Walking around Sampeng market in Bangkok.

Sampeng is a perhaps the oldest open air market in Bangkok. This market situates at the south side of Chinatown. The old market In Chinatown was the old style supermarket where you could buy all kinds of vegetables, meat or fish, flour or dried squids for cooking the nicest feast for the whole family.

Sampeng market is similar to the biggest shopping mall selling all kinds of household goods, clothes, shoes, bags, toys, accessories including a big whole sale section.

There are shops selling props and decorations for setting up parties and celebrations. In the old days this market was the largest cloth market in the country; there were hundreds of shops selling every kinds of fabric and cloth. But cheap import fabric from China had destroyed local textile industry and many thousands of people became unemployed. Sampeng market has seen lots of drastic changes over the past twenty years.

I was so lucky to run into vendors selling traditional Thai sweets! The vendors were so kind to me. They let me have a taste of their sweets before I decided to buy some. I decided to give them a tip. These people worked so hard for their living; they were simple and kind people.

My sympathy went out to all the vendors who were trying to sell their goods to pay for their monthly bills. The effect of the pandemic was hard on most ordinary people who have to earn a living. So, I wish that things will be much improved and usual routine could begin to come back soon. Hope for the best.

Have a nice day!

See you.