Don Hoi Lot This famous
tourist attraction of Samut Songkhram is a bar on the mouth of the Mae
Klong River. It was formed by the sedimentation of sandy soil called by
villagers here as ‘Sai Khi Pet.’ The bar of 3 km wide and 5 km long
covers two zones: Don Nok is on the mouth of Ao Mae Klong, accessible
by boat; and Don Nai is located on the beach of the Chuchi village in
Tambon Bang Chakreng and on the beach of the Bang Bo village in Tambon
Bang Kaeo, accessible by car. In the area of the bar, there are many
shellfish, such as Hoi Lot (razor clam), Hoi Lai (undulated surf clam),
Hoi Puk (Ridged Venus clam), Hoi Pak Pet (tongue shell), Hoi Khraeng
(cockle), etc. Hoi Lot is mostly found here and it has become a
landmark of this place.
Hoi Lot is a species of bivalve mollusks, having muddy white meat in a
straw-shaped shell and living in mud. Hoi Lot will be caught during low
tide. A small stick previously dipped in lime will be put in a hole
where the shellfish live. Because of the lime, they will be stimulated
to appear and are caught easily. The lime should not be directly spread
on the bar since it will kill all other shellfish in the area. The best
time for a visit is around March – May because the low tide will last
longer and the bar will emerge to be seen. Tourists can hire a boat
from the Aphon Pavilion (near the Krommaluang Chumphonkhetudomsak
Shrine) to visit Don Hoi Lot. The charter boat fee is 60 Baht (not over
6 persons), or 10 Baht per person. To visit the bay mouth, it costs 200
Baht per boat (not over 5 persons). To admire the beauty of the
mangrove forest, it is 300 Baht per boat (not over 7 persons). For more
details on the times of the high and low tides, contact the Bang
Chakraeng Sub-district Administration Organization at Tel. 0 3472 3749,
0 3472 3736.
Here, there is a Krommaluang Chumphonkhetudomsak Shrine, and
traditional Thai music is performed monthly on the first and third
weeks on its front lawn during 4.30 – 6.30 p.m.
Furthermore, many restaurants and souvenir shops here offer fresh and
dried seafood, Hoi Lot, fish sauce, shrimp paste of Khlong Khon,
coconut sugar, palm sap, etc.
To get there
By car
1. To the Bang Bo village in Tambon Bang Kaeo, take the Thon Buri – Pak
Tho Road (Rama II Road), and before Km 62, follow the direction sign on
the left to Don Hoi Lot for around 7 km.
2. To the Chuchi village in Tambon Bang Chakreng, take the Thon Buri –
Pak Tho Road (Rama II Road), and at the foot of the Phra Phutthaloetla
Naphalai Bridge or around Km 64, follow the direction sign to Don Hoi
Lot for around 5 km.
By bus
A bus service is available all day from the market in Amphoe Mueang Samut Songkhram to Don Hoi Lot in Chuchi village.
By boat
A boat service of
various sizes is available from the pier on the Mae Klong River to Don
Nok. For a group of 60-250 people, contact Khun Phonthip Saengwanit at
the Sun Huat Heng Sawmill in advance at Tel. 0 3471 1466, 0 3471 2558,
0 3471 2451, 08 1378 5858; Fax: 0 3471 4240 (Food can be ordered to
serve on the boat.), or contact the ferry ticket booth at the pier by
the Mae Klong River.
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