Hidden in a small corner of Eastern Thailand you’ll find a tropical paradise. Most have never heard of it, some have found it by accident, others refer to it as a hidden gem. And the locals just smile, enjoy life and take it all in. Because this is a piece of heaven, a palm tree lined beach with restaurants, markets, and a fishermen’s village nearby. The sunsets alone have the ability to draw you in like a magnet. But I’ll give you seven things you’re gonna love about Bang Saray.
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Location and Setting of Bang Saray
Bang Saray is a seaside village on the Gulf of Thailand with a visual splendor and charm that few places can match. A warm Thai ambiance awaits you on every street corner. You’ll find Bang Saray, 166 km southeast of Bangkok on Thailand’s East Coast. A two-hour drive out of Bangkok, or a 20-minute drive south of the party town Pattaya, will get you there.
Bang Saray in contrast to the city that never sleeps “Pattaya” is a tranquil, laid-back, seaside fishing village. Tropical surroundings, a pretty good beach, and sunsets, together with market stalls, street food, and seafood restaurants, make this quaint little town a place you want to be. That’s exactly how I feel every time I drive along beach road into Bang Saray village.
Thai and foreigners alike are now choosing Bang Saray Thailand for the laid-back lifestyle it offers; here are some of the reasons why!
The Beach Road Ocean View
Take a drive down the northerly access to the beach (Na Chom Thian 56 Alley) from the Sukhumvit Road. As you near the end of the road you’ll approach a 90-degree bend that turns left into Beach Road.
Take the turn and bam! Your eyes just pop, and your jaw just drops, every single time you turn that corner, it’s as if you’d coped one on the chin from Floyd Mayweather and woke up in heaven! The view is stunning, you’ll want to stop the car, grab the camera, or even skinny dip into the sea. That is what this view will do for you, trust me!
If you look out onto the water in the evening while driving along Beach Road into town, you’ll see many little boats. They’re anchored, all pointing in the same direction, controlled by the tidal currents. It makes me think of “The Spanish Armada” from the history books (don’t know why) because here we are looking at the fishing boats of Bang Saray Thailand.
Check out the best views or just relax along the water’s edge from around 4 p.m. As the dwindling daylight hours pass, you’ll be entertained as the sun drops slowly behind the picturesque miniature mountain peaks.
The Small-Town Village Feel
Compact village townhouses on narrow streets with the sea; the fishing boats, and the piers as a backdrop make this town just ooze with a character of its own. The fishing piers will empty from late afternoon as the engines are cranked up on the boats, with smoke-belching out; the fishermen head out to sea.
The view is picture-perfect, steeped in a rich Thai fishing culture, cascading down the streets on every corner. This is indeed a tranquil, laid-back village with a small-town feel.
Bright green lights on the horizon make for a romantic setting at a restaurant in this part of the world. You might wonder what’s that? The fishing boats use bright green LED lights to attract the squid and plankton to the surface. Fishermen can then catch them with their jigging lines…., pretty smart don’t you think?
Smaller, family-owned fishing boats can operate directly off the beach. If you get up for an early morning walk, you’re likely to see a sun-bronzed fisherman, working with the tools of his trade. He looks pretty happy with his laid-back fisherman lifestyle.
You’ll Love the Markets
Coffee shops, corner shops, bars, street and seafood restaurants with a view. Yes, you’ll find them all here in Bang Saray. However, it’s at the markets you’ll find the lifeblood of the town; where the community comes together, to sell, to buy, or just to belong! You’ll find the young and old, smiling and happy, 99% Thai with a few retired foreigners, happily enjoying their new home.
You’ll find a market for every day of the week, no you won’t miss out, no matter what day you visit Bang Saray. The town comes alive as the people get into the daily market groove; everything’s fresh and for sure you’ll find what you’d expect at a village market and more!
Bang Saray Thailand Markets
The attached map will hopefully help to orientate you.
- The Morning Market
- The Food Market (Night Time Market)
- The Temple Market
- Saturday Night Walking Street Market
- First Sunday of Month Walking Street Market
The Morning Market
The first market of the day is the “morning market” and it kicks off around 5:30 am. It’s located smack bang in the middle of town on both sides of the narrow winding street. Here you’ll find fish, prawns, crab, pork, beef, and vegetables, pretty much everything. Take a bicycle, motorbike or just walk, and go at your own pace, fill a few things into your basket and enjoy the atmosphere.
The Food Market (Night Time Market)
If you missed the morning market, no worries, you can have another go in the evening. After your mid-day kip and relaxing in the afternoon, it’ll be time for the “night-time market” also known as the “food markets”. They start around 4:00 pm and last till 8:00 pm and are located on your right hand side on the main drag into the town.
Hot and cold food, with many Thai dishes, are on display, plus all the vegetables and fish you might have missed in the morning. The “night-time” market also has a “mini walking street” market for clothes.
