Sampheng Market
Chinatown's wholesale lane, Sampeng, open daily from about 08:00 to 17:00 with a trade-only night shift after 23:00. Best on a weekday morning, near MRT Wat Mangkon.
Plan your visit
- Hours
- Daily 08:00–17:00
Haggle at Markets, Not Malls
Prices at market stalls are negotiable — start at 50–60% of the asking price and meet in the middle. Fixed-price shops and malls don't haggle. Smile and keep it friendly; aggressive bargaining is considered rude.
Finding your way around Sampheng Market
Layouts, fares and hours change. If something here has moved, use “Suggest a correction” at the bottom of the page.
Getting there and around
- MRT Wat Mangkon is about ten minutes on foot.
- The Chao Phraya Express stops at Ratchawong Pier, about five minutes from the lane.
- The lane runs west from the Ratchawong Road end toward Phahurat. Yaowarat Road is one block south.
Details
- Phone
- +66 95 891 4442
Full opening hours
Book ahead in Bangkok
Bookable experiences in Bangkok that pair with a visit here.
Why go, and how to do it well
Come here to buy, not to browse. Sampeng Lane, Soi Wanit 1, is Chinatown's original trading street, settled by Teochew merchants in 1782 when Rama I moved them off the land for the Grand Palace, and it's still a wholesale market first. A narrow lane, about 2 m wide in places, runs west toward Phahurat with side alleys branching off it, selling fabric, buttons, ribbons, sequins, beads, hair clips, costume jewelry, bags, shoes, toys, stationery, phone cases and kitchenware. Prices are low, lower than Chatuchak or the night markets.
Most shops are set up for bulk buyers, but plenty will sell a single item if you ask. Shoe shops often want ten pairs, and reviewers report accessories at around 10 baht each in packs of a dozen. If you only want one of something, you'll have less fun. Walking it end to end without stopping takes about 20 minutes, which nobody manages.
The retail day runs from about 08:00 to 17:00 every day, and shops start closing from 16:00. Separately, a wholesale night shift sets up from about 23:00 and is busiest from 01:00 to dawn. That's for traders, and it's the session Google lists as the opening hours. Weekends are the most crowded. A weekday morning before noon is the easiest time, before the heat builds and while fewer scooters are pushing through the lane.
MRT Wat Mangkon is about ten minutes' walk, and the Chao Phraya Express stops at Ratchawong Pier, about five minutes from the lane. Bring water and small notes. Chinatown's Yaowarat Road is a block away for lunch, and the Golden Buddha at Wat Trai Mit is at the far east end if you have time before it closes at 17:00.
Written by Mac Kiley · Updated Oct 2026
Stay within reach of Sampheng Market
SponsoredSearch Bangkok hotels with your dates. Filter for free cancellation if you want to hold a room and decide later.
See hotels near Sampheng MarketOpens Booking.com with your dates
Book ahead in Bangkok
Bookable experiences in Bangkok that pair with a visit here.
Around here, on foot
Well-rated places within a short walk of Sampheng Market, nearest first. Minutes are at an easy pace in the heat.
- 1 minGlass Half Full Bar YaowaratNightlife & Bars · 100 m · 5.0★
- 3 minOng Ang Walking StreetMarkets & Shopping · 230 m · 4.2★
- 4 minMega Plaza Saphan LekMarkets & Shopping · 320 m · 4.4★
- 4 minChina WorldMarkets & Shopping · 340 m · 4.2★
- 4 minAyatana Charoen KrungRestaurants & Food · 360 m · 4.7★
- 6 minSan Chao Mae Guan YinTemples & Culture · 450 m · 4.6★
Experience hints
Pair your visit. After Sampheng Market, round out your day in Bangkok with contrasting stops nearby.
Reviews from Google
This is one of my favourite places to go to in Bangkok. It's a rustic place but full of charm in is own way. There are plenty of market stalls to buy food, fruits, veggies, snacks and try some local Thai foods. You can buy toys and souvenirs easily and of course the Chinese restaurants are great here too. It's a great spot to walk around with family and friends.
Sampheng Market is a tunnel like market place with shops on the left and right. It resembles a maze as well coz which ever turn you take, there are more and more shops to be seen😬. This is a bargain paradise for fabrics lovers. You can find all kinds of fabrics and patterns from pure cottons to chiffons and Thai silks. You can find all kinds of fashion accessories as well from beads, sequins, ribbons, hair clips to bags and clothes. There are household products like kitchen utensils, phone accessories and food plastic containers. You can see vendors pushing their carts selling Thai desserts, fresh fruits and many varieties of street food. Outside the market, there's the Memorial Bridge over the Chao Phraya River. There are more street food on the left and right side of the river. I think this place will be lively with night life drinking and eating. 😁😎
It was interesting to walk down the narrow market road. The sheer scale is impressive. We didn't really look for anything to buy and became quite overwhelmed with crowds and traffic as scooters try to push through. Sadly there aren't too many foot stalls mixed with the souvenir and knickknack shops. The wares and stores become a little repetitive as everything on offer blends into one.
A sample of visitor reviews from Google. Read all 15,008 reviews on Google.
ถนน จักรวรรดิ Khwaeng Chakkrawat, เขต จักรวรรดิ์, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
Open in Google MapsMore markets & shopping nearby
All within a 6-minute walk of Sampheng Market.
Ong Ang Walking Street
Mega Plaza Saphan Lek
China World
Walking Street @ Yaowarat Old Market
Tips for Visiting Markets & Shopping
Arrive Early or Late
Vendors believe the first sale of the day is lucky — you'll often get a better deal if you arrive right when the market opens. Late in the evening, sellers may also discount to avoid packing unsold goods.
Claim Your VAT Refund
Spend 2,000+ THB at a single store displaying 'VAT Refund for Tourists' signs, get a yellow form at the register, and claim 7% VAT back at the airport. It adds up fast on bigger purchases.
Sampheng Market: Frequently Asked Questions
What time does Sampeng Market open?
The shops trade from about 08:00 to 17:00 every day and start closing from 16:00. A separate wholesale night shift runs from about 23:00, busiest from 01:00 to dawn, and that's mostly for traders.
Is Sampeng Market open on Sunday?
Yes. It trades every day, and weekends are the busiest. A weekday morning is the easiest time to go.
Can you buy single items at Sampeng Market?
Usually, if you ask. Most shops are set up for bulk buyers, and some, like the shoe shops, often want ten pairs.
What does Sampeng Market sell?
Fabric, buttons, ribbons, sequins, beads, hair accessories, costume jewelry, bags, shoes, toys, stationery, phone cases and kitchenware, mostly at wholesale prices.
How do I get to Sampeng Lane?
MRT Wat Mangkon is about ten minutes on foot, or take the Chao Phraya Express to Ratchawong Pier, about five minutes away.
Is Sampheng Market worth visiting?
Sampheng Market holds a 4.5★ rating from 15,008 Google reviews, placing it among the highest-rated markets & shopping in Bangkok.
When is the best time to visit Sampheng Market?
The best months to visit Bangkok are November – February, with the most reliable weather. Crowds peak in December & January — going early in the day usually means fewer people. Months to think twice about: April – May (peak heat).
Also popular in Bangkok
MBK Food Legends
Wat Pho
Abandoned Mansion
Thai Garden Massage
Similar Markets & Shopping across Thailand
MAYA Lifestyle Shopping Center
Banzaan Fresh Market
Tha Sadet Market
