Don Hoi Lot

Don Hoi Lot is a large sandbar and mudflat at the mouth of the Mae Klong River in Bang Chak, Mueang Samut Songkhram, where the river meets the Gulf of Thailand. Famous for its endemic razor clams (hoi lot), the site appears as a vast white sandy expanse at low tide. Designated as a Ramsar wetland, it offers seafood restaurants on stilts, views of the estuary, and a shrine to Prince Chumphon.

Visitors can expect a wide tidal flat and sandbar exposed at low tide at the Mae Klong estuary, with firm sand near the shore transitioning to soft mud further out. The area features stilted seafood restaurants and stalls along the coastline, a shrine to Krom Luang Chumphon Khet Udomsak, and open views of the Gulf of Thailand. At low tide visitors can walk out onto the sandbar, observe razor clam habitat and local fishing, and enjoy photography and birdwatching.

Don Hoi Lot was formed by sediment deposition at the Mae Klong estuary and has long supported a traditional razor clam fishery. It was designated as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance on 5 July 2001 (Ramsar Site No. 1099), recognizing its ecological value as a coastal wetland and habitat for marine species and migratory birds.

The site is culturally significant for its long-standing razor clam harvesting tradition that gives the sandbar its name and supports local livelihoods and cuisine. The cape hosts a revered shrine to Admiral Prince Chumphon Khet Udomsak, regarded as the father of the Royal Thai Navy, where visitors pay respect. Seafood culture and fishing heritage are central to the local community identity.