Although the sea, sand, and sun down south on the islands is paradise, the Chao Phraya River has an island in the nearby province on Nonthaburi called Koh Kret which is home to a friendly and culturally rich community of Mon people.

Koh Kret is a man-made island on the Chao Phraya River. Built during the Ayutthaya period, the passage was created to shorten the traveling time for boats coming to Ayutthaya. As a result, an island was formed on the river. During King Thaksin’s reign, Mon refugees were granted permission to settle on the island. As you visit the island, you will encounter Mon people, and you’ll be able to watch their way-of-life.

Take the ferry from Wat Sanam Nua Pier and cross over to the other side. As you make your way over, look to the other side and you’ll see quite a few vendors waving and waiting for you to buy something from them. Before you do, take a moment to visit Wat Poramaiyikawas first. Inside the temple is Phra Phuttasaiyas, a reclining Buddha image 9.5 meters in length. Also part of the temple is Phra Nonthamunin, the province’s Buddha image. In addition, there are two pagodas to visit.Phra Maharaman Chedi was built during the reign of King Rama 5, and Chedi Mutao is a Mon-style pagoda over 300 years old.

Once you’ve finished touring the temple, make your way out and take a look at the things being offered.  Eventually you are going to come across signs that will invite you to visit H.R.H Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s and H.R.H. Princess Bajrakitiyabha’s Royal pottery-making Project. Here, you will get to see every step of the pottery-making process. The intricate carving designs are Koh Kret’s signature style. If you go to the factory, you’ll be able to buy plenty of pots for pretty cheap prices.

Continue your journey on Koh Kret and you will reach Wat Phai Lom. The front of the temple, alongside the river, is an open area for cultural activities. Every Sunday beginning from noon onwards, a Thai-Mon dance will be performed here. The dance reflects Mon traditions and cultural background. During breaks in the show, various locally-made products are presented.

As lunch approaches, you will want to find a place to try out Mon food. A lot of the shops have open kitchens; just walk in, sit, and order. You will find plenty of food and beverages along the way including desserts, coffee shops, dimsum, noodles, and more. In addition to the numerous food shops, you will also find an abundance of stores selling various souvenirs, décor products, and apparel. The vendors and shop owners are really friendly and always smiling. They will want you to try out or look at what they have to offer.

Koh Kret is a unique place full of life and culture. Visitors can watch local way-of-life of the Mon people and community. There are plenty of attractions to see, food to eat, and things to buy. Once on the island, you can choose to walk and take it easy, or hop on a bike and cycle from place to place. If you have a day to spare, Koh Kret is a destination not too far from Bangkok worth visiting.

Address : Koh Kret, Pak Kret District, Nonthaburi

GPS : 13.912783, 100.489717

Contact : 02 583 9544, 02 960 9069

Website : www.kohkred-sao.go.th

Opening Hrs. : Every day from 09.00 - 17.30

Best Time : Weekends and holidays. Most stores are open during the weekend. The weekday is rather quiet.

Highlight : The island takes a day to visit. You can choose to walk, or cycle around the island to view the local way-of-life of the Mon people.

Activities : Praying/ Sight-seeing/ Cycling/ Eating/ Pottery making/ Shopping/ Relaxing

Take the ferry from Wat Sanam Nua Pier to Koh Kret. Ferry costs 2 Bht per person and is available from 05.00 – 21.30.

Getting to Wat Sanam Nua Pier.

CAR
Take the expressway to Chaeng Wattana. Once off the expressway, drive on Chaeng Wattana road to Pak Kret (Route 304). Turn left into Phumvej road and continue until the end then turn right keep going until the end of the road.

BUS
# 166 (Victory monument – Pak Kret). Get off at Pak Kret intersection and take a motorcycle to the pier.

BOAT
Orange Flag boat takes you from Ratchasingkorn Pier to Nonthaburi Pier every day from 06.00 – 19.00. From Nonthaburi pier, take the mini bus to Pak Kret. For more information, go tohttp://www.chaophrayaexpressboat.com/th/home/.