Bogyoke Market Yangon & Shopping

Online Shopping & Bogyoke Market

Yangon's Bogyoke Market is an old style oriental bazaar with plenty of hidden treasures of the east naturally mainly from Myanmar Burma which includes semi-precious stones but now the new trend is online shopping.

Most shops in the Bogyoke Market are some how related to jewelry and handicraft and there are marvelous Gemstones with colors as visible at this Amber shop.

This dry market is closed on Mondays and opening hours are from 10 am to 5 pm sharp but this will be irrelevant once Myanmar Online Shopping is more available. The gentlemen at right are Thai monks on a shopping trip to Myanmar.

Myanmar Online Shopping

Yangon city shopping in the old Bogyoke Market which is also known as "Scott Market". The market was opened in 1926, when still under British rule the name was changed to Bogyoke Market when the country got independence in 1948. 

When visiting Myanmar this is the place to go shopping in Yangon's Bogyoke Market one of the best gemstone bazaar in the world.. About 1500 stores are around, all are very small just 4 or 5 sqm. with a few exceptions for some shops at the roadside with the souvenir, woodcarvings, and jewelry shops also the best place to change money.

If you are elsewhere just click the picture below it will bring you to the biggest gemstone bazaar on the planet. Bogyoke Market before was the Surati Bazaar today it is the most " Oriental " part of Rangoon Yangon Myanmar. In its half-lit passages, its avenues bordered by stalls, in which the mixed populace of traders transact their business, there is somewhat that recalls the flavor of Smyrna and Istanbul but it is a little flavor only. 

This is a dazzling no food market right in the center of Yangon (Rangoon) the former capital and biggest city in the country with the best selection of genuine and natural quality gemstones south sea pearls semi-precious stones and jewelry.

The address is: Bogyoke Aung San Road in the center of Yangon opposite the Sule Shangri-La Hotel

Myanmar Online Shopping is coming.

   

Only one precious stone is not native and that are emeralds and some particular diamonds since smaller sized pieces of the transparent stones are also found in the country including rich sources of gold and silver and this bazaar is one of the main places where they show and sell them. If you are searching for a souvenir before you return home after a holiday in Myanmar that's the place to go, they are closed on Mondays, some banks and money-changer are there too. 

This old native mall is also an excellent source of great jade statues and jewelry. At your trip, you will sooner or later visit this place. All the treasures of the country are there on display plus plenty of other items such as lacquer, wood carvings, marionettes, antiques, clothing, textiles etc.

Before Scott and now it's Bogyoke Market. 

The Yangon shopping bazaar is owned by a company of Suratis whose enterprise forestalled that of the City Fathers. The shares of the Surati Bazaar Company were unpurchasable, and their dividends reached fabulous dimensions. 

The market was opened in 1926, when still under British rule, the name was changed to Bogyoke Market when the country got independence in 1948. When visiting Myanmar this is the place to go in Yangon. Most interesting for foreign visitors are the gemstone stores.

Many Ruby Shops

About 1500 shops are around, all are very small just 4 or 5 sqm. with a few exceptions for some shops at the roadside with the souvenir, woodcarvings, and jewelry shops also the best place to change money.The location is right in the center almost opposite to the Sule Shangri-La Hotel. They also sell handicrafts, clothing, local food, fashion, and antiques. The place is a bit chaotic since everything is sold everywhere, there is no particular categorization. Only jade traders have a hall presenting their products such as bangles, pendants, and other a traveler could be interested in. Actually, mostly Chinese tourists to the Bogyoke Aung San Market are after them.

Here is jade           White Sapphire         Blue Sapphire                                        Red Ruby

A very colorful place just as we imagine an oriental bazaar. This is a shopping paradise for people visiting Myanmar who hunt for unusual exotic gifts to bring back home. Thousands of people visit the Bogyoke market every day. Just beside is a more modern mall the FMI center, opposite the road is the Sule Shangri-La hotel and more means right in the center. The old railway station which is a bit to the east is a showcase of old British colonial style, more about Yangon City shopping.

At the other side of the road is a mall and pharmacies plus small clinics. A whole area is an interesting place for everything people needs and Yangon shopping in general.

In the halls, it sparkles and shines in jewelry stores. Shop for local items, this is a shopper's paradise for unique and beautiful oriental handicrafts, from lacquer to exotic jewelry in silver, jade, ruby and the whole assortments of precious stones, handicrafts, and fabrics.

