Bang Bao Pier Koh Chang: Floating Village, Seafood Restaurants & Travel Guide
Bang Bao: Koh Chang's fishing village on stilts
Bang Bao is a fishing village built on a long wooden pier in Koh Chang's far south-west. Fishing families first settled the bay. Travelfish says it stayed a fishing village until the 1990s, when tourism took over. Today the pier stretches about 700 m out to a lighthouse. It's lined with stilt houses that now hold seafood restaurants, souvenir shops, cafes and dive centres.
It's also the island's main departure point for snorkelling trips and boats to Koh Wai, Koh Mak and Koh Kood. This guide covers what to see and where to eat, with boat prices and where to stay. Every price is in baht.
- Bang Bao is touristy. I Am Koh Chang calls it a bit of a tourist trap. Most of the pier is now shops. Travelfish says seafood at the pier restaurants costs more than elsewhere. The views and the atmosphere are still worth a visit.
- Restaurant prices are in bands, not exact figures. The Guide Koh Chang uses ฿ (under ฿100), ฿฿ (under ฿500) and ฿฿฿ (over ฿500) per person, excluding drinks. I haven't found exact menu prices.
- Restaurant rankings differ. The Guide Koh Chang calls Ruan Thai Seafood possibly the best seafood spot on the pier. I Am Koh Chang says Ruen Thai has dropped off its best-of list. Both say quality and service can vary.
- No restaurants are listed as halal. Seafood is the main menu, but ask how dishes are cooked. The Guide Koh Chang also notes that Rasta View sells cannabis products.
- Accommodation and boat prices come from older pages. I Am Koh Chang's room rates are typical high-season prices. Travelfish's boat fares are from its transport page. Check current prices before you book.
- The lighthouse may be locked. I Am Koh Chang says its doors are often locked and the railings inside are falling apart.
Quick facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | Far south-west tip of Koh Chang |
| Pier length | About 700 m to the lighthouse (Travelfish) |
| Entry | Free |
| Busiest times | Around 9am and 4pm (boat departures), weekend lunchtimes |
| Seafood price | About ฿100 to over ฿500 per person |
| Songthaew from the ferry pier | ฿150 (Visit Thailand Today) |
| Boats from here | Snorkelling trips, Koh Wai, Koh Mak, Koh Kood |
| Nearest beach | Klong Kloi (Bang Bao Beach), a couple of km away |
What to see on Bang Bao Pier
The old covered pier
Covered shopping walkway on Bang Bao Pier
The original pier is about 350 m long. I Am Koh Chang says it was roofed over in 2013, so it feels like an indoor market. The walkway is narrow, about 1.5 m wide. It's lined with souvenir shops, ticket booths and cheap diners.
The newer extension
Quieter pier extension at Bang Bao, Koh Chang
A second 350 m section was added in 2007, with gazebos, safety rails and lighting. I Am Koh Chang calls it the nicer, quieter part of the pier. It's the best place for photos of the bay and the boats tied up two or three deep.
The lighthouse
Lighthouse at the end of Bang Bao Pier
A three-storey lighthouse stands at the end of the pier. I Am Koh Chang says it has 360-degree views but is often locked. Take care if it's open, as the railings inside are in poor condition.
Shopping
Expect t-shirts, shells and trinkets. I Am Koh Chang recommends Bangbao Shop, about 10 m from the start of the pier, for unique Koh Chang t-shirts. There's also a 7-Eleven, a pharmacy, a clinic and a well-stocked fishing shop called Tee Fishing.
Best seafood restaurants on Bang Bao Pier
Prices use The Guide Koh Chang's bands: ฿฿ = under ฿500, ฿฿฿ = over ฿500, per person excluding drinks.
| Restaurant | Where | Known for | Price band |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruan Thai Seafood | First seafood restaurant on the central pier | Raw prawns with spicy dip, clams in chilli paste, sea bass in tamarind | ฿฿ to ฿฿฿ |
| Chow Lay Seafood | Next to Ruan Thai | Live fish and crab in tanks, big seafood menu | ฿฿ to ฿฿฿ |
| Nongyim Seafood | About halfway down the pier, on the left | Fish, shellfish, squid, sea bass with herbs | ฿฿ to ฿฿฿ |
| Sea House and Chill House | Over the water, near the seafood restaurants | Curries, noodles, stir fries | Not listed (keenly priced) |
| Jerpordee Residence & Cafe | On the pier | Thai, seafood and Western dishes, coffee | Not listed |
| Cheap Thai stalls | Near the 7-Eleven at the start of the pier | Rice dishes, som tam, grilled chicken | Not listed (cheap) |
1Ruan Thai Seafood
The Guide Koh Chang calls Ruan Thai possibly the best seafood restaurant on the pier, with strong flavours and plenty of spice. Try the raw prawns with spicy dip, clams in roasted chilli paste or sea bass in tamarind sauce. Ask for extra spice if you like it hot, as dishes can be toned down for tourists.
