If you’re planning to visit Bangkok and you’re bored of the usual markets like Chatuchak and Palladium Night Market, why not travel a little out of the main city area and check out what the more local markets have to offer?

For all you broke university students who are in Bangkok for a holiday, we suggest that you pay a visit to Ramkhamhaeng University Night Market to get a feel of how the local university students shop. As the market is catered mostly to youths, you can expect some super cheap bargains as well as clothes, accessories and shoes that are tailored for a younger crowd.

The market has both a tented and open-air section filled with different stalls that sell pretty much anything and everything a university student could ever need and want.

TRENDY FASHION PIECES AT BARGAIN PRICES 

Fashionistas and shopaholics will love the selection of clothing here and the best part is that everything is very affordably priced to suit the wallets of the university kids. Here, we found pieces of clothing that we previously saw at places like Chatuchak and Platinum Mall going for 50 baht to 150 baht cheaper, which is really a huge steal!

They also have stalls that sell both new and preloved shoes. Do take note that some of the shoes are little old and grimy, but if you’re the kind of person who loves to inject new life into a pair of old kicks, feel free to go crazy!

If you’re in need of some new accessories, they also have multiple stalls selling things such as glasses, bags, belts and earrings.

As this market is dedicated to the students of Ramkhamhaeng University, it isn’t surprising that they have a stall that sells just school uniforms.

AFFORDABLE COSMETICS

While the market does have a few stalls that sell a pretty extensive range of cosmetics and contact lenses, we suggest that you don’t patronise them as the products all look a little dodgy. However, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can go ahead and do so. Who knows, you may accidentally come across a product that will change your life!

SUPER CHEAP STREET FOOD

Just like all the fashion items, all the food here is sold at incredibly affordable prices. We chanced upon skewers for just 15 baht and lunchbox sets for 25 baht, which is definitely way cheaper than what it usually sells for in the city!

We loved their bottled juice! It definitely helped to combat the sweltering heat.

CHILL LIKE A LOCAL 

At the market, we saw many people sitting and chilling around a small pond at the side of the market. After exploring the market, we recommend grabbing some food and drinks and sitting there for the full local experience. It is a surprisingly nice way to end the day

While Ramkhamhaeng University Night Market may not be the most happening and hip night market out there, we do feel that it is worth a visit as it is a nice change from all the other touristy and overhyped markets in Bangkok.

Ramkhamhaeng University Night Market
2345/1 Ramkhamhaeng Road
Khwaeng Hua Mak, Khet Bang Kapi
Bangkok, Thailand 10240
Thu to Tue: 4pm – 11pm
(Closed on Wednesdays) 

It is no secret that Bangkok is a food and shopping paradise that is full of dirt-cheap deals, and we always make it a point to come here at least once a year to get our fill on affordable food, shopping and massages.

For those of you who are visiting Bangkok for the first time and you need some ideas for your itinerary, we recommend you pay the Pratunam area a visit. The place is chock full of endless shopping, food and even more shopping and once you’re done with all that, you can give your body a break by heading over to one of the many massage parlours that are scattered around the area.

If you want to visit Pratunam but you are absolutely clueless about what you should do there, here’s our guide to give you some ideas.

WAKE UP EARLY FOR CHEAP WHOLESALE DEALS AT PRATUNAM MORNING MARKET 

You can forget about scrolling through Taobao for the next few months after visiting this gargantuan wholesale paradise. The market is filled with hundreds of vendors selling trendy pieces for dirt cheap prices. We recommend coming here with a group of friends because you can get even cheaper prices when you bulk buy!

Ratchaprarop 1 Alley
Khwaeng Thanon Phaya Thai, Khet Ratchathewi
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400, Thailand
Daily: 5am – 6pm

HAVE BREAKFAST AT LUNG PRATHUNAM BOAT NOODLES 

There are multiple places in Bangkok that serve up decent bowls of boat noodles but one of our absolute favourites is Lung Prathunam Boat Noodle. Here, they have 6 different broths and 8 different types of noodles to choose from. Each bowl costs a mere 30 baht and an upsized version would be 40 baht. For those of you who are in a rush, you can also do a take away for 50 baht.

960/14 Phetchaburi Road
Khwaeng Makkasan, Khet Ratchathewi
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400, Thailand
Tel: +66 85 919 1994
Daily: 8am – 5pm

GO SHOPPING AT PLATINUM FASHION MALL OR PANDTIP IT MALL 

It is impossible to not have heard of Platinum Fashion Mall and this shopping paradise is home to a plethora of stalls that sell cheap and trendy clothes, accessories and shoes. With 6 floors housing over 2000 stalls, the place will keep you busy for hours! If you aren’t keen in fashion, you can also head on over to Pandtip IT Mall to check out some of the tech stuff that they have available.

GET A MASSAGE ALONG PETCHABURI SOI 15

While shopping may be fun, it can also be pretty exhausting. To ease those muscles and give yourself a break, we recommend heading over to the row of massage parlours at Petchaburi Soi 15 to treat yourself to a good session of kneading and back cracking. While all the parlours there are pretty decent, our favourite is Number One Massage!

