An alley full of delectable street food mixed with regular market fare swarmed across our way; a menagerie of fruits and raw meat mingling with banana pancakes and crisply fried pork strips. It was heaven. We ambled from one stall to the next, dodging the local crowd milling about Trat’s Night Market, unable to decide what to have for dinner with the multitude of choices presented to us.

FIVE HOUR LAND TRIP FROM CAMBODIA’S SIHANOUKVILLE TO THAILAND’S TRAT

The Province of Trat, located on the southeastern side of Thailand, was our gateway to the land of the elephants. Thailand was the third country for our Same Same Summer Trip, which started in Malaysia and pushed through Cambodia. Landing in Siem Reap and taking the land trip to Phnom Penh and the beaches of Sihanoukville, we exited at Koh Kong border and entered Trat through a five-hour land transfer by van (USD18.00 / PHP910.50).

FIRST LOOK AT TRAT TOWN

It was midday when we arrived in the main town of the province, which was also called Trat, by the way, and we still didn’t have a lodging to stay on. Our plan was to stay for one night and head over to the nearby Koh Chang Island the next day. We just wanted to relax a bit and walk around the sleepy town before crossing the sea.

TRAT’S BACKPACKER DISTRICT, THANA CHAROEN ROAD

A songthaew, a pickup truck turned into a local public transport common in Thailand, delivered us from the Trat Bus Terminal right to Trat’s backpacker street (THB30.00 / USD0.90 / PHP44.70), Thana Charoen Road. Granted, it wasn’t much of a backpacker district; if you’re thinking of Bangkok’s Khao San Road, think again. The area, a small colonial street lined with a few lodgings, was very quiet. There were a few bars, but again, there was hardly anything going on.

TATTO GUEST HOUSE, ONE OF THE CHEAPEST IN TRAT

We checked the few accommodations in the area and quickly found the cheapest one at Tattoo Guest House (THB550.00 / USD16.20 / PHP819.25). Indeed, the reviews I’ve read about Trat having the cheapest lodgings in the whole of Thailand were true [BOOK FOR DISCOUNTED RATES ONLINE]. Set on a garden-like yard with a muay thai boxing ring on one side, our home for one night in Trat was a detached bungalow with its own balcony.

OUR SIMPLE ROOM FOR THE NIGHT

The room is very basic, a bed and a sofa dominating the whole room, but it has a working fridge, television, and an en suite toilet and bath. Not bad, really.

A BILLBOARD DEDICATED TO THE RECENTLY DECEASED KING OF THAILAND

After a quick rest, we immediately checked the nearby area for lunch. The town was very nondescript, the architecture very generic. A few minutes of walking later, we chanced upon Trat’s public market. And lo and behold, it has one whole street with nothing but legit Thai food! A sign out front actually pronounced, Top Street Food in Trat by Trat People, we just knew we’ve stumbled on the right place.

WE CHANCED UP TRAT’S FOOD STREET

ONE OF THE ASSORTED THAI STREET FOOD

CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF TRAT’S CRISPLY FRIED PORK

A barrage of fish, pork, fruits, and sweets quickly consumed us. With portions selling as low as THB20.00 (USD0.60 / PHP29.80), we didn’t know what to get! After gathering our wits, we finally decided on crisply fried pork strips, tod mun pla (Thai fish cake), crispy chicken skin, and bowls of Thai fried rice. For THB140.00 (USD4.12 / PHP208.30) for two, it was quite a treat after eating through Cambodia’s expensive street food.

THANA CHAROEN ROAD FROM THE MAIN HIGHWAY

TRAT IS A QUIET TOWN

LOOKING FOR DINNER AT TRAT MARKET

TYPICAL FOOD STALLS AT THE MARKET

Honestly, there really wasn’t much to see in Trat (although there are a lot of good and cheap food to eat here, lol). After walking around, we eventually went back to our lodging and rested a bit. Waking for dinner, we again headed to the Trat Food Street. We bought bottles of Chang Beer right after, bringing it back to our lodging and finishing it off on our balcony before calling it a night.

GOING TO KOH CHANG

We woke early the next day, and you guessed it, went back to the market for breakfast. We just can’t get enough of the crispy fried pork! I hate to admit it, but it was even better than our very own lechon kawali. Then it was time to go to the island! Next stop, Koh Chang!

 

 

Trat Food Street
Address: Trat Market, Soi Rai Rung, Bang Phra, Trat 
Open Hours: 6:00AM to 9:00PM
GPS Coordinates Map: 12.244940, 102.511117

Tattoo Guest House
Address: Thana Charoen Road, Bang Phra, Trat
GPS Coordinates Map: 12.241797, 102.511107

►► BOOK FOR DISCOUNTED HOTELS IN TRAT