Khlong Ong Ang: Bangkok's Award-Winning Canal Market

The Bear Team 7 min read

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Today, we'll tell you about one of the extremely charming latest extensions to Bangkok's weekend nightlife: the glorious Khlong Ong Ang Canal Market. Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok) has long been inferred for its cheerful street panoramas, with exciting stalls devoting some of its best culinary treasures, distinctive toys, and iconic souvenirs.

However, lain close to Chinatown, Khlong Ong Ang Walking Street is perfect for wandering along in cool twilights to get a kick out of some local delights. 

It is hours of entertainment wrapped up into two blocks along the canal. Fairy lanterns and colorful flickerings across the canal light up countless murals by some of Thailand's best street artists. The murals along the canal tell the story from past to present in the artists' amazing styles.

We suggest going at sunset or just after. Put up with your time to explore the dark streets and find enchanted surprises where you least expect them.  

Let's walk a while along the newly transformed Khlong Ong Ang Walking Street to engage ourselves in the lively scene of attracting street foods, local artists, and other distinctive novelties.

 Fun Fact!

If you dream of doing this art exploration, please get to Malee Brew + Bloom around the afternoon to take photos, taste a delicious coffee, and then explore Nightingale Olympic Department Store to laugh while taking pictures of the window display, and yet head to Ong Ang Art Walking Street for dinner, incredible street art, and tons of photos.

Flashbacks of Khlong Ong Ang

Khlong Ong Ang Canal is located between Chinatown and Phahurat neighborhoods, the Chinese and Indian Quarters of Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok). It was established in 1783, and its name implies the ‘pottery canal’ since this canal was a significant pottery trading spot.

Over the years, Khlong Ong Ang was impaired until it became a highly polluted canal without persuading visitors. Previously, the Thai government agreed to start clearing Bangkok’s canals, and Khlong Ong Ang experienced a remarkable modification.

The canal has been modernized and changed, and currently, it is a fascinating pedestrian street to walk along. On weekends, beginning on Fridays, the canal is altered into a massive market for all types of merchandise and food, where many Bangkokians and foreigners come to have a good time.

  Trivia!

Award-winning Khlong Ong Ang Walking Street isn’t just your ordinary walking street; The Khlong Ong Ang Renovation Project was previously awarded the 2020 Asian Townscape Awards from the UN-Habitat Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.

Why Visit Khlong Ong Ang?

• Despite the Thai capital giving birth to a network of long canals, the experience on offer at Khlong Ong Ang Walking Street is relative of a wonder. 

• Here, people can calm down alongside a picturesque waterway reminiscent of Dutch canals and stalls, surf, eat and drink, watch, and enjoy an outstanding evening. 

• It is an excellent selection for families, romantic couples, groups of friends, and single explorers of all generations.

• The walls, and some of the canal’s alleys, have been beautifully painted with street art murals by local artists. 

• Observing the typical Thai entrepreneurial character, the neighbors arrange tables and chairs on the street to trade their products or assemble delightful Thai dishes, desserts, and all kinds of drinks.

• You will notice that standing close to the Indian quarter, there is a large offer of Indian food and even a Bhutanese restaurant. Then, the canal is an excellent pick for a fine walk and a good and inexpensive dinner.

• In several areas of the canal, there are similarly some street entertainers and even entire bands with dancers who brighten up the event.

• In addition, there is a kayaking rental service, and occasionally even, you can rent to paddle along the canal. Have a nice look at the water before determining whether to kayak or not, as some days, the canal waters are a bit dark and shady.

How to Visit Khlong Ong Ang?

The market is open each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, from 4 pm until 10 pm, and efficiently, it's only a few meters from Sam Yot MRT station. Just walk 5 minutes to find the Khlong. There are loads of local street parking for bikes in the abundance of side streets.

When arriving by boat, get off at the Memorial Bridge pier. Then walk for 10 minutes.

An Award-Winning Experience

Imagine walking along a paved street after a long day exploring Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok), passing over the stalls with numerous offerings. It offers clothes and shoes to trinkets, plants, jewelry, and knick-knacks.  

Around you are the bustles of a high-spirited crowd circle with children's laughter, people playing their melodies, vendors promoting their products, and the tempting clanks of woks and cooking pans. That's Khlong Ong Ang.

Khlong Ong Ang Walking Street retains its line-up of delicious street foods. You could find local delights such as rice dishes, barbecued squid, and popular sweets. One could place a henna body coloring stall or local crafters giving hair extensions and dreadlocks.

In another corner, artists will draw your live picture, while canoes foresee that could carry you roaming along the canal. 

Taking selfies is another outstanding activity here, whether with the boldly brightened canal itself as a background or the stunning graffiti art indicating the mixed ethnic character of the area that decorates the walls between the resident shophouses. 

An attentive eye along the multi-story shophouses will also indicate little alleyways covered with fluorescent lighting and twinkling Chinese lanterns that make for interestingly unique photo captures.

Kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are ready to rent if you love a paddle on Khlong Ong Ang. There are two pontoons offering rentals. The water in this section of Khlong Ong Ang has been cleaned up though it looks a little murky.  

By the way, if you explore this canal, you will see that right next to it is Mega Plaza, one of Thailand's biggest and most popular shopping malls. It is the geekiest center in Bangkok, where you will discover an extensive range of video consoles and video games.

Importance of Khlong Ong Ang

The Khlong is deliberately becoming a must for many events. This is especially the perfect place for Loy Krathong. 

 Khlong Ong Ang strikes out two emblematic districts of Bangkok. On one side is Chinatown, and on the other is Pahurat, the Indian neighborhood. The Khlong captions a separation or a place of transition. This canal is in the middle of these two districts of Bangkok, very vibrant and highly a standard of the city's multiculturalism. 

Both neighborhoods extend unique markets with Indian markets, especially in clothes and Chinatown with toys and others liking Chinese appliances. Both have in common a lot of shops on top of each other. 

Incredible Places Around Khlong Ong Ang

Ong Ang is one of the canals that separate Phra Nakhon from its neighbors. As the motherland of modern-day Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok), Phra Nakhon gives visitors several sites and enchantments.

The Chao Phraya Sky Park is where Khlong Ong Ang meets the Chao Phraya River. It is another BMA endeavor and the city's first Sky Park.

The walkway delivers beautiful views of the mighty river, while the tropical trees and garden plantings add comfort. This aerial walkway pertains to two additional green spaces - Rama VII Park on the Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok) side. At the same time, Chalermphrakiat Park figures on the Thonburi side of the river.

The world's biggest Chinatown is instantly east of the Ong Ang Canal. Its history, interests, markets, sanctuaries, and amount of eating alternatives foresee your explorations. 

Fascinating yourself in the environment of Ong Ang Canal will be like a breath of fresh air when you take your face mask off for a rest from the pandemic. So, we hope it is well worth adding to your list when you visit Bangkok.

  Did You Know?

Along the Khlong, we can find some small Indian restaurants. Excellent quality-price. Ideal for fans of Indian foods. In addition, it is also ideal for vegetarians.

Map & More Information

Khlong Ong Ang Walking Street, the latest in Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok), was established during the Loy Krathong Festival. However, it's not just another fair-style pedestrian street with lots of food and interest. It was reinvented as an outstanding tourist glamour for people to kick out of street art and Thailand's weekend night market.