Number One Massage 
1/7-8 Pratunam
Phetchaburi soi 15
Thanon Phaya Thai, Ratchathewei
Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Tel: +65 +66 2 653 9967
Daily: 9.30am – 12am

HAVE LUNCH AT GONG TONG CAFE 

Gong Tong is a charming and quirky cafe that dishes out themed homemade dishes revolving around different historical periods of Thailand. They serve up both sets and à la carte options and each and every dish here will take you to a completely different era. While the prices here are on the steeper end, we can assure you that it is well worth every cent.

Thanon Phaya Thai
Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Tel: +66 64 879 0149
Daily: 10am – 8.30pm

PAY A VISIT TO BRAND NEW MALL ‘THE MARKET’

The shopping scene in Bangkok just keeps getting better and joining the slew of malls is The Market. Located just across the road from Central World, The Market is home to plenty of stalls like boutiques, blogshops, cafes and massage parlours. The prices here are a little on the steeper end as compared to the markets but we feel like the things sold here are of better quality.

111 Ratchadamri Road
Khwaeng Lumphini, Khet Pathum Wan
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 121 8888
Daily: 10am – 10pm

HAVE TEA AT BOYY AND SON CAFE 

Located conveniently at the recently renovated Gaysorn Village, BOYY & Son is a chic, stylish and incredibly Instagram-worthy cafe that sells coffee, tea and an interesting array of pastries. We absolutely love their croissants which are flaky, buttery and fragrant all at once!

BOYY 127 Unit L00-01 GAYSORN Tower2 Lumphini
Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 253 8300
Daily: 8am – 8pm

VISIT CENTRAL WORLD SHOPPING MALL

Like we said, the shopping never ends at Pratunam! Another mall to check out is the famous Central World Shopping Mall. While it is similar to many Singapore malls and the stuff here isn’t as cheap as the markets, it’s still a great place to do some window shopping and enjoy the air-con!

HAVE DINNER AT GO-ANG PRATUNAM CHICKEN RICE

If you want to try a different variation of chicken rice aside from Singapore’s Hainanese chicken rice, we recommend that you pop by Go-Ang Pratunam Chicken Rice. These plates of Michelin Bib Gourmand chicken rice certainly live up to its name and we can see why it’s so popular with both the locals and tourists. Brace yourself for some really long queues!

960 962 Phetchaburi Road
Khwaeng Makkasan, Khet Ratchathewi
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 252 6325
Daily: 6am – 2pm, 5pm – 2am

CHECK OUT PALLADIUM NIGHT MARKET 

As the sun sets for the day, all the night markets come out to play. Pratunam has its own share of night markets that come alive when the sky turns dark and one of the more popular ones is Palladium Night Market. Here, you can find rows of stalls selling things like clothes, accessories and random knick-knacks.

487 Phetchaburi Road
Khwaeng Makkasan, Khet Ratchathewi
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400, Thailand
Daily: 6pm – 12am

END THE NIGHT WITH TALAD NEON NIGHT MARKET

If you still have time, you can also hop on over to Talad Neon Night Market for even more shopping and feasting. We prefer this place to Palladium Night Market as we feel that the things sold here are catered more to the youths. They also have a larger array of stalls that sell food so it’s a great supper spot!

1087, 167 Phetchaburi Road
Khwaeng Makkasan, Khet Ratchathewi
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400, Thailand
Daily: 5pm – 12am

If you’re planning to make a trip to Bangkok and you’re still clueless on how to fill your itinerary up, why not pay a visit to Bangkok’s bustling Chinatown?

Yaowarat, Bangkok’s Chinatown, is a culturally rich area that’s packed with plenty of history, stunning architecture and of course, food. It’s the perfect place to check out if you want to learn and experience the way Thai and Chinese cultures have intermingled and co-existed in Bangkok for years.

The streets here are lined with a plethora of food vendors, temples, monuments and locals going about their daily lives and there is always something happening at any point in time. This can make it quite overwhelming for first-time visitors so if you are worried about being swept away and lost in this hectic enclave, you can refer to this guide for some ideas.

Photo Credit: dumtok 

GOLDEN BUDDHA TEMPLE (WAT TRAMIT TEMPLE) 

Wat Tramit houses the largest golden Buddha in the world and this breathtaking monument that stands at 3m tall sits majestically on an altar surrounded by traditional Thai golden arches. From the top of Wat Tramit, you also get a fantastic view of the ornate Chinatown Gate that is just a stone throws away. There is also a museum in the temple that teaches you about the history of Yaowarat and how it came about.

661 Charoen Krung Road
Talat Noi, Samphanthawong
Bangkok 10100, Thailand
Tel: +66 89 002 2700
Daily: 8am – 5pm

Photo Credit: beyond.frontiers 

CHINATOWN GATE

Standing tall and proud in the middle of Chinatown is the Chinatown Gate, an ornate ceremonial gate that sits on a large traffic island at Yaowarat Road. Constructed in 1999, the gate was built to symbolise the loyalty of the Chinese community to King Bhumibol of Thailand and it was opened just in time to celebrate the King’s 60th birthday on the Throne.

