Sampeng Lane (Soi Wanit 1)

Sampeng Lane, officially Soi Wanit 1, is the original street of Bangkok's Chinatown, settled in 1782 when the Teochew Chinese community was moved from the Grand Palace site downriver. It is now a narrow, mostly covered lane of wholesale shops that the Bangkok Post has called Bangkok's premier wholesale market. Stalls sell hair clips, earrings, phone cases, ribbons, buttons, fabric, toys, stationery, seasonal decorations, snacks and dried goods, with textile and Indian fabric shops at the Chakkraphet end; small accessories start around 10 baht and most shops drop to wholesale prices from about three of the same item, so many of the city's small retailers restock here. MRT Wat Mangkon is 5-10 minutes on foot, MRT Sam Yot about 10 minutes from the western end, and the Chao Phraya Express Boat Ratchawong pier (N5) is about 300 m away. Daytime trading runs daily from about 08:00 to 17:00; a separate pre-dawn wholesale market runs about 02:00-07:00, closed Mondays. Entry is free and prices are mostly fixed.