Crossing Sangkhlaburi’s Mon Bridge, The Longest Wooden Bridge in Thailand!

Sangkhlaburi Mon Bridge, The Longest Wooden Bridge in Thailand — *The Mon bridge is truly a marvel of engineering by the rural Mon people.*

Located in Sangkhlaburi, a district of Kanchanauri bordering Burma/Myanmar, the Mon Bridge spans a whopping 850 meters making it the longest wooden bridge in Thailand and the 3rd longest walkable bridge in the world!

The attractions in this area is of course the wooden Mon bridge itself. This is the must do thing when you are in Sangkhlaburi. You’ll also have the chance to experience some of the Mon people’s culture in the village of Wang Kha that sits at the far end of the bridge.

The Mon bridge is located in a relatively remote region in Kanchanabrui, and that is what gives it is calming and peaceful charm. Seriously, I’m not kidding when I say that walking across this bridge felt like taking a mind opening journey.

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A History of the Uttamanusorn Bridge

history of uttamanusorn mon bridge — *Luckily no one was hurt, as the collapse happened in the dead of night.*

The history of the Sangkhlaburi Mon bridge goes back to 1986 when construction first began. The official name of this bridge is the Uttamanusorn Bridge (meaning Uttama Memorial Bridge). The name was in honor of a Mon monk named Luangpho Uttama who led the construction of the bridge with local Mon people.

To give context, the Mon people are a major ethnic group of Myanmar who lives in the eastern delta region of Myanmar .

The bridge is also known as the “Saphan Mon Bridge” but this doesn’t make sense as “Saphan” means “Bridge” in Thai, so you’re basically calling it the “Mon Bridge Bridge”.

The bridge was built to connect the lands between the Thai people and the Mon people who were separated by the Songaria River. More specifically it is there to connect the Mon Village of Wang Kha.

The bridge finished construction the following year and allowed for easier transportation between the two lands.

Along with the famous Death Railway and the Sai Yok Noi Waterfall, the Mon bridge is considered a huge landmark and attraction within the Kanchanaburi province.

Unfortunately in 2013, a large middle section of the bridge collapsed due to heavy rains and flash floods, Fortunately the bridge was fully restored with increase reinforcement in 2014.

Strolling Across the Idyllic Mon Bridge

beginning of the saphan wooden mon bridge — *The bridge looks wider than what it appears to be in the picture.*

Today, the bridge is mainly used by locals and tourists to make merits by giving alms to monks, this event occurs daily at around 6:00am. Of course, I couldn’t miss this and I have shared my experiences in the last section of this blog post.

My journey began on the Thai side of the bridge. I stayed at the Sam Prasob Resort which is located right at the bank of the river and a few short meters away from the wooden Mon bridge.

And not to mention if you are interested in something else besides the bridge, the town of Sangkhlaburi is located 1.2km away and has a little walking street full of street food.

the wooden path of the mon bridge long — *It may be close to a kilometer long but the walk goes by quickly as you enjoy the view.*

I walked across the bridge at two different times of the day, the one you are seeing now is during the early afternoon. Surprisingly there weren’t a lot of people, maybe a handful, I’m guessing this is probably due to the extreme heat of the sun directly hitting your face. Yes, it was very hot.

Also it was very beautiful and quite calming as you make your journey across this long wooden bridge. There are numerous sights and landmarks that you can spot from the bridge, occasionally a few long tail boats will pass by with the ripples from the engine making their way through the waves.

stray dog chilling on the bridge next to wooden railing — *Hey there little guy, it’s hot out in the sun isn’t it?*

And let me say, this area has PLENTY of stray dogs, I am not sure if these are truly strays as the locals don’t really seem to care about them roaming around. I think they might initially be strays but have incorporated themselves into village life, and the people here just accepted it. Interesting nonetheless.

floating wooden sala gazebo in the middle of the river — *The sala sits alone in the center of the calm navy blue river.*

About halfway across the bridge, there is this little floating “Sala” which is the Thai word for gazebo. A place where you can go to chill and relax while enjoying the gentle buoyancy of the waves.

At one point, I even say a group of monks arrive by long tail boat and spend a few minutes gathering at this sala.

floating resort huts with canoes — *I wonder what sort of luxuries one can find in those floating huts.*

The area around the Mon bridge is home to lots and lots of resorts and hotels. The one I stayed at, the Sam Prasob Resort, is regarded as one of the most comfortable in this area, but you’ll also find some fun ones like these floating resort huts.

I could even spot a canoe for every hut, meaning that if you stay there, you’ll be able to row your canoe around the river which is always a lovely activity. Next time I visit Sangkhlaburi, i’ll definitely stay at one of those floating huts.

a group of monks crossing the bridge — *There is just something different about seeing a group of enlightened monks going about their day.*

Occasionally a group of monks will cross the bridge, its moments like these that make you realize how simple and peaceful life is in the rural areas of Thailand. Far away from the loud skytrains, polluted skies, and nightclubs of Bangkok, Chiang Mai, or Pattaya, regions likes Kanchanaburi still exhibit a charming simple lifestyle that you’ll come to love.