Gemstones are available abundantly in places such as the Boyoke Market in Yangon which is one of the most famous bazaars still existing in the east. Offering all treasures the country is famous for including pearls rubies sapphires jade gold and silver. The whole range of semi-precious stones, wood carvings from teak, sandalwood, and antiques plus many oriental goods you maybe haven’t heard about yet.

Plenty of clothing stores offer local cotton shirts and other from India. Silk and most everyday textiles come from China. 

A shopping trip to this bazaar is a "must" when in Yangon

Without having crossed the Bogyoke market, one should not leave the former capital. A difference should be taken into account and the opening hours are really 10 and 5 is the end. Monday is closed and actually not like in Thailand where no one adheres to any rules.

The tourist tsunami, primarily of Chinese origin is overwhelming they mainly bargain for jade jewelry and sculptures.  The great bazaars is one of the top attractions of the metropolis and the shop owners naturally like it after so many dire years traders grin.

Here, the city pulsates since the 19th century (before there was another market) the halls stand for the old trade tradition in old Burma. The many people today strolling through the country's oldest shopping center witnessing to the tourist boom that has been aroused. At the moment (2016) the customer structure is changing strongly towards the Chinese.

Yangon (Rangoon's) Great Bazaar is rich in symbolism making lot's of business here means the country is in good conditions.  Souvenir shops, jewelers, and jewelers make handsome profits also more commercial goods from China and Thailand move in. But the Thais can't get clear with their greed.

If one has to fight decades for the uncertain political situation and the resulting embargoes of the EU and Americans with economic problems, one has to deal with the biggest visitor excitement for decades. The problem is that most shopkeepers are pushing the price up like they drunk too much whiskey.

Visual Art such as Paintings and Puppets

Myanmar paintings depicting Buddha in various forms and landscapes.

It could be a pretty exotic decoration in your home. Even landscape panoramas made as so-called "gem paintings”. The "gemstone composition" below is made from mother of pearl jade ruby and other semi-precious stones.

Not only "mother of pearl" wall decoration is available also jewelry made from this beautiful can be bought right now in our 'mother of pearl' website here >

This is the largest old-style market in the country dealing with domestic merchandise gems and jewelry plus all kind of art. The place is popular with foreigners and locals alike, most stores have dual language speaking staff and signs are written in both language. 

If it is maybe something bigger you want to take home with you there is also wrapping and shipping service.

The bazaar was built as Scott Market in 1926 

Named after the Municipal Commissioner Mr. Gavin Scott. This oriental bazaar is just the same experience as, during British colonial times, it's the prototype of an old market of the east. After Burmese independence in 1948, it was named as Bogyoke Aung San Market but even until the 199x among the Yangon people it was still Scott Market, they didn't have good experience with any military.

What's up at Bogyoke Aung San Market? Genuine natural stones for sale. 

Such as Buddhas statues carved from the golden Amber organic stone material. Aside from this famous city mall street market is around everywhere, another fascinating one is in Chinatown. Actually, this quarter is almost one shopping place only everywhere are goods on sale even on the streets and boardwalks, all very similar to the street markets in Bangkok.

At small stalls, they sell “chatty” or local cigars, betel and cosmetics. Women sell lemonade by pouring the liquid over pieces of ice and some cheap Chinese Buddha Statues made from porcelain are on sale just from the street but this is not Jade Buddhas.

Raw natural precious stones make genuine ethnic jewelry for sale are probably the most interesting things since they fit in any luggage, are colorful, have some real value and often a pretty design, are such typical items, buy some bangles for the loved ones.

If someone is not after the very sophisticated Chinese style (all is Burmese jadeite) a pretty bangle of genuine green jade can go for as little as $ 10,-, no yoke.

I bought some on my own over the years, carved are rather rare. The good news with these cheap items is they are real genuine because nobody is investing the time and techniques needed to make them up because of the rather low quality.

Bracelets, necklaces, and other items with mix stones look great and carry a low price. Thousands of peoples move through here every day and most of them know why.

Here some of the most impressive art's and craft's are available such as carved teak wood mirror frame carvings and other.

It is experienced since at least two hundred years, during English colonial times this was “Scott Market” and dominated by Indian traders who came to the country with the British after the name changed to Bogyoke Market and it is still one of the most exotic and interesting bazaars in the world.

The Scots were very active in the country during colonial times. Today this is the place every traveler should visit, but not only foreigners, local people are still the majority. There is no other place like in Yangon City.

People come from all corners of Burma, including nuns and monks constantly are approaching shop and begging for alms by reciting verses from the Tripitaka, boys and girls are running around selling postcards.