Photo Credit: yaizamartinezrodriguez

KUAN YIM SHRINE

Kuan Yim Shrine is one of Yaowarat’s most vibrant attractions and it features a 900-year-old statue of Guan Yin, the Chinese Goddess of Mercy. Throngs of both locals and tourists alike come here to pray, especially during the holiday season, and the place is always filled with smoke and incense.

606 The King’s Birthday Celebration Arch
Yaowarat Road
Bangkok, 10100
Tel: +66 91 769 0824

HAVE BRUNCH AT LHONG TONG CAFE

This eclectic, cosy eatery is popular for their dim sum as well as their very interesting interior; both of which are incredibly Instagram-worthy. The common thing about quirkily designed eateries is that they usually have pretty subpar food. This isn’t the case for Lhong Tou Cafe; we never thought that we would ever have some of the best dim sum of our lives in Bangkok and the dim sum here puts some of the ones we’ve tried in Hong Kong to shame!

538 Yaowarat Rd, Khwaeng Samphanthawong
Khet Samphanthawong
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
Tel: +66 64 935 6499
Daily: 8am – 10pm

Photo Credit: drewparrett

TALAT KAO (CHINATOWN OLD MARKET) 

Talat Kao is a 200-year old open-air market in the heart of Chinatown and here, you can watch the locals go about their daily lives as they go marketing for fruits and vegetables and trade items with one another. Foodies can also fill their bellies with plenty of scrumptious street food that is readily available at every turn. We recommend trying their Chinese food; there is no better place to try it than in Chinatown!

Soi Lat Krabang 5, Lat Krabang
Bangkok 10520, Thailand
Tel: +66 99 383 0304

Photo Credit: gerdaaboushanab 

SAMPENG MARKET 

This long, narrow street is a wholesalers idea of paradise. Expect rows of stalls selling a mish-mash of random items like fabrics, clothes and electronics for dirt cheap prices. If you bulk buy, you can get an even larger bargain so you can come here with some friends for even better deals!

96 Chakkrawat, Samphanthawong
Bangkok 10100, Thailand
Daily: 9am – 6pm

Photo Credit: ambshencho

PAK KHLONG MARKET (FLOWER MARKET) 

Skip the night markets and check out Bangkok’s famous flower market instead. If you love flowers or colourful sights, this is the perfect place to admire the spectacle of colours and to snap some pretty shots for the gram. Here, you also can witness both locals and tourists purchasing gorgeous, fresh flowers for whatever purpose.

Chak Phet Road, near the Memorial Bridge or Saphan Phut Chao Phraya pier
Daily: 24-hours

HAVE DINNER AT NAI EK ROLL NOODLES 

Situated at the heart of Chinatown, Nai Ek Roll Noodle is a humble stall that specialises in —you guessed it — roll noodles, as well as some of the crispiest deep-fried pork we’ve ever tried. The food here is so good that they’ve even earned themselves a place in the Michelin Guide

442 Khwaeng Samphanthawong
Khet Samphanthawong
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
+66 2 226 4651
Daily: 7.30am – 1.30am

ENJOY YAOWARATS FAMOUS TOASTED BUNS

Yaowarat Toasted Bread sees perpetual long queues on the daily made up of both locals and tourists. What makes the bread here stand out from anywhere else is its filling; each perfectly toasted and buttered bun comes generously chock full of a filling of your choice and they have sinfully good options such as condensed milk and sankaya.

Yaowarat Road
Khwaeng Samphanthawong, Khet Samphanthawong
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 224 0677
Sun, Tue to Fri: 6.30pm – 12am
Sat: 6pm – 12am
(Closed on Mondays)

EXPLORE THE STREETS OF YAOWARAT AT NIGHT 

The streets of Yaowarat are undoubtedly exciting in the day, but the entire place truly comes alive when the sun goes down. Watch the various street food vendors slowly set up their stalls and see the bright lights come on, illuminating the streets with a soothing neon glow. The place looks very different at night and you’ll feel like you’re in a completely different area altogether.

Photo Credit: cassidyfowler 

HAVE DRINKS AT ENJOY THE VIEW AT SKY VIEW 360° ROOFTOP BAR OF GRAND CHINA HOTEL 

End of the hectic day with a chill session of drinks and a magnificent view at Sky View 360°. This gorgeous restaurant that is perched atop Grand China Hotel provides diners with a breathtakingly beautiful 360° overview of Chinatown and Chao Phraya River. Here, they have an international-style menu that has something for everyone as well as fizzy cocktails and ice-cool drinks.

215 Yaowarat Road
Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 224 9977
Daily: 7am – 12am

]]> https://www.ladyironchef.com/2019/10/yaowarat-day-guide-bangkok/feed/ 0