When people think about Thailand, they often think of dry, mountainous regions that are more typical of northern Thailand. However, water and the Thai people are very closely related, with most settlements starting around water sources and rivers between the 13th and 19th centuries.

In fact, unlike many civilizations, the Thai people were already developing canal systems for transportation as well as irrigation. It is also why many Thai holidays integrate water into festivals such as Songkran.

"As much as jasmine rice and food are synonymous in the Thai language, there is a deep appreciation for water. It is synonymous with life," explains Alan Wong, general manager of Kung Fu Plaza in Las Vegas. "One of the most fascinating treasures associated with Thailand is its floating markets — with vendors cooking lunch and selling produce."

Damnoen Saduak is among the most famous near Bangkok.

Located about 60 miles west of Bangkok, locals and visitors meet to share fresh produce and specialty dishes such as yard-long beans, lotus roots, bamboo shoots, and giant radishes. Many cooks serve spicy noodles and soups made to order and often cooked one entree at a time.

"Over the years, Damnoen Saduak, or Klong Lat Phli Floating Market, as the locals call it, became even more popular among tourists, with some boats now owned by Europeans," said Wong. "While it has changed, it still represents a way of life that has spanned several generations."


While other floating markets are less known to tourists, Tha Kha floating market and the Bang Khu Wiang floating market have fewer tourists and more locals. However, it is not only the small wooden boats laden with fruits, flowers, vegetables that interest Wong. It's the way of life it represents — the ability to meet people, share something, and remember the experience.

"When you can find one or two boats that have been manned by several generations, you know you are sampling a meal that may have been served the same way one hundred or two hundred years ago," says Wong. "This is the kind of tradition we strive to provide our customers. I would like nothing better than to know our customers' grandchildren or great-grandchildren will visit Kung Fu Plaza one day and discover some of the same dishes that we've preserved for hundreds of years."

Floating markets represent authenticity and tradition.

According to Wong, watching Thai people cook on the small boats also hints at why Thai food is so difficult to to cook. None of the cooks on the boats measure any of the ingredients. Instead, they often use sight — the color of the noodles and consistency — to gauge how much of any one ingredient is to be included.

"It's very remarkable to think that any Thai recipes have survived because most of them were never written down," says Wong. "Although it is a Chinese dish, Kung Fu Plaza roast duck is very much like that."

Wong says he will be sharing some of the older and more traditional recipes served daily at Kung Fu Plaza in the weeks ahead. He says many are dishes that most patrons do not order because they are unfamiliar with the names. However, he said, anyone who loves authentic Thai food and enjoys trying food the way it was meant to be prepared will enjoy them very much.

Kung Fu Plaza has its complete Chinese and Thai menu on its Website. In addition to in-house dining at the restaurant, Kung Fu Plaza delivers anywhere within a three-mile radius. The delivery service includes almost every resort along the Las Vegas Strip. It is open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m, offering guest dining, takeout, delivery, and catering.