FESTIVALS
King Rama II Memorial Festival
is held in early February each year at King Rama II Memorial Park, Amphoe Amphawa. There are shows, demonstrations of traditional Thai dessert making, folk entertainment, out-door Khon performance, handicrafts and a variety of local products.
Songnam Luang Pho Wat Ban Laem and Worship Fair
is held in April 13th –19th at Wat Phet Samut Worawihan, Amphoe Muang Samut Songkhram. During the fair, the general public gets to bathe (by sprinkling scented water) Luang Pho Wat Ban Laem Buddha image as a way of merit making.
Tawanron at Don Hoi Lot Fair and Kradan Len Racing Contest
The fair and contest are held during the month of May every year, at Chu Chee Village, Moo 4 Tambon Bangjakreng, Amphoe Mueang Samut Songkhram.
Annual Longboat Racing
is held during the Loy Krathong Festival in November at Wat Rat Peng, Amphoe Mueang Samut Songkhram.
Large White Pomelo Fair
is held yearly in late August.
Lychee Day Fair
is held in early April at Amphoe Amphawa (takes place in some years, depending on the quantity of lychees).
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Welcome to Samut Songkhram
Source: Tourism Authority of Thailand
General
Samut Songkhram is the province of fertile land, of plants and food grains, the production source of vegetables and fruits, as well as a vast variety of seafood products. It is also an interesting historical source for the early Rattanakosin period.
Samut Songkhram is an ancient province with a long history. Originally, it is believed that this province was once a part of Ratchaburi province, and called “Suan Nork” at that time. Then, towards the end of the Ayutthaya period going on to the Thonburi period, it was separated from Ratchaburi province and was called “Mueang Mae Klong”.
Samut Songkhram is located 72 Kilometres from Bangkok, occupies an area of 416 square kilometres and is administratively divided into 3 districts: Amphoe Muang, Amphoe Amphawa, and Amphoe Bang Khonthi.
Attractions
Don Hoi Lot
Don Hoi Lot It is a bar at the mouth of the Mae Klong River, created by sedimentation of sandy soil or “Khee Ped Sand” as called by the locals. It occupies a vast area 3 Kilometres wide and 5 Kilometres long. There are two places: Don Nok, located at the mouth of Mae Klong Gulf which can be accessed by boat. The second is Don Nai, located at Chu Chi village’s beach, Tambon Bang Cha Kreng and at Bang Bo Village’s Beach, Tambon Bang Kaeo; which can be reached by car. This bar contains various species of mollusc such as Hoi Lai, Hoi Puk (Ridged Venus clam), Hoi Pak Ped, Hoi Khraeng (scallop), and most abundant is the of Hoi Lot (worm shells).
Worm Shells have 2 shells which resemble a straw and a muddy white meat. It lives in the muddy sand. Catching the worm shell is best done at low tide. The way to catch a worm shell is by using a little wooden stick dipped in lime and plaster mixture and sticking it into the worm shell’s hole. The worm shell will be agitated by the mixture and will come to the surface and caught. It is not advisable to dump the lime and plaster mixture onto the ground as will likely kill all kinds of molluscs living there. The best time of the year to catch the worm shells are during the months of March to May, when they are in season.
A very important site within the Chu Chi Village area at Don Hoi Lot is the Shrine of Prince Chumphon Khet-udomsak which is highly revered by all Thais. There are also restaurants and stalls selling a vast variety of local products such as fresh-dried worm shell, fresh-dried seafood, fish sauce, Khlong Khon shrimp paste, palm sugar, and palm juice, and many others.
Wat Ban Laem or Wat Phet Samut Worawihan
Wat Ban Laem or Wat Phet Samut Worawihan This temple is located in Samut Songkhram town. The former name is “Wat Sri Champa”. It is the most important temple of the province. According to history, in B.E. 2307 (1764) the Burmese invaded Mueang Phetburi but Ayutthaya’s troops protected the city. Ban Laem people in Phetburi migrated to escape from the Burmese and settled down at Amphoe Mae Klong, further up from Wat Sri Champa, and called this village “Ban Laem”, the same name as their former village in Mueang Phetburi.
The people all ptiched in to renovate Wat Sri Champa and gave it the new name of “Wat Ban Laem”. Most of the Ban Laem people were fishermen. One day, they went to catch fish as usual using a net in the Mae Klong Gulf, two Buddha images were caught in the net: one was a seated image, another was a standing image. The sitting image of the Buddha was enshrined at Wat Khao Ta Krau, Phetburi province. For the second standing image of the Buddha, the image was 1.67 metres high and holding an alms-bowl, unfortunately, the bowl could not be recovered. This Buddha image was enshrined at Wat Ban Laem and was called “Luang Pho Ban Laem”. This is a very sacred Buddha and many miracles have been associated with this Buddha image amking the image highly revered by all.
Wat Ban Laem which once was a small and disregarded temple, prospered and was enlarged mainly from the donations made by the people out of their faith and from their merit making and worshiping Luang Pho Ban Laem. Later, this temple was promoted to the status of royal temple of the class “Worawihan” and was granted the name of “Wat Phet Samut Worawihan” by the King. To replace the lost alms-bowl of Luang Pho Ban Laem, Prince Phanuphanwongworadej presented a blue glass-bowl which can still be seen today.
In the temple compound, there is a monk museum, exhibiting Buddha images, amulets from various periods, artefacts, antiques, and a pulpit from the Ayutthaya period.
In front of Wat Ban Laem, boat trips are available for a trip along the Mae Klong River to King Rama II Memorial Park and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Contact Mae Klong Travel Company (under the care of the Chairman of Samut Songkhram Chamber of Commerce) at 0-3471-3053, 0-1916-3494.
Wat Sathatham
Wat Sathatham ,located at Tambon Bang Cha Kreng. The temple is made from golden teak wood and the inner walls are set with pearl-inlay. It was built in the year 2535 B.E. (1982) by Phra Khru Samutvisutthiwong, the former abbot. Inside the main building, Ubosot, there are paintings depicting Buddha’s life, paintings about the Ramayana epic, painting of famous monks. The temple is highly revered by the people of Samut Songkhram and people of neighbouring provinces.
Transportation
Bus
By Bus The Transport Co., Ltd. services Bangkok - Samut Songkhram buses daily from the Southern Bus Terminal on Baromrajajonnani Road. Call at 0-2435-5031 for air-conditioned buses and at 0-2434-5557-8 for non-air conditioned buses.
Car
By Car: From Bangpakaew T-intersection onto the Thonburi - Paktho Road, take Highway No. 35, through Mahachai - Nakluea intersection, at Km. 64, turn right into Mueang Samut Songkhram.
Train
By Rail : From Wongwianyai Railway Station, there are daily Bangkok - Samut Songkhram trains. Get off at Samut Sakon Province Railway Station, take a boat to Ban Laem Railway Station and get on the train to Samut Songkhram. You can also take a train from Wongwianyai Railway Station, and get off at Mahachai Railway Station and take a bus to Samut Songkhram. Call Wongwianyai Railway Station at 0-2465-2017 for more information.
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