Fisherman's Village and the Bophut Friday walking street

Old Chinese wooden shophouses along the sea, turned into a street of lanterns, food stalls and live music once a week.

Area

North coast

Start from

Anywhere on the north coast

Distance

–

Time needed

An evening

Best season

All year; Friday evenings

Difficulty

Easy

Transport

Scooter, taxi or songthaew

Tickets & rules

None

Why go

Bophut's Fisherman's Village is the most charming old street on Samui. A single lane of narrow wooden and concrete shophouses runs along the beach, many of them built by Chinese traders who once bought coconuts and dried fish here.

On Friday evenings the lane becomes a walking street market, packed with food stalls, handmade souvenirs, clothes and buskers. It's busy and touristy, but it's also great fun, and the food is excellent.

On other evenings it's calmer: restaurants put tables on the sand, longtail boats bob in the bay and Koh Phangan's lights twinkle on the horizon.

The story

Before tourism, Samui's economy rested on coconuts and fish, and Bophut was one of the small ports where Chinese merchants from Hainan and other parts of southern China set up shop. Their descendants still own many of the buildings.

Some of the shophouses have kept their wooden shutters and old signs with Chinese characters. Look up above the souvenir displays and you'll see traces of the street's past.

The village is also a reminder of how fast Samui changed. Within one lifetime, the same street went from drying fish on the sand to serving cocktails to visitors from around the world.

Getting there

Bophut is on the north coast between Maenam and Bangrak. Parking gets tight on Friday nights; come by taxi or arrive early.

A suggested plan

1. Late afternoonSwim at Bophut beach, then wander the lane while shops are opening.
2. SunsetFind a beachfront table for a drink as the sky turns pink.
3. EveningWalk the Friday market slowly; graze rather than sit down for one big meal.

Where to stay

Bophut has boutique hotels in old shophouses as well as resorts along the beach.

Good to know

• Try mango sticky rice, grilled squid and coconut ice cream.
• Cash is useful at market stalls.
• Weekday evenings are good for a quieter dinner on the sand.