Rating: 3.4/5 (5 votes)

Open Days: Open Daily

Opening Hours: Approximately 08:00 – 17:00

 

Ban Bang Chao Cha is a well-known bamboo basketry village in Ang Thong Province. It is located in Moo 8, Ban Yang Thong, Bang Chao Cha Subdistrict, Pho Thong District, Ang Thong. This community is widely recognized for its bamboo weaving craftsmanship, a local wisdom tradition that has been passed down through many generations. It has become one of Thailand’s model villages for occupational development and the preservation of traditional handicrafts. Visitors who come here can experience the community’s history, the riverside way of life along the Noi River, and the meticulous production process behind its finely crafted woven bamboo products.

 

Ban Bang Chao Cha is a village with a long history dating back to the Ayutthaya period. The community is connected to important events in Thai history, as local villagers once joined the people of Wiset Chai Chan and Bang Rachan in fighting against the Burmese army during the Ayutthaya era. This event reflects the courage and patriotism of the local people.

 

The leader of the community at that time was a man named “Nai Cha,” who originally came from Si Bua Thong. After the war ended, Nai Cha led the villagers to establish a new settlement on the western side of the Noi River, an area rich in natural resources and suitable for permanent settlement.

 

In the early stage of settlement, the community had only three houses, so it was called “Ban Sang Sam Ruean,” meaning “the village of three houses.” Later, as the community expanded and more people moved in, the village was renamed “Bang Chao Cha” in honor of “Nai Cha,” the community leader and founder of the village.

 

Bang Chao Cha Subdistrict lies near the Noi River, one of the important rivers of Ang Thong Province. The area is fertile and well suited to agriculture. Most villagers work in farming alongside bamboo handicraft production, which later became the main occupation of the community.

 

The bamboo weaving of Ban Bang Chao Cha is renowned for the delicacy and durability of its products. The village produces a wide variety of woven bamboo items, such as baskets, containers, trays, handbags, household utensils, and decorative pieces that are both beautiful and practical.

 

One of the most important events that supported the development of Ban Bang Chao Cha was the royal visit of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who came to this community and advised the villagers to plant “Si Suk bamboo” as a sustainable raw material for weaving products.

 

That royal initiative helped the community secure a sustainable source of materials and enabled bamboo weaving to develop into a stable main occupation for local residents. Today, the woven products from Ban Bang Chao Cha have been adapted into more modern designs and are even exported for sale abroad.

 

Within the village, there is also a Bamboo Utensils Museum, which displays woven bamboo products and traditional household items made from bamboo. Visitors can learn about local wisdom and the evolution of Thai bamboo craftsmanship from the past to the present.

 

In addition, visitors can join community-based tourism activities such as riding an E-Taen farm vehicle around the village along the Noi River. This activity allows tourists to experience the lifestyle of a rural Thai community at close range.

 

During the village tour, visitors will also see local fruit orchards, including mango, Marian plum, and santol orchards, which are important agricultural crops of the area. In certain seasons, tourists may also enjoy tasting fresh fruit directly from the orchards.

 

Ban Bang Chao Cha also offers homestay services for visitors who wish to stay overnight and learn more about the local way of life. Guests can enjoy the atmosphere of a rural village, traditional home cooking, and bamboo weaving activities with the villagers.

 

Getting There To travel to Ban Bang Chao Cha, start from Ang Thong town and take the Ang Thong – Pho Thong route for about 9 kilometers. When you reach Yang Mani Irrigation Canal, turn right. Then continue driving along the canal for about 5 kilometers, and turn right again at the entrance to Wat Yang Thong. The Ban Bang Chao Cha handicraft area is located behind the temple.

 

 

A: Ban Bang Chao Cha is located in Bang Chao Cha Subdistrict, Pho Thong District, Ang Thong Province, about 15 kilometers from Ang Thong town.

 

A: It is famous for bamboo weaving craftsmanship, a local wisdom tradition that has been passed down for many generations.

 

A: Visitors can watch bamboo weaving demonstrations, visit the Bamboo Utensils Museum, ride an E-Taen vehicle around the village, and explore the community’s fruit orchards.

 

A: It is ideal for cultural tourism, community-based travel, and visitors interested in traditional handicrafts and local ways of life.

 

A: The village can be visited all year round, but the fruit season, such as mango and Marian plum season, is especially rewarding for those who want to experience the area’s agricultural lifestyle more fully.