Chinatown Shopping

Balanna Plaza

This small Plaza is neatly tucked down Samepeng lane and is solely dedicated to shoes. Brands such as Nike, Converse, Vans and Campus can be picked up here for a fraction of the 'normal' price and there is the wholesale option too. Other styles of shoes include ladies' sandals and flip-flops.  

Highlights: Branded trainers at a cheap price.
Address: 382-386 Vanish Rd, Sampeng

Hua Seng Heng

There is no better place to buy gold in Bangkok other than Yaowarat Road. One of the best options along this road is Hua Seng Heng. This 50-year-old shop trades in high quality gold ornaments, believed to be 96.5% pure. 

Opening Hours: 09:30-16:00 (closed on Sundays)
Location: Yaowarat Rd
Address: 401 – 407 Yaowarat Rd and Pang Name Rd.
Tel: +66 (0) 225 0202

Khlong Thom

Best known for secondhand goods and assorted knick-knacks, Klong Thom Market sees action every Saturday from 17:00 onwards, and continues going until Sunday's early evening. Formerly known as 'Flashlight Market' due to the fact that buyers will need a flashlight to see the goods, this market is especially crowded on late Saturday night.

Covering areas of Luang, Worachak and Charoenkrung, Suar Pa Roads, Klong Thom has everything from car spare parts, DVDs and CDs, electronic devices to clothing items and toys. Besides the roadside stalls, there's also a three-storey Klong Thom Centre (close to Worachak Road) where car accessories and toys are on sale. If you want to avoid the crowd, best time to go is Sunday morning from 8:00 until 11.00.

Location: corner of Worachak Road and Chao Kamrop Road

Pahurat – Little India

Also known as Little India, this market is frequented by few tourists but is nonetheless bustling with locals. The labyrinth of narrow lanes gives way to plentiful rolls of textiles such as silk, cotton, wool and cashmere in all kinds of colours, each to be brought at a good rate. Once crossing Chakraphek Road you will enter Pahurat. Within these first few blocks lay Pahurat's textile-selling action, so choose one of the many small alleyways and dive into the heart of it all.  

Highlights: Textiles, Indian paraphernalia, trinkets and sandals
Opening Hours: 09:00 - 18:00 (every day)
Location: Running parallel south of Yaowarat (the main street) walk south along Sampeng Lane.
Address: Chakraphek Road and Sampleng Lane, Chinatown

Sampeng Lane

Few tourists discover the joys of this atmospheric wholesale market, best described as the main artery of Chinatown. It is a very narrow lane that runs from Songsawat Road in the East to Chakraphet Road in the West, running parallel to Charoen Krung (New Road).

Even if you don’t wish to buy anything it’s well worth visiting just for the sheer experience. Goods such as flip-flops, toys, household items, and herbs can be bought here. Ladies will appreciate the vast selection of shoes and imitation ‘IT bags’ to be found. The area has a distinct smell of leather crossed with the aromatic scent of food being prepared.  

Highlights: Wholesale Market – Fabric, Clothing, Haberdashery and Jewellery
Location: Walk down the narrow lane that runs from Songsawat Road in the East to Chakraphet Road in the West, running parallel to Charoenkrung Road.
Address: Sampeng Soi (Soi Wanit 1), Chinatown

Saphan Lek Market

It is thought that certain customs duties haven't been paid on most of the items here, and therefore bargain hunters can save up to 40% off department store prices.
Bootleg software, pirated videos, unlicensed cassette tapes; these are just some of the things that you can find crammed into the aisles that make up Bangkok's Talat Saphan Lek. Just to the west of Chinatown, The 200-metre-long aisles, which run along both banks of the canal, stretch from Charoen Krung or New Road south to Yaowarat Rd. 

Highlights: Electronics, software, DVDs and CD’s
Opening Hours: 09:00 – 18:00
Location: Iron Bridge Market. The market itself is built on a large metal bridge over Ohng Ang Canal in the Wang Burapha

Siam Gold Gallery

There is always an exception to the rule and with the case of Chinatown’s customary gold shops, this is it. Adorned with in purple and gold, it exudes a less rough and ready feeling than its neighbors and has a bigger variety of jewelry including gems and diamonds set within gold. The place to head if you’re looking for a distinctive piece.  

Opening Hours: 09:30-16:00 (closed on Sundays)
Address: 310 Yaowarat Rd
Tel: +66 2622 5303

Tang Toh Kang

The oldest gold trader in the city (over 130 years old), Tang Toh Kang specialises in unique jewelry. Opened in 1880, it sells an extensive choice of hand-crafted pieces including necklaces, bracelets and rings. 

Opening Hours: 09:30-16:00 (closed on Sundays)
Location: Yaowarat Road
Address: Soi Wanit, Mangkorn Rd., Yaowarat Road.
Tel: +66 2 224 2422

The Thieves Market (Woeng Nakhon Kasem)

While we do not recommend a trip to Chinatown for the purpose of visiting the Thieves Market, briefly including it on a walking tour somehow feels more appropriate. The one-time hub for antiques in Bangkok (a role now filled by Chatachak), it is no longer a trading ground for stolen goods but now secondhand items including electronic devices, musical instruments and uniforms.  

Highlights: Flowers, musical instruments and some electronics
Opening Hours: 08:00 – 17:00
Location: Between Yaowarat and Chakrapet Rd
Address: Yaowarat Rd. and Chakraphet Rd

Tong Bai Yaowarat (Gold)

Opening Hours: 09:30-16:00 (closed on Sundays)
Location: 374-378 Yaowarat Rd
Tel: +66 2 226 4884