Some Chinese tourists from Singapore try to strike a deal for jade bangles and a group of Thai women tries to bargain for ruby necklaces plus more, plenty of people moving slowly every day through the alleyways.

This is the old center of commerce; the new malls are not interesting since they only offer the goods available anywhere in South East Asia. Since prices are not fixed some bargaining is required with anything.

Closely is an old church and some old mosques if you want to escape from the scene to a quiet environment. This is a very positive day trip adventure for any visitors.

Naturally many other items such as silk textiles from Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, China, and India are available too including various versions of silk from the countries indicated. A lot of people migrated from India when the British were still here; they were used in the administration including shops and started the upcoming book printing at that time.

Since there is a lot of gold found in the big rivers plenty of pure gold jewelry is available such as necklaces, rings, bracelets and more.

This is the right place for some exotic souvenirs to buy such as carved teak wood items which usually won’t carry a high price tag except sandalwood. Wall paintings on canvas or carved wood are very decorative usually depicting scenes with Buddha, people and countryside scenes with pagodas and temples.

Another very similar bazaar is around the Mahamuni Pagoda in Mandalay but that is not under one roof rather distributed shops most artists their work open air. This is one of this old fashion oriental bazaars somehow similar to Istanbul and Cairo.

The old native Bogyoke Aung San Market 

Here is also an excellent source of great jade statues and jewelry. At your trip, you will sooner or later visit this place. All the treasures of the country are there on display plus plenty of other items such as lacquer, wood carvings, marionettes, antiques, clothing, textiles etc.

Take a beautiful piece of ethnic jewelry home from your vacation you won't find this elsewhere, it's unique and valuable for a low price. There are also sculptures and great looking laughing Jade Stone Buddha.

There are unique precious stones paintings where the colors are substituted with precious stones such as jade, ruby and others, its incredible decorative in any home.

Antique Shops

In the antique shops, plenty of old items are on display, some are just junk other are quite interesting, such as old coins banknotes ancient cameras fake gramophones with a brass loudspeaker and there are countless pretty items at stores inside the market halls and at some just outside. It is very rare to see all these old things around elsewhere since most vanished into collector’s properties already but there are still some antique shops around.

In the Bogyoke Aung San Market they also sell old wood carvings and Buddha statues made from jade marble and other local material.

Plus marionettes, puppets, and other technical items which are not working anymore. If you buy any of those things insist on an official invoice otherwise they make a problem at departure. Be very care careful with opium weights and statues this is are sensitive items.

Art galleries with beautiful paintings

Gem Shops in the bazaar selling loose stones and jewelry are a trademark for excellent gems, they also have plenty of cabochons and color gemstone collections around uses this as a platform to sell their creations and jewelry. Have a walk through this amazing oriental bazaar and nobody try to push or pull you in. Here everyone can enjoy jewelry shopping in a great ambiance without aggressive salespeople, but they are still there when you need them.

New gems are on display every day and many shops are actually the front-end of mines somewhere up country. Brightly colored precious stones are for sale, real eye candy for everyone. Countless variants of beads with different shapes and colors are available for amazingly low prices when not top quality is asked.

What does that mean? E.g. take the jade bracelets below as an example, most of the beads have impurities such as green spots in the white sphere, this is not a uniform color and the sales are substantially lower as if they have one shade and texture. So if you like one but don't want to pay as much ask the dealer to show you other

Jadeite Jade Stores in the bazaar

Some high-end stores with excellent green stones, raw and as jewelry are around always filled with Chinese tourists. They have a "mythical connection" to the rock and there is a wide range of items available to buy including a strange one often with pretty carvings which Chinese just take in the hand and squeeze it is said it has positive health properties. 
Jadeite jade is the high-quality version of the green stone.

Antique shops made from exotic materials such as bronze, brass, wood, textile and others are around if you intend to buy any of this and it looks rather old or is a Buddha Statue make sure to get an official receipt since they will check it at the airport when you leave.

Sandalwood creations are spread over the whole exchange they always have a high level of decorative art, There is a wide selection of loose gemstones actually an incredible variety of precious stones, semi and other such as ruby, sapphire, jade, pearls, diamonds, amber, topaz, garnet, spinel, quartz and many more. Most are in the setting of excellent designed gold and silver jewelry.

This original old fashion oriental bazaar is the right destination for a day trip within Yangon, it tells much more about the country because that's a microcosm by itself with handicrafts, jewelry and products local people actually produce, everything is here. Opening hours are 10 am to 5 pm sharp and Monday is closed. 

