Mueang Samut Songkhram District: Sandbanks, Mangroves and Temples

A sandbank stretching far out to sea defines Mueang Samut Songkhram District. Don Hoi Lot is about three kilometres wide and five kilometres long; it extends eight kilometres out to sea. It spans the three tambons of Bang Ja Kreng, Laem Yai and Bang Kaeo. The sandbank formed at the mouth of the Mae Klong River from deposits of sandy soil. Its size and location at the river mouth make Don Hoi Lot a distinctive landscape in the district.

Experience Don Hoi Lot and the Mangroves

At Don Hoi Lot, visitors can rent a boat to see the sandbank or collect razor clams themselves. In the wider Samut Songkhram destination, visitors can catch razor clams at low tide using lime powder and a small bamboo stick. Ask locally about the tides and environmental guidance. There are restaurants by the roadside near Don Hoi Lot, and shops sell dried foods as souvenirs. The sandbank area is also home to a shrine to Prince Chumphon Khet Udomsak.

For mangrove-related sites, two other names offer guidance, although their roles differ. The Mangrove Forest Nature School is in Village 10, Tambon Bang Kaeo. The Khlong Khon Mangrove Conservation Center provides information about mangrove forests and the local community’s way of life, and organises ecotourism activities. Longtail boats, mud boards, mangrove seedlings and planting materials are provided for mangrove forest restoration in Khlong Khon.

Temples, Images and History

Wat Phet Samut Worawihan was formerly called Wat Si Champa and is at least 500 years old. Wat Ban Laem was later elevated to royal temple status and given the name Wat Phet Samut Worawihan. Wat Puang Malai offers a different architectural style: the temple has a chedi in the Hongsawadi-period style and a hall for paying respects to Luang Pho Kaeo.

Wat Bang Ja Kreng is believed to date from the late Ayutthaya period. It houses the ancient Buddha image Luang Pho Sila, considered one of the three oldest Buddha images of its kind in Thailand. Wat Chong Lom houses a seven-metre-tall image of Luang Pho Ban Laem as well as a large image of Luang Pu Thuat Bodhisatto; both are revered by worshippers. Wat Nang Takhian combines another striking feature with its grounds: a giant statue stands in front of the ordination hall and vihara, and the temple also has several large, old concrete sugarcane presses.

The Siamese Twin In-Chan Memorial in Tambon Lat Yai has a landscaped courtyard with trees and flowers, as well as a large pond. The Siamese twins In and Chan were born in Samut Songkhram and became known around the world as “Siamese Twins.” The memorial in Tambon Lat Yai connects its location in the district with the globally known story of In and Chan.

The Wider Samut Songkhram Destination

The wider Samut Songkhram destination also offers other distinctive experiences. The Rom Hoop Market is next to Mae Klong railway station. When trains arrive, vendors fold up their umbrellas and move their goods out of the way. King Rama II Park in Amphoe Amphawa has an open-air theatre and a botanical garden with plant species featured in Thai literature. The park also includes a museum about everyday Thai life in the early Rattanakosin period, housed in five traditional buildings.

Mueang Samut Songkhram District offers everything from coastal scenery and mangroves to temples and religious images. If you are looking for a hotel for your stay, these different highlights can help you plan your trip around the experiences you would like to include.

Discover more destinations: Mae Klong.

Return to the wider travel overview: Samut Songkhram.