Don Hoi Lod

Don Hoi Lot
Don Hoi Lot, is the province of Samut Songkhram, It's a famous tourist attraction. Basically this place is nothing but a sandy embankment right at the mouth of Mae Klong River. The embankment is around 5 kilometers long and 3 kilometers wide, spread over two areas, namely Don Nok at the mouth of Ao Mae Klong and Don Nai at the beach of Chuchi village and at the beach of Bang Bo village.

Don Hoi Lot is formed due to sedimentation of sandy soil. The villagers call it Sai Khi Pet. At Don Hoi Lod you can find many differed types of shellfish, namely razor clam, undulated surf clam, ridged Venus clam, tongue shell and cockles. Although there are so many varieties of shells found here, the most common are the razor clam shells, which are called Hoi Lot in Thai language. Thus, it is these shells that have lent their name to the embankment.

Hoi Lot are bivalve mollusks and easily distinguished from all the other shells and bivalves in the area with straw-shaped shells and brownish-white meat. The brownish color of the meat can be attributed to mud in which their live. You can see numerous Hoi Lot during low tide and this is the time when the villagers come to catch them too.
The way the villagers catch the Hoi Lot is very interesting and worth observing. Without even knowing it, the villagers protect this delicate marine environment. Basically you will see the villagers taking a thin stick covered with lime and inserting it into the holes where the shells are present. The lime tends to irritate the Hoi Lot and this prompts them to emerge from the hole. Thus, allowing the villagers to easily catch them. The villagers are very careful about not using the lime directly on the embankment as they know that they will harm the other shellfish living there.

Those of you keen on seeing Don Hoi Lot and its amazing marine life should visit Samut Songkhram between March and May. During these months the low tide timing is longer and the embankment gets exposed for a longer period of time. You can hire a boat from the village to reach Don Hoi Lot and on the way you can take some time to see the beautiful ecosystem of a mangrove. Depending on the type of boat you hire and the type of sightseeing, the fare is charged. For example, a charter boat with 6 people costs around 60 Baht while a visit to mouth of bay besides Don Hoi Lot costs around 200 Baht and the boat does not carry more than 5 people.

After visiting Don Hoi Lot, you can go to the village and see the beautiful souvenir shops that sell Hoi Lot fish sauce, shrimp paste of Khlong Khon, dried seafood and many other local produce. 

HOW TO GET THERE.

1. Travelling to Chu Chi Village’s Beach at Tambon Bang Chakreng by-passing the access road to Samut Songkhram and going on for another 3 kilometres. Before you reach the Phutthaloetlanaphalai bridge, at the foot of the bridge, there is a 5 Kilometres access road to Don Hoi Lot.;

2. Travelling to Bang Bo Village’s Beach at Tambon Bang Kaew. Starting from the opposite side of the road from the Highway Weighing Station on Thonburi-Paktho Roadside. Just one Kilometre before you reach the access road to Samut Songkhram, on your left, there will be a sign pointing to Don Hoi Lot. Take this road - a laterite road 4 Kilometres long to Don Hoi Lot. The road is not convenient for large vehicles;

3. By boat to Don Nok. There are many kinds of boat that will take you there, they are available at the Mae Klong river pier. For groups, please contact (Sun Huad Heng Wood Mill) at 711-466 or call the Boat Ticket Counter at Mae Klong River, Samut Songkhram in advance;

4. Taking a Song-Thaeo (local truck) from the market in Mueang Samut Songkram to Ban Chu Chi. The Song-Thaeo runs all day.
The place is easy to find, just follow the road from Bangkok to Samut Songkhram, and directly before the bridge over the Mae Klong and thus the town Samut Songkram turn into the narrow street to the sea. There's of course also a tourist sign to point to the right exit.

Basically, The place is easy to find, just follow the road from Bangkok to Samut Songkhram, and directly before the bridge over the Mae Klong and thus the town Samut Songkram turn into the narrow street to the sea. There's of course also a tourist sign to point to the right exit.