The bazaar is right in the very city center only 5 minute’s walk from the Sule Shangri-La Hotel and other including some travel agents and countless of other shops at the opposite site. Shopping is one of the most popular a past-time people have. Markets are everywhere most are not very interesting but this Yangon mall has real hidden treasures if you are on a trip in the country try to find some and if you are lucky you will find some items not existent anywhere in the world.

Exotic Antiques are on display in many shops in particular outside of the place on the road and two shops in the main hall.

Buddha Shops have the usual statues made from various materials such as wood, marble, jade, bronze and other. Gold Shops offer locally made jewelry in a wide variety.

Jade Stores are the destination for many Chinese tourists jewelry is not cheap but it is usually good quality.

Lacquer Stores offer two variants, traditional style which is low prices and modern ones which are rather high prices.

Sandalwood Carvings are often really beautiful and smell good.
Exotic Wall Art is excellent, attractive and often inexpensive. Ethnic Jewelry and Dresses are available in amazing forms styles and sometimes fascinating materials.

Here still all treasures of the orient are available such as precious stones, jade, ruby, sapphire, gold, and silver etc. The place is also known as "Scott Market" which was the name under the British but many people still use it today, closed on Monday and there is no similar place in the country, means plan your trip.

A Burmese jewelry shop selling high-end gemstone and pearls necklaces and a ruby brooch paired with diamonds and other precious items to adorn the body. Actually, the whole place is filled with local treasures mined in the country and created in workshops by hand, read more.

Gold Shops in the main hall

There are a couple of gold stores which sell jewelry made from pure gold and more with plated gold. Lots of buyers are around this stores because the yellow metal is very popular.

Interestingly all sold here are from domestic production either "river gold" or from Mines.

Semi-precious stones from Myanmar (Burma)

In the old days, before the British came there was another local market here.  Somehow characterized by the weight of items bought in the bazaars. This was determined by the use of a beam balance with two trays or baskets. The correct weight was determined by bronze weights of different sizes only a couple of years ago they stopped using this kind of Indian origin tools.

During colonial times this weights became 'opium' weights, based on the Indian system of weights and measures. The largest was a viss, or 100 ticals, equaling 1600 grams, followed by a 50, 20, 10, 5, 2, and 1 tical ending with a 1/2, 1/4, and 1/8 tical. Later weight sets, usually of brass, sometimes had 10.0, 5.0, and 2.5 viss weights. For easier lifting, units above 20 ticals usually had a handle.

The Bogyoke Market is a true oriental bazaar in it's best tradition today precious inorganic and organic stones and textiles plus art objects dominate the Bazaar. 

Well-knowns are ruby gemstones and great sapphires plus jade but there are much more of semi-precious stones and gorgeous amber jewelry.

Interesting variants are ethnic jewelry with a blend of several pretty items with the whole spectrum of colors it is an endless gleaming and glinting. At these places, you also can get some better knowledge about gems.

When interesting of buying the little things you can purchase them in bulk with some good discounts, this might save some money. Ask where the main office is located and how long is it already existent and make sure you will find the people again because maybe something goes wrong. But never do something like this in Thailand where they will cheat you mercilessly.

Several manufacturers offer free transportation to their factories to have a look around, sometimes there is a good deal to be made. It is very important when you buy anything to receive an official receipt and certification because if you don’t have that you are in trouble when leaving the country. There are plenty of government employees around who have a look what the foreigners are doing and this is also still on, nothing has changed.

As everywhere where they sell these items there is the risk of fraud, maybe a fake stone or a lower quality as promises. The best is if you buy in a higher price range take a gemstones expert with you; ask the hotel to find one.

Beautiful south sea pearls

Pearl Shops have amazing beads and balls in different sizes and colors. Pictures tell more.

Ruby Stone Sale are plenty but prices are often higher than in Thailand.
Hand Carved Wood is worth to consider as a fine souvenir even bigger items are easy to carry since the shops handle the shipments.

Loose Gemstones are also worth to take them with but it needs hard negotiations to get the best value. Sure successes are golden white silver and pink south sea pearls. 

Take a beautiful piece of ethnic jewelry

Bring it home from your vacation since you won't find this elsewhere, it's unique and valuable for a low price.  

There are also sculptures and great looking laughing Jade Stone Buddha. There are unique precious stones paintings where the colors are substituted with precious stones such as jade, ruby and others, its incredible decorative in any home. This plaza is genuine Yangon shopping.

The bazaar was built as Scott Market in 1926 named after the Municipal Commissioner Mr. Gavin Scott. This oriental bazaar is just the same experience as, during British colonial times, it's the prototype of an old market of the east.

