A vendor prepares food in a market on Inle Lake.

MYANMAR, often referred to as “the golden land”, is famous in the travel world for being home to more than 100 national races groups and possessing many styles of ancient pagoda. Perhaps less well-known are the many markets that exist in towns across the country, each offering distinctive food, arts and crafts from that particular region.

In these markets, tourists can see the best produce that Myanmar has to offer, whether it’s food, gems or clothing. They can also see the local population’s traditions and way of life, as nearly all the markets exist not for tourists but for the residents of the area to barter and sell their goods.

Bogyoke Aung San Market, in Yangon’s Pebadan township, is without doubt the most well-known market in the country, says U Hla Aye, managing director of Shan Yoma Travel in Pazundaung Township. Located close to many hotels and tourist areas, the place is convenient for foreign guests to purchase many local specialties including antiques, gems, jewellery, clothing and fresh fruit.

“The Bogyoke Market is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Yangon. The only other similar place is Yuzana Plaza in Mingala Taung Nyunt township but most tourists don’t not like that place because it is very crowded and busy, they prefer Bogyoke Market,” U Hla Aye says.

Some of the more interesting objects that can be found at Bogyoke Market include antiques knives, lacquerware, rural artifacts like water buffalo bells, brass weight stone carvings, old coins, postage stamps and woven textiles, including traditional clothing like Kachin costumes and Rakhine longyi. Visitors can also can see and taste Myanmar traditional food, such as mohinga, ohno kaukswe and la pe, from nearby street vendors.

However, there are other markets in Yangon that are interesting for tourists, says …, who has been a tourist guide for more than ten years.

“The Thirimingalar wholesale market is famous for its fresh fruit and vegetables and the tourists are always very interested to see all the vendors selling their produce. The Sanpya fish market is also really interesting for the tourists – even if they don’t buy anything – as it has many kinds of fish that they might not have seen before,” she said.

However, the most interesting and colourful markets are often found outside of Yangon.

Ko Winn Zaw, who worked as a tour guide for more than four years, said Nyaung U Bazaar, in the town of Nyaung U – the gateway to nearby Bagan – was popular with many of his clients.

“At the morning bazaar, you can buy the fresh vegetables as well as souvenirs and traditional products, including food and clothes,” Ko Winn Zaw says.
But while Nyaung U Bazaar gets many visitors because of its proximity to Bagan – arguably the country’s most popular tourist site – the markets around Inle Lake are popular destinations in their own right.

At the lake’s floating markets, buyers and sellers only do deals from their bobbing boats. Along with the floating villages and floating garden beds, the markets are the trademarks of Inle Lake. The Ywama market is the most popular but is often crowded with tourists, detracting from the atmosphere somewhat. Ko Winn Zaw says another nearby market option is in the Shan State village of Indein, located on the west bank of the 22 kilometre-long lake.

“Indein is only about a 45 minute boat ride on Inle Lake from Nyaungshwe,” he says, “and the market takes place in a very picturesque spot, at the foot of Shwe Inthein Pagoda.”

“You can buy the regional food products and traditional costumes – the sellers of the market are Pa-O, an national races who live around in Inle Lake,” he said.

Thandwe, in Rakhine State, is famous for nearby Ngapali Beach. But the Thandwe market, only 10 minutes drive away, is a popular place for visitors to experience local cuisine – at least some of it, says tourist guide Ko Hla Minn.

“Many of the tourists don’t like the regional products like fish paste, dried fish and fish sauce. But it is a place where foreigners can see how locals go about their daily life,” Ko Hla Minn says.

For the more adventurous, Chin State’s Mindat morning market is highly recommended, while there is also a well-known market at Kanpetlet, close to Natmataung (formerly Mt Victoria).