Gold
Yaowarat has been the home of gold and gem trading for a couple of centuries, and it is no wonder that some of the oldest buildings in the district are gold shops. Originally, the four "tycoon" gold shops were Seng Heng Li, Hua Seng Heng, Tung Jin Aeng and Tang To Kang. Now there are more than 130 gold shops along Yaowarat Road alone, which is why it is known as the "Golden Road". Generally, the gold is of high standard of approximately 23 karat gold and most shops are a member of the Gold Merchants Association. As this district is out of the tourist eye, it is a lot safer to buy gems here than in other districts, but still be on the lookout for the gem scam. See the Stay safe section of the Bangkok page for more information about the scam and what to do once you've fallen for it. One of the better trusted gem stores:
Johny's Gems
Known among Bangkok's expats as one of the more trusted gem shops. It focuses mainly on rubies and emeralds and has something for all budgets. The original owner whom the shop is named after has since passed away, but the store has been taken over by his son.
Street markets
Ban Mo
The market known as Ban Mo has hundreds of shops selling electronics and home appliances. There are also numerous repair shops and replacement parts on sale. In addition, there is an overwhelming sale of counterfeit and pornographic CDs and DVDs. There are few foreigners here, most visitors are Thai males looking for cheap electronics and spare parts.
Khlong Ong Ang Market
This cheap market is on the banks of Khlong Ong Ang, and easily combined with the Thieves' Market. It feels quite cramped as the shops are around a very small pathway. The products for sale are toys and electronics, such as air guns, video games, camcorders, used cameras and accessories.
Khlong Thom Market
Another one of Chinatown's typical markets, and actually one of the largest. It is not really one market, but instead a combination of specialty stores and open-air markets. It is mostly of interest if you're looking for low-cost electronics and hardware, such as cellular phones, CDs and DVDs, gadgets, household tools, toys, vehicle spare parts, some clothing and many many small things.
Noi Market
This market is so off the beaten path, you may not even find your way back anymore. Its hidden location between soi 20 and 22 gives this market a very local atmosphere, even while tourists are never far away. The market vendors sell products from China, fruit and other fresh food. But most interesting is the fact that you might walk through others' living rooms and see more of the citizens' daily life. Nearby is the Sieng Kong Zone, which can easily be combined with a visit to the Noi Market.
Plaeng Nam Road
This small road feels like a time machine with an atmosphere of at least one hundred years old. It is an excellent showcase of ancient Chinese civilization. If coming from Charoen Krung Road, pass the Mongkol Smakhorm Temple and the ancient Chinese pharmacy and on the right side you will find Guang Jiab Xia, a shop selling and repairing traditional Chinese musical instruments. Generally they are also trying one of the instruments playing traditional Chinese music. Close by is Liang Guang Panich, a 70-year old shop that sells ancient Thai and foreign lamps.
Wanit 2 Market
This market doesn't seem to have a real name, but its location near the church and River City makes it relatively easy to find. It's not worth it to specifically come here for the market, as it is very small, but it is a fun market if you happen to be in the area. You might want to sit down on one of the plastic seats and try some Chinese snacks as you walk from River City to Chinatown proper.
Typical for Yaowarat are its small crowded lanes filled with markets, that sell... well, anything you could possibly imagine. You'll stumble on items for sale as diverse as Chinese medicine, snake blood, Buddhist paraphernalia, toys, ant-killer chalk, car spare parts, typical teenager stuff and more. Parallel to the big Yaowarat Road lies Sampeng Lane sometimes signposted as Soi Wanit 1, 08:00-18:00 daily which is probably the most characteristic if tacky shopping lane of the area. This narrow lane, at some places having a width of less than one metre, used to be a shady area thriving on brothels, gambling houses and opium dens, but has now turned into a crowded lane of endless ramshackle department stores. The lane can roughly be divided into three sections, all of them selling different kind of products at bargain rates. The lower eastern part of Sampeng Lane focuses on cheap teenager accessories, such as cheap jewellery, toys, and hair products. In the middle part, there is more of a focus on shoes, Chinese ceramics and lanterns. Indian merchants have mostly taken over the part west of Rachawongse Road, where you can find fabrics, silk and other clothing. Don't expect high quality here, just shop for the heck of it.