The Temple Market
Once a week on a Wednesday night, the Temple market springs into gear and pretty much takes over the bottom end of town. Some small business owners (not all) close on a Wednesday night because this market has everything you’re looking for anyway. Again, it’s another opportunity to experience that Thai ambiance that comes from the village community.
Saturday Night Walking Street Market
Walking streets are popular in Asia and Bang Saray Thailand is no different, albeit, a lot smaller. On Saturday nights the “Walking Street Market” takes place from 5:00 pm just up from fisherman’s corner in a little narrow street, close to the fishing piers.
The focus here is on entertainment from the locals who will display their skills at cooking, singing, and dancing. Tourists are encouraged to sit down and enjoy the mini festivities. At 9:30 pm everything closes down and the show is over for another week, in the morning you wouldn’t know anybody had been there the night before.
First Sunday of Month Walking Street Market
The south end of the Bang Saray Beach road is closed off to traffic on the first Sunday each month to accommodate the “Sunday markets”. They are located just opposite the town park right between the new “Bon Voyage” arches.
It’s believed this market coincides with the local’s monthly payday, and that makes perfect sense. Isan foods, Thai dishes, and a host of market items, clothes stalls, and musical items, guarantee something for everyone. Street clean up begins the following morning.
The Sunsets and Sunrise
You’ve seen the sunset along the beach road south into the village, well yes, I know what you’re thinking, not another sunset, spare me the details, but my friend, this little seaside town produces sunsets that will rivet your eyes to the sky…., start you dreaming and transport you to another world…, it’s one in a million…, take a look!
The sun goes down over the mini-mountain peaks, setting the sky alight, with a view encompassing the village fishing piers, the town in the foreground, and the ocean stretched out to the horizon. Here, the lights of the fishing boats can be seen, and the color of that sky…., amazing!
Over the mountain peaks lies “Sai Kaew Beach “a little beauty, that is maintained by the Military.
Each day another sunset, a little different than the day before, but still amazing, and you think to yourself I could easily get to like the Bang Saray Thailand Sunsets!
Try this view to die for with the sun setting on a slightly overcast day, the result is a sky and ocean tinted red, you can also see Koh Larn on the horizon.
Now Bang Saray can match a sunset with an equally spectacular sunrise…., so get out of your bed early in the morning and you’ll be glad you did because the view is incredible!
Wake up to this little beauty, a view over the temple, mountain peaks in the distance and a sky that makes you say I’m glad to be alive for another day.
Bang Saray Thailand Restaurants
Feeling hungry, no worries, you’ve got options within this little seaside village.
If your heading out for a meal try the street food, on a budget of 50 – 300 Thai Baht, or if you feel more romantically inclined head to the many seafood restaurants with a view and allow 1000 – 2000 Thai Baht.
You can even have your food brought to you as you sit just above the beach on a mat at the ocean in little areas prepared by locals and enjoy the view as the sun goes down…., where else would you get that?
You can, of course, find restaurants for that special occasion where you pay a little more such as “Kept Marine” and “Ruean Thale” but you don’t need to spend big just to have a great meal.
A favorite restaurant among visitors and locals alike is “The Beach Restaurant” located at the northern end of Beach Road. Check it out you won’t be disappointed.
There are about three or four restaurants right in town beside the harbor piers “Preecha Seafood” being one, and you’ll see the staff waving you into the carpark if you drive down there.
All of these restaurants have a view out to the ocean, all the seafood you can think of, fresh from the ocean, and are great for both lunch and evening meals.
Accommodation choices of Bang Saray Thailand will surprise you too with B & B, mini motels and bungalows by the sea. More expensive options are available with hotels further out of the town……, but really why would you want to be out of the town. One that worth checking out is “Baan Tah On The Sea”.
The Pride of the Locals
In Bang Saray, there is a notable pride of the local Thai in their little town. I kid you not, the streets are swept every day, yes every day, by locals.
If they have a function on and make a mess you can be sure somebody will be along in the morning first thing to clean up. The rubbish is collected just about every day, I’m told this work is farmed out in Thailand to companies, they get the job done very well.
The locals are very friendly, you can stop and have a chat around what I call fisherman’s corner. Can you speak Thai? If not, go for a walk and you’ll encounter the locals who mostly have an English speaking score of zero……
You’re going to be in your element and able to practice your Thai with the locals everywhere. Now what could be better than that for a language school!
They also appear happy, snoop around the markets and side streets you’ll see for yourself, you might just catch a stall owner singing in the morning, as they go about their business.
Most tourists comment on the lack of other tourists when they come here. Trust me you’ll kind da be thinking yourself “It’s a little quiet” and “where is everybody”. But, Oh the peace and tranquillity, you’ll love it!
If you’re looking for a destination with authentic genuine Thai ambiance, look no further you’ll find it here in Bang Saray, Eastern Thailand.
That’s a lot of great information on Bang Saray, I hope to see more post/blogs like this, thanks for the information.
No worries at all, glad you found it useful!