Drive out of Bangsaen along Sukhumvit Road and you will pass a kilometre of shopfronts with sticky-rice signs stacked one after another. That is Nong Mon Market — the souvenir market Chonburi families have shopped at for generations, and still the obligatory stop for anyone driving back to Bangkok.
What to buy
The signature item is khao lam, sticky rice roasted in bamboo, done fresh at the shopfront here — the tubes are still warm coming off the fire. Compare a few stalls before committing; the sweetness and the richness of the coconut milk vary noticeably.
- Khao lam — plain, taro, and custard versions
- Fried durian and jackfruit crisps — cheaper by weight than in ready-made packs
- Dried seafood — shrimp, squid, salted fish; nearly every stall will let you taste first
- Chilli paste and shrimp paste — older shops have their own recipes; ask how hot it is
When to go
Morning to early afternoon is quieter and the stock is fresher. Friday to Sunday evenings are heaving, long weekends especially — come before noon if you are with family and would rather not be shoulder to shoulder.
One tip: the stalls right on the road charge more than those set back. Walking a little further in usually finds better prices and sellers with time to talk.
Getting there
On Sukhumvit Road, about 10 minutes by car from Bangsaen beach. Individual shops have their own parking along the strip, but it is scarce at weekends. Coming by songthaew from Bangsaen, tell the driver "long Nong Mon".