Spanning either bank of the San Saeb canal between Wat Bamphen Nuea, on one side, and Wat Bang Peng Tai, on the other, Kwan Riam joins Khlong Lat Mayom andThaling Chan as one of the only floating markets found within the borders ofBangkok province. Opened in June 2012, it’s also the city’s newest.
We were immediately struck by the market’s modern design. Most of the land vendors are spread over stylish two-floor open-air structures made of dark hardwood and polished concrete. Lifts allow people who can’t otherwise climb stairs to comfortably reach the newly built bridge that spans the canal. Fans spray chilled mist over the crowd. Mainstream hip hop music plays from a coffee stand’s thumping soundsystem. Bathrooms even boast cutting-edge toilets operated by control panels with settings like “Oscillating” and “Rear Cleansing”.