Talad Rom Hub: A Worthwhile Day Trip from Bangkok
Less than an hour from the Bangkok is the Samut Songkram province. A rather busy little province with deep history stretching back to the Thon Buri era of Thailand. These days, the province is known for its floating market which most foreigners know of, the Amphawa Floating market. Apart from the floating market, the province is also known for mangrove forests, salt production and the “talad rom hub”. The phrase “talad rom hub” directly translates to market of closing umbrellas (awnings in this case).
What is Talad Rom Hub?
Since Samut Songkram has direct access to the Gulf of Thailand, it has access to an abundance of fresh seafood. Therefore, a rail line was constructed to connect the capital of Bangkok to this location. Primarily the train line was used to transport fresh goods and workers to and from the location. Since the train track passes directly through the city center where commerce usually takes place, it is unavoidable that merchants slowly started setting up stalls right by the train tracks. To shield themselves from the environment, they of course set up retractable awnings that stretches right up to the threshold of the tracks. As the train approaches, the vendors draw back these umbrellas to make way for the train to pass. And this is where we get the name of talad rom hub.
When Does The Train Arrive?
The train here runs on a schedule and you catch it coming and going based on the table below. Be sure to get there at least 15 mins before the time to secure your spot if you want to take photos and videos of the train passing by. As far as safety is concerned, it is very safe provided you follow the instructions. Just stand behind the red line. Apart from the warnings and caution from officials, local vendors also help ensure safety among visitors and tourist as well. Just don’t do something stupid…
| Time | Arrival | Departure |
|---|---|---|
| 06:20 | X | |
| 08:30 | X | |
| 09:00 | X | |
| 11:10 | X | |
| 11:30 | X | |
| 14:30 | X | |
| 15:30 | X | |
| 17:40 | X |
Has It Become Too Touristy?
Based on my observations, the short answer is no. While there are quite a lot of foreign tourists as well as local ones, I could see that there were still an abundance of locals visiting the market and going about their day. So, you will definitely find a good mix of both. I reckon, if planning a visit, weekday might mornings might be a better choice. I reached around noon and by that time the local restaurants has sold out and closed leaving only the ones that caters to tourists opened. This is not Bangkok and people usually start their day much earlier. For the best experience, catching the first train at either 6:20 or 8:30 would give you the best experience.