Some of the smaller markets include:
Sieng Kong Zone
The Sieng Kong Zone is the oldest car spare part market of Bangkok. It is a typical neighbourhood to see the daily life of the local Chinese, most of who work in garages and repair cars on the streets. Obviously it is not easy to bring these parts home, but it does make for a fun walk. You will come across huge piles of oily car parts, some of them taller than 3 metres! The area is named after the San Jao Sieng Kong temple, which is listed in the See section.
Thieves' Market
This open-air market is called the Thieves' Market, as many of the goods sold here were stolen. Now it is mostly known for its combination of garage sales, brassware, blue-and-white porcelain, old furniture and imitation antiques. Not too interesting for most foreigners though, but it is so dirty that it might be worth a look. Some of its visitors are drawn by the sale of all kinds of musical instruments, from guitars to flutes.
Malls
India Emporium
This four-storey Indian shopping mall is a lot more modern than the other ones in the area. It is mostly interesting for fabrics and Indian-style clothing, though they also have a good restaurant at the ground floor which closes later at 23:00.
River City
Easily accessible by Express Boat, this shopping mall has Bangkok's best collection of arts, crafts, antiques, pottery, ornaments, sculptures and wood carvings â but these are the real thing and definitely priced to match. Note that real antiques and religious images will require export licences, though the shops can arrange them for you for a fee. Every first Saturday of the month, a monthly auction of crafts is held at the River City auditorium. One of the more interesting stores is Old Maps & Prints at the fourth floor. They have a fascinating collection of old maps with an emphasis on Thailand and Southeast Asia, but anything over a century old will set you back several thousand baht.
Three of Bangkok's better known malls can also be found in the district:
Old Siam Plaza
This is a big shopping mall in colonial European-style, and an excellent place to fresh up as it is fully air-conditioned. It has a strange combination of products for sale, such as branded and second-hand clothing, gadgets, electronics, handicrafts and gold futures if interested. For clothes shopping, the ground store is most interesting with plenty of cheap deals available. Surrounding the mall are plenty of stores selling weapons and ammunition. Don't even think about bringing one home!
phahurat
Shopping in Phahurat is not as rewarding for the average traveller, unless you are into Bollywood movies, betelnut leaves paan or Punjabi sweets. If you're looking for fabrics, however, Phahurat is definitely the place to be. And even if you're not specifically looking for fabrics, it is still a great adventure to visit the Phahurat Fabrics Market Phahurat Rd and Triphet Rd, 09:00-18:00 daily. The first task is to actually find it: it is carefully hidden and you need to walk through a couple of other stores to get into it. Once you're there, you'll definitely know though, as it is a fabrics market on steroids. Thousands of retailers of Indian descent sell fabrics in every colour, shape and pattern you could possibly imagine. Some shops are specialised in custom-made wedding gifts, dresses and souvenirs. This old market is a labyrinth of narrow lanes, barely wide enough for two people to pass each other. It is the most typical market the Indian neighbourhood has to offer and has managed to keep its unique character ever since it was founded.
Besides fabrics, Phahurat is also an excellent place for buying accessories, such as bracelets, trinkets and sandals. There are literally thousands of different kinds for sale, and all for a bargain, so mix and match as you wish. You'll also notice many stores selling religious paraphernalia like statues and pictures of Indian deities.
flowers
As Phahurat becomes deserted at night, Pak Khlong Talat à¸à¸²à¸à¸à¸¥à¸à¸à¸à¸¥à¸²à¸, Chakphet Rd, 24 hours just starts to become lively. Not having anything to do with the Indian community, this wholesale flower market is a great stroll through and a highlight in its own right. The endless piles orchids, roses and other flowers are an interesting sight, and there is something to be found for any budget. There are amazingly expensive bouquets for thousands of bahts, but your partner might even be happier with a beautifully created rose for just 50 baht. The market is open at all times, but the best time to visit is around 03:00, when the new flower batches come in from West and Central Thailand. If that is too late or too early for you, visit it from 20:00 onwards when the market is beautifully illuminated and very lively.
A visit to the flower market can easily be combined with the Memorial Bridge Night Market สะà¸à¸²à¸à¸à¸¸à¸à¸ Saphan Phut, Tu-Su 20:00-00:00, which is located at the Memorial Bridge pier. This cramped night bazaar is a fun walk through the dark, as plenty of colourful lights bright up the place. Expect nothing spectacular though, most of the products for sale are clothing, shoes and accessories for teenagers, as well as some second-hand items.