Bogyoke Aung San Market

Bogyoke Aung San Market is a shopping paradise in Myanmar as it consists of 1,641 stalls selling all kinds of handicrafts, food, clothing, jewelry, fashion and consumable goods. This is the largest selection of Myanmar handicrafts and souvenirs you’ll find in Myanmar. All the items are not classified according to geological pattern so tourists should look around to find the most suitable items or ask the guides if joining travelling tours. Besides buying fashionable clothes and accessories, gold jewelry and other precious jewelry, tourists can find other types of precious stones here such as Burmese rubies, pearl stones, and famous pearls with the best quality in the world. Note that for purchasing rare raw gems, ancient statues and other highly-valuable stuff, tourists should find shops that provide legal invoices to avoid problems at customs offices. Another important tip is remembering to bargain. The actual prices are always much lower than that informed by the shops.

Bogyoke Aung San Market

Some items should be bought at the market like special brocade fabrics at Chin State, and buying antiques, notably lacquerware, in Heritage Gallery. Also, this is a good place to find skilled tailors. In addition to Myanmar cuisine, there is Chinese food available in the market. The Lady Home restaurant is on the back of the market, behind Jewelry Row, near an old wooden bridge across an old railway track, serves delicious fried noodles, vermicelli dishes, fried and boiled pork treats and sautéed food.

Bogyoke Aung San Market is the place where the Thingyan festival, also called Zay Thingyan (meaning water festival), are hosted. This festival is usually held on April 11 or 12. During this time, children come to the market with festive clothes and the shops here serve free traditional dishes like Monte Lone Yay Paw, Thargu and Shwe Yin Aye.

Jewellery stores

The market opens from 9 am to 5 pm. It is closed on Mondays and public holidays. The market has all types of items to serve every style and economic status of every visitor. Tourists can even find some nice things in just a few hours of walking here. The entrance fee for this market is free. The ideal time to come to this market is after 3 pm, when the new goods are imported, giving visitors more choices and fresher goods. Like any other places in Myanmar, the best time in the year to visit this market is from November to February, when the weather is not so hot or rainy. Your trip to Myanmar will be incomplete if you miss this market.