Of all the markets you’ll get to visit in Thailand, Talad Rom Hoop or Maeklong Railway Market is by far the most exciting. The market is located in Maeklong district in Samut Songkhram province, 75 kilometers away from Bangkok.

The name of the market, Talad Rom Hoop, roughly translates to closing an umbrella or awning. This probably doesn’t make any sense yet, but you’ll soon understand why. As the name Maeklong Railway Market suggests, part of the market is situated on the railway. Every morning till late in the evening, this market springs to life selling a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, seafood, snacks, and clothes and accessories. However, what makes the market unique and exciting is the fact that a train will run through the market 8 times a day, every day of the week.

The action at the railway market begins several minutes before the train is due to pass through the market. As soon as the siren signals the arrival of the train, everything stops. Shoppers will hop off the tracks, and vendors will quickly pack their goods and prepare to close/retract their awnings from the train track as the train passes by. This process happens fairly quickly since the awning poles have wheels attached. Once the train is gone, its business as usual as if nothing happened. For the locals, they are neither excited nor annoyed by this event since the market has been here long before the railway was setup in 1905.

Once you’ve finished taking photos of the passing train, and had enough of shopping, you can always go visit the nearby temple; Wat Baan Laem. Inside the temple is the district’s revered Buddha image that is believed to have been made during the Ayutthaya period. Along the way to the temple you’ll get to see many old houses, and plenty of food everywhere the evening.

Seeing a train, that is literally inches from your face, pass through two sides of a market with awnings being drawing to the side is a sight that will definitely amaze you. To catch this awesome spectacle, check the train arrival and departure times before making your way here. The train usually arrives at 08.30, 11.10, 14.30, and 17.40, and departs at 06.20, 09.00, 11.30, and 15.30.

Address : Petchsamut Rd., Mueang District, Samut Songkhram

GPS : 13.407467, 99.998850

Opening Hrs. : The train usually arrives at 08.30, 11.10, 14.30, and 17.40, and departs at 06.20, 09.00, 11.30, and 15.30.

Best Time : When the train is arriving or leaving the station.

Highlight : As the train pass through the market, awnings are closed giving way to the train.

Activities : Sight-seeing/ Shopping/ Photography/ Praying/ Eating

CAR
From Bangkok, keep driving along Rama 2 road until Maeklong town. Once in town, turnleft into Prasitpattana road. Drive straight then turn right at the intersection onto Petchsamut road. Continue for a bit more and you'll come across the railway station and the market.

TRAIN
From Bangkok, take the train from Wong Wian Yai station and get off at Mahachai station in Samut Sakorn province. Take the ferry to Tha Chalom Pier to board the train at Baan Laem station. Maeklong station is the terminal station.