Chinatown, Bangkok

Chinatown is awesome for buying things wholesale; you'll usually get a 10-15% discount if you buy three or more of an item. Everything from quirky dancing Santa dolls to funky keychains to the latest in Kpop jewelry, look around Chinatown and you'll likely find it. It's a veritable hodgepodge of things.

What to buy: Costume jewelry, knick-knacks, hair accessories, sewing stuff like buttons and thread

What to pay: 100 to 1000 baht, depending on how much you're picking up

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My Photos
First Photo: Soi Wanit market in Chinatown
Second photo: Soi Wanit market in Chinatown
Third photo: The main street outside Soi Wanit market
Forth photo: Soi Wanit market in Chinatown

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The alleys in Chinatown are so narrow - and need to accommodate the shops inside, vendors on the "footpath", loaded motorbikes with stocks in and out for the day - or just passing through, mobile food vendors, beggars and hoards and hordes of shoppers. Absolutely no such thing as being in a hurry - and there is a great tolerance for the slow pace, the cramping and absolute absence of "personal space", moving at an instant's notice for motorised "traffic" and the general throng of it all.

What to buy: You can buy it best by the dozen or half dozen! So cheap in larger quantities - most of the shops are "wholesale only". There are whole streets with just one thing to sell - especially shoes, shops dedicated to one item only - such as plastic bags, bed sheets, rope and strings, hair accessories, bags, undies, watches by the gazillions, semi-precious stones, pet accessories........!

Food vendors either stay put or wander through - the best fresh fruit, drinks, hot unnamed treats, the lightest little cakes, sticky rice yummies.

What to pay: Buy by the dozen and spend as little as possible! You always get the most for your dollar here. Be careful too - and, if you think you can make your way back to a better price, get quotes - as I have found that, even buying large quantities, the prices can vary staggeringly!

Wander around on the streets parallel to the main street of Chinatown and you'll find some amazing alley-way shops. Wholesale costume jewelry, Clothes, Household stuff, Kitchen Stuff, You name it! Closes at 7 but things get a bit dark, crowded, and weird after dark so - maybe better to be out of the side street area by dark. Good fun to just snoop around - who needs to go to the weekend market?

What to pay: Cheap! And you can barter - the more you buy and the more you talk "wholesale" the better the prices!