and small shrines, and a riverside way of life that's still genuinely going.
The best thing about Tha Chalom is how easy it is to reach from Bangkok. Take the Maeklong Line train or drive to Mahachai, then hop on the ferry for a few baht. It suits anyone who wants an unhurried half-day trip — walk around taking photos, eat something good, and still be back in the city for dinner.
Taking the Ferry from Mahachai
The Mahachai–Tha Chalom ferry pier is close to Mahachai market and Mahachai train station — just a short walk from the Talay Thai market or the Mahachai fresh market. Ferries run frequently all day, and the fare is THB 3 per person, paid as you board or at the ticket window. Crossing the Tha Chin River takes under five minutes, and the view along the way is rows of fishing boats moored on both banks. If you bring a bicycle or motorbike, you can take it across on the ferry for a small extra charge.
A Quick Tip
If you want to do Tha Chalom properly, come on a Saturday or Sunday. The community tourism centre and the trishaw and bicycle rentals are open then (roughly 9am to evening). On weekdays some spots are quiet and more of the shops are shut.
Want more out of Samut Sakhon? Book tours & activities
Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.
Thawai Road — Thailand's First Sanitary District
The heart of Tha Chalom is "Thawai Road," the community's first concrete street. Back in 1905, King Rama V established Tha Chalom as the first provincial sanitary district in Thailand and came in person to open this road, granting it the name "Thawai Road." The beginnings of municipal-style local government in Thailand trace right back to this spot.
Walking along Thawai Road, you'll pass old wooden shophouses and aging concrete buildings on both sides. Some are still grocery shops, old-school coffee houses, or homes where people actually live, broken up by small lanes that cut through to the riverside. The mood is quiet and easy to walk — none of the bustle of the market on the Mahachai side.
Temples and Shrines Worth Stopping For
Tha Chalom is a community where Thai and Chinese traditions sit side by side, so the temple and the shrines are all close together and easy to reach on foot.
Wat Suthiwat Wararam (Wat Chong Lom)
A royal temple and a Samut Sakhon landmark, nearly 200 years old, with an old principal Buddha image and a royal monument to King Rama V. The shaded grounds are a spot where locals come to pay their respects.
Chao Mae Mueang Samut Shrine
A Chinese shrine in front of Wat Chong Lom, with the goddess Chao Mae Thapthim as the central deity, alongside attendant gods such as Pae Kong. It's deeply revered by the Tha Chalom locals and the Chinese community nearby.
Small Neighbourhood Shrines
As you walk Thawai Road you'll come across several more small roadside shrines — a clear reflection of the community's Chinese roots.
Shrine Etiquette
Many of these Chinese shrines are genuinely sacred to local people. Dress modestly, take your shoes off where signs ask, and photograph the deities only where the shrine keeper allows it — it keeps things comfortable for you and for your hosts.
Old Buildings, Street Art and Photo Spots
More recently, Tha Chalom has added a street art project along Thawai Road and the surrounding lanes. The wall paintings tell the story of the fishing way of life — boats and the people who live by the river — with plenty of spots spread across the community, including cute painted manhole covers that make the walk more fun. Follow the map handed out at the community tourism centre and you won't miss the main ones.
- Wooden shophouses along Thawai Road — old timber frames and vintage shop signs, great for a retro-style shot
- Fishing-life street art — scattered across walls and lanes; follow the community map
- The pier and Tha Chin riverfront — fishing boats lined up, prettiest in the soft light of late afternoon
- Ban Tha Chalom Community Tourism Centre — displays of old artefacts and photos of the town in years past, with bicycles and trishaws to rent (open Saturdays and Sundays)
What to Eat Around Tha Chalom and Mahachai
Tha Chalom itself has snacks and long-standing shops scattered through the community, while the full-on seafood spread is over on the Mahachai side — just a few minutes back on the ferry. Eating on both banks in one trip is easy to pull off.
Old-School Pad Thai in Tha Chalom
A community pad thai shop people line up for — soft noodles, well-balanced flavour. It's the go-to lunch for anyone visiting Tha Chalom.
Tha Chalom Fish Balls & Fish Wontons
Tha Chalom is a fishing town, so the fish balls and fish wontons are dense and springy. Good as a snack or dropped into a bowl of noodles.
Old-Style Coffee in a Shophouse
An old coffee shop in a wooden shophouse — hot traditional coffee with patongko (Thai fried dough). The retro atmosphere fits the neighbourhood perfectly.
Thai Sweets & Edible Souvenirs
Thai dessert shops and dried-seafood stalls along Thawai Road — snack on the spot or take some home as a gift.
Seafood on the Mahachai Side
Take the ferry back to Mahachai and you've got plenty more seafood restaurants and the Talay Thai market to choose from — Maeklong mackerel, prawns and shellfish, all fresh.
Want to dig deeper into the seafood on the Mahachai side? See our Mahachai seafood guide for what to order, which spots to hit, and where to grab edible souvenirs.
An Unhurried Half-Day in Tha Chalom
Walk the Town, Pay Respects, Eat Well
How to Get There
From Bangkok, take the Wongwian Yai–Mahachai train line straight to Mahachai station — the ferry pier is a very short walk away. Or drive yourself; it's a little over an hour from central Bangkok.
Plan a full trip across all of Samut Sakhon
See the Samut Sakhon Guide →