After Burmese independence in 1948, it was named as Bogyoke Aung San Market but even until the 199x among the Yangon people it was still Scott Market, they didn't have good experience with any military

What's up in this oriental bazaar? 

Aside from this famous city mall street markets are around everywhere, another fascinating one is in Chinatown. Actually, this quarter is almost one shopping place only everywhere are goods on sale even on the streets and boardwalks, all very similar to the street markets in Bangkok.

At small stalls, they sell “chetty” or local cigars, betel and cosmetics. Women sell lemonade by pouring the liquid over pieces of ice and some cheap Chinese Buddha Statues made from porcelain are on sale just from the street but this is not Jade Buddhas.

Raw natural precious stones make genuine ethnic jewelry for sale are probably the most interesting things since they fit in any luggage, are colorful, have some real value and often a pretty design, are such typical items, buy some bangles for the loved ones.

If someone is not after the very sophisticated Chinese style (all is Burmese jadeite) a pretty bangle of genuine green jade can go for as little as $ 10,-, no yoke.

I bought some on my own over the years, carved are rather rare. The good news with these cheap items is they are real genuine because nobody is investing the time and techniques needed to make them up because of the rather low quality.

Bracelets, necklaces, and other items with mixed stones look great and carry a low price. Thousands of peoples move through here every day and most of them know why. Because here are some of the most impressive art's and craft's are available such as carved teak wood mirror frame carvings and other.

A great experienced since at least two hundred years, during English colonial times this was “Scott Market” and dominated by Indian traders who came to the country with the British after the name changed to Bogyoke Market and it is still one of the most exotic and interesting bazaars in the world. 

TheScotswhere very active in the country during colonial times. Today this is the place every traveler should visit, but not only foreigners, local people are still the majority. There is no another place like that in Yangon City.

People come from all corners of Burma, including nuns and monks constantly are approaching shop and begging for alms by reciting verses from the Tripitaka, boys and girls are running around selling postcards.

Some Chinese tourists from Singapore try to strike a deal for jade bangles and a group of Thaiwomentry to bargaining for ruby necklaces plus more, plenty of people moving slowly every day through the alleyways.

This is the old center of commerce; the new malls are not interesting since they only offer the goods available anywhere in South East Asia. Since prices are not fixed some bargaining is required with anything.

Closely is an old church and some old mosques if you want to escape from the scene to a quiet environment. This is a very positive day trip adventure for any visitors.

About stores with exotic gemstones and other items such as silk textiles from Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, China, and India are available too including various versions of silk from the countries indicated. A lot of people migrated from India when the British were still here; they were used in the administration including shops and started the upcoming book printing at that time.

Since there is a lot of gold found in the big rivers plenty of pure gold jewelry is available such as necklaces, rings, bracelets and more.

This is the right place for some exotic souvenirs to buy such as carved teak wood items which usually won’t carry a high price tag except

sandalwood. Wall paintings on canvas or carved wood are very decorative usually depicting scenes with Buddha, people and countryside scenes with pagodas and temples.

Another very similar bazaar is around the Mahamuni Pagoda in Mandalay but that is not under one roof rather distributed shops most artists work in open air. This is one of this old fashion oriental bazaars somehow similar to Istanbul and Cairo.

Shopping in the Bogyoke market main hall

When visiting Yangon (Rangoon) Bogyoke Market is one of the "must-see" spots. Since the Bazaar is closed on Monday make sure to note that because many tour guides just don't care you might miss it.  That's a wide place with several halls and the center in the main hall.

Among all these gemstones what would it be without jade ruby sapphire and the famous Myanmar south sea pearls from the Myeik Archipelago in the south? When walking around you will see them all including the newest jewelry and gemstone additions of amber. Myanmar amber is found in Kachin State around the same places where they mine jadeite.

Since the Bogyoke Aung San Market is full of surprises the best is to plan a day tour the only thing missing is a reasonable restaurant or food court inside the halls. There are several good restaurants outside. There is a favorite I have and that is the restaurant which is attached to the lobby of the opposite Central Hotel. 

I have not been sick yet after visiting this place that is a good sign. People are a bit slow but that is rather normal in Myanmar. The bazaar has a small bar-style place where soft drinks are available. Take some tissue paper with you to clean the cans first since unfortunately, Myanmar is a rather dirty country very similar to India.

When visiting Myanmar you will quickly find out everything looks rather Indian and not South-east Asian (Asean).

Here is the ideal Yangon City shopping if you ever visit the city that is the must-see destination closed on Mondays it buzzes with activity around the year and the open hours are kept very strict from 10 am to 5 pm.