When passing by a group of monks, don’t forget to be respectful, show a wai or simple give way for them.

flimsy bamboo bridge to the floating sala gazebo — *Many boats are parked alongside this bridge, meaning that tours along the river are available for visitors.*

I’ve made it to the Mon Village on other side of the bridge, now it’s time to walk back to my hotel room, but not before I take a branching path to take a stop at the sala I mentioned earlier.

The path to the sala feels pretty dangerous to be honest, the bridge is constructed with a bunch of flimsy looking bamboo held together with some nails and rope. Walking on this bridge felt like an adventure as with every step I take, I was afraid my foot would break the wood and I would fall through.

the sala gazebo — *The sala is empty but serene.*

While the bridge to the sala may be dangerous, the sala is built like a tank, everything felt sturdy and safe. The sala is floating of course, so while your there expect some bouncing when the waves clash the structure.

It was actually a really nice place to just sit down and hangout for a few minutes, I even saw a lone tourist sitting by the edge enjoying a sandwich and listening to music on his headphones, that man was living his best life.

another black stray dog chilling at the sala gazebo — *Hey there little buddy, sorry but I don’t have any treats for you.*

No where is safe from dogs, I met this cute little girl who followed use on our way back from the Mon Village. While I sat to enjoy the moment at the sala, she was also sitting by my side to keep me company.

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You MUST Attend the Morning Alms

the Mon Village at night with souvenir stalls — *The atmosphere is completely different during the early morning.*

The second time I cross the bridge was during the early morning before sunrise, I have some pictures of the bridge during this time but I don’t want to spoil the atmosphere and the view for you as it really is something special, you’ll have to come here and see for yourself. ;)

The atmosphere really is different, although there is quite a bit more people during this time. Not a huge crowd, but more than just a handful compared to the afternoon.

Just to note, I crossed the bridge at around 5:00am.

At this time, the Mon Village becomes a mini market selling Mon souvenirs, snacks, and trinkets.

metal plate of various snacks and food items for monks — *So excited to experience the morning alms!*

You’ll also see that every single shop has these large metal dishes with different food items sitting a top of plastic stools.

This event is the highlight of the Mon bridge, giving merits and doing morning alms to monks.

If you want to participate in the event, you’ll have to pay about 100 THB (or 3.00 USD) for each plate, some shops even have services where you can dress up in traditional Mon clothing to really dig deep into the culture.

people doing good merits and giving alms to monks — *This event happens daily and is a big part of the traditions of this area.*

The monks will arrive in a straight line at around 6:30am just before the break of dawn.

When you spot the enlightened figures making their way down the street, you’ll feel a sense of calm as everyone quiets down to pay respect in the moment.

As they pass you drop a few snacks or drinks into each of the monk’s bowls. Be sure to save your food items for all of the monks as you don’t want to be caught empty handed when the last few monks pass by.

another stray dog who wants a belly rub — *This precious girl is waiting patiently for some belly rubs.*

Yes, dogs are present during this event, although you won’t see any monks crouching down to rub their bellies.

local mon children wearing traditional clothing and posing for photos — *These kids are so photogenic that I bet they’ll grow up to be models one day.*

As the sun rises and the morning fog lightens, the Mon village starts to come alive with people eating their breakfasts, shopping for souvenirs, taking pictures of the atmosphere, and so on…

There will be groups of village kids dressed in traditional Mon clothing coming out to pose for pictures. Be wary though, they’re not doing this for free, although you’re not required to pay them, the pressure of not giving little kids a bit of money for their troubles mounts on you.

Traditional Breakfast Foods!

On both sides of the Mon Bridge, you’ll find a handful of stalls selling local breakfast favorites. Although these are similar to what you can find elsewhere in Thailand, what makes these special is the environment you will be enjoying them in, early in the morning, with the cold foggy air, surrounded by traditional buildings, monks, and cheerful locals.

patong go fried chinese donuts — Patong Go

You can find Patong Go (or deep fried **Chinese donuts**) everywhere. In this region they are typically eaten with **Jok**
Golden crunchy on the outside, soft and pillow-y on the inside, these are deliciously addicting.

jok thai rice congee — Jok

Jok is a **rice congee** that is common in Asia. Much like porridge, a bowl of warm congee in the morning topped with minced pork, fresh ginger, fried garlic, and a soft boiled egg is a perfect way to start the day.

thai khanom jeen rice noodles with curry and sauces — Khanom Jeen

Khanom Jeen are **sticky and springy rice noodles** that are eaten with various curries. Topped with various fresh vegetables and sour pickled vegetables, these are a healthier option compared to Jok and Patong Go.

Details About Sangkhlaburi Mon Bridge

Sangkhlaburi’s Uttamanusorn (Mon) Bridge is definitely a place to put on your list whenever you are in the Kanchanaburi area, not only do you get to see the longest wooden bridge in Thailand, but you’ll also get to experience the unique culture of the Mon people of Myanmar.

Opening Hours: Open all day, everyday

Location: Saphan Mai Alley, Nong Lu, Sangkhla Buri District, Kanchanaburi 71240

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