2Chow Lay Seafood
Chow Lay is one of the longest-running restaurants on the pier and popular with Thai tour groups. Pick your fish or crab live from the tanks. It's busy and lively, so expect a bustling atmosphere at lunchtime.
3Nongyim Seafood
A small restaurant with about eight tables and a terrace over the sea. The Guide Koh Chang recommends it for classic fish, shellfish and squid dishes cooked to order. It's quieter than the two big restaurants.
4Jerpordee Residence & Cafe
Formerly Buddha View, Jerpordee has seating areas open to the waves below. I Am Koh Chang says it's good for lunch or a sunset drink. The menu covers Thai food, seafood, Western dishes, coffee and desserts.
Cafes on the pier
- Bang Bao Delight: coffee, bakery items and pastries
- Lazy Hours: stylish cafe with coffee, pastries and one-dish meals
- Viewtalay: at the far end of the pier, with a sea terrace and air-conditioned indoor seating
I Am Koh Chang also mentions home-made gelato at a booth near the 7-Eleven.
Boats from Bang Bao Pier
Tour boats at Bang Bao Pier, Koh Chang
Bang Bao is the island's main boat hub. Prices below are per person.
| Trip | Price | Source | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snorkelling trip (Mr Khai, small group) | ฿700 | I Am Koh Chang | View trip |
| Snorkelling trip (wooden boat) | ฿800 to ฿900 | I Am Koh Chang | View trip |
| Snorkelling trip (speedboat) | ฿800 to ฿1,100 | I Am Koh Chang | View trip |
| Slow boat to Koh Wai | ฿300 | Travelfish | View trip |
| Slow boat to Koh Mak | ฿400 | Travelfish | View trip |
| Speedboat to Koh Mak | ฿600 | Travelfish | View trip |
| Speedboat to Koh Kood | ฿900 | Travelfish | View trip |
Most island boats run mainly from November to May, according to Travelfish. I Am Koh Chang advises avoiding the pier around 9am and 4pm, when the snorkelling and dive boats leave and return.
Where to stay in Bang Bao
Pier homestay at Bang Bao, Koh Chang
I Am Koh Chang lists these typical high-season rates per night.
| Place | Type | Price per night |
|---|---|---|
| Cliff View | Fan bungalows | ฿500 |
| Ocean Blue Guesthouse | Guesthouse | ฿600 |
| Homestay Beach | Wooden huts on a small beach | ฿600 |
| Wild Hippie Chang | Fan and air-con rooms | From about ฿600 |
| Koi Sea House, Chilli House, Good View Homestay | Air-con rooms on the pier | From about ฿1,000 |
| Cliff Cottage | Air-con bungalows and huts | ฿1,300 |
| Bhuvarin Resort | Resort with a bay-view pool | ฿2,100 |
| Resolution Resort | Resort with a pool | ฿2,700 |
| Padel Lodge | Clifftop boutique | ฿3,500 |
Staying overnight lets you enjoy the pier in the quiet evening, after the day-trippers leave.
Getting there
- Songthaew from Ao Sapparot ferry pier: ฿150 per person (Visit Thailand Today)
- By scooter: follow the west coast road south past Lonely Beach. The road has steep hills.
- Walking from Lonely Beach: about 4 km with steep sections (I Am Koh Chang)
- Off-season: I Am Koh Chang says taxis are scarce. It suggests offering about ฿300 for a ride to Kai Bae or Klong Prao.
Best time to visit
- Late morning or mid-afternoon, between the boat rushes
- Evening, for a quiet seafood dinner after the day-trippers leave
- Rainy season: I Am Koh Chang says the peninsula shelters the village from wind and waves
Tips for Malaysian travellers
- Ask about halal. No restaurants on the pier are listed as halal. Choose grilled fish or seafood. Ask how it's cooked.
- Check prices before ordering. Live seafood is priced by weight.
- Book snorkelling trips on the pier. Most operators are based here.
- Head to Klong Kloi for a beach. Bang Bao has no beach of its own.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Arriving at 9am or 4pm, when the narrow pier is packed with boat passengers.
- Ordering live seafood without asking the price by weight.
- Expecting a beach at Bang Bao.
- Leaving late in the off-season, when taxis are scarce.
Sourced from I Am Koh Chang Bang Bao Village, The Guide Koh Chang Bang Bao restaurants, The Guide Koh Chang Bang Bao, Travelfish Bang Bao and Khlong Kloi, Travelfish Ko Chang transport, I Am Koh Chang Snorkelling Trips and Visit Thailand Today. Prices checked in October 2026 and may change.