Asita Eco Resort — Monk Alms-Giving by Boat and Fireflies at the Jetty in Amphawa
If you want to stay in Amphawa without sleeping in a homestay right on top of the market, regulars tend to bring up Asita Eco Resort first. It opened in 2013 as a scatter of thatched-roof Thai villas set in a garden along a canal, and the details guests keep coming back to are the morning alms-giving, where a monk paddles up to the jetty in front of your room, and the fireflies that gather in the lamphu trees after dark — the kind of evening you simply can't get from a hotel in town.
Asita opened in 2013 on a canal-side plot in Thai Hat, about 10 minutes by car from Samut Songkhram town and the Amphawa Floating Market. The property is a cluster of separate thatched-roof Thai houses spread through a garden — 23 rooms in total, split between Superior, Deluxe, Villa Deluxe and Thai Suite categories at 42–60 sqm. Every room has a balcony facing the garden or the canal, and the design leans on timber, cotton fabrics and local Thai craft pieces rather than city-hotel polish. It isn't luxurious in the five-star sense, but it genuinely feels like a garden home.
What sets Asita apart from a typical Amphawa stay is the morning alms-giving at the canal jetty in front of the resort. A monk paddles along the water to receive offerings while guests wait on the steps at the water's edge — visitors consistently describe it as the highlight of the trip. After dark there are also fireflies in the lamphu trees along the canal, which Amphawa is famous for. Staying here, you can watch them from your own jetty instead of competing for space on a crowded tour boat.
One guest recalls waking early to give alms at the canal, listening to the water and the birds, then returning for a bowl of hot rice porridge — and feeling like they had actually rested, not just changed beds for the night.
The swimming pool is a favourite detail because it runs on a saltwater system instead of chlorine, so it doesn't sting your eyes — a small touch that fits the eco concept. Sun loungers and umbrellas ring the pool, and you can sit by the garden for most of the day. The canal-side restaurant, The Canal by Asita, serves Thai dishes and à la carte cooking with tables right over the water. Guests single out the breakfast as cooked fresh to order rather than left warming in a buffet tray, which is a real plus for a property this small.
Beyond sitting by the canal, the resort has kayaks for paddling the waterways, bicycles for circling the garden, and spa massage (charged separately). On Saturdays there is a standout perk: the resort runs a free shuttle boat to the Amphawa Floating Market, so you don't have to drive in and hunt for parking. For Wat Bang Kung, Wat Bang Khae Noi or King Rama II Memorial Park nearby, the staff will help arrange a car or point you to the route.
The overall score sits at 9.4/10 from 74 Trip.com reviews, with 4.7/5 on TripAdvisor — ranked #1 among villa-style stays in Samut Songkhram and a Travelers' Choice 2025 winner. Cleanliness and service score highest. The honest things to know before you go: this is out of town, with no convenience store or restaurant within walking distance, so you need a car or a Grab. There has at times been bridge construction on the access road from Bangkok, and as a canal-side garden resort it does attract some mosquitoes and insects in the evening — bring repellent and you'll be more comfortable.
On pricing — Asita starts around ฿3,200/night for a Superior Room on weekdays. Villa Deluxe and Thai Suite rooms run roughly ฿4,500–6,500. Weekend and holiday rates climb and rooms sell out quickly, since there are only 23 of them. If you're planning a Saturday–Sunday visit to make use of the free market boat, book at least 2–3 weeks ahead.
The bottom line: Asita works best for travellers who want the quiet, garden-by-the-canal side of Amphawa rather than the bustle of staying on the market itself. Couples after a slow weekend, or families who want the kids to give alms, watch fireflies and paddle a kayak, get all of it in one place. But if your idea of Amphawa is stepping out of your room straight into the night-market food stalls, this sits a little too far out — it's a trade-off between calm and convenience.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Staff warm and attentive, speak several languages
- ✓ Quiet canal-side setting close to nature
- ✓ Breakfast cooked fresh to order
- ✓ Boat alms-giving and fireflies — experiences you can't get in town
- ! Out of town — you need a car or a Grab
- ! Some mosquitoes and insects by the canal in the evening
- ! Only 23 rooms, so it fills fast on weekends
- ✓ Thatched Thai houses in a garden that blend into the surroundings
- ✓ Saltwater pool that doesn't sting, shaded surrounds
- ✓ Free Saturday boat to Amphawa Floating Market is convenient
- ✓ Good for a slow-paced weekend close to Bangkok
- ! Bridge construction on part of the access road at times
- ! Weekend rates climb — book ahead
- ! No convenience store or restaurant within walking distance
- 💡If you don't have a car — this is out of town with nothing within walking distance · Grab works from town but is scarce in the evening → plan your transport in advance, or go on a Saturday to use the free market boat
- 💡If you're travelling with small children or dislike insects — it's a canal-side garden resort, so there are mosquitoes in the evening → bring repellent · rooms have screens and sealed air-conditioning
- 💡If you want the best canal view — request a canal-facing room or villa when booking → some houses face the garden and have limited water views, since it's a small 23-room property