Damnoen Saduak Floating Market (Thai: ตลาดน้ำดำเนินสะดวก, pronounced [tā.làːt náːm dām.nɤ̄ːn sā.dùa̯k]) is a floating market in Damnoen Saduak district, Ratchaburi province, about 100 kilometres (62 mi) southwest of Bangkok, Thailand. It has become primarily a tourist attraction, attracting domestic and foreign tourists. It is often considered the most famous floating market.
From 1866 to 1868, by order of King Rama IV, the 32-kilometre (20 mi)-long Damnoen Saduak Canal was constructed to connect the Mae Klong and Tha Chin Rivers.[1][2] Many floating markets arose from the canal, and about 200 ancillary canals were dug by villagers.[1] The main floating market was called Lad Plee market (ลัดพลี, RTGS: Lat Phli) which adjoined a Buddhist temple and remained active until 1967 when the development of roads replaced the need for water transportation.[1] This pattern was seen with other old floating markets which disappeared by the mid-20th century due to the development of modern land infrastructure.[1]
In 1971, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) made the Lad Plee market a tourist attraction for foreigners.[1] The market had boat vendors and shops on the canal banks.[1] In 1981, a new road was built to Ton Canal, and private entrepreneurs established the modern Damnoen Saduak Floating Market along this canal.[1]
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