Tuk Tuk Tours
Explore Bangkok by the iconic tuk tuk
Bangkok has enough stellar night markets to keep even the most ardent retail addict occupied for a long, long time. And it seems like new shopping venues pop up all the time, each edgier and more on-trend than the last. The latest in a long line of Bangkok night markets – specialising in vintage goods, as is the done thing at the moment – is Siam Gypsy Junction.
A few kilometres north of Bang Sue railway station and MRT subway terminus – itself north of Mo Chit, the end of the BTS Skytrain’s Sukhumvit line and home to the perennially famous Chatuchak weekend market – Siam Gypsy Junction sits right alongside the State Railway of Thailand’s main track out of Bangkok. Expect trains headed north and south to roar past as you wander through the market – it’s worth staying away from the track! It’s also just along from the mainline Bang Son station and the recently completed but not yet opened station on the red commuter line and MRT purple line.
The market at Siam Gypsy Junction is made up of a combination of vendors touting vintage wares spread out on the ground in front of old-fashioned camper vans, and more sturdy wooden structures that play on a wild-west cowboy theme – think mock taverns that sport saloon doors. Inside you’ll find more retro furniture shops, plus a number of low-key bars, coffee shops and restaurant setups.
That said, things still get pretty lively here on Friday and Saturday evenings. Other drinking spots include a cocktail bar beneath a palm tree with a distinct reggae vibe, and a converted school bus with seating on the roof – just for something a little different. If you fancy getting a new style between drinks, an open-air barber offers in-trend haircuts – just expect a long wait (you can leave your number and they’ll call you when it’s your turn), as it’s already made a name for itself.
With the whole market basically one long road running alongside the railway track, it’s not surprising that it’s a popular place for shoppers to ride in on their motorbikes as they peruse the aisles for vintage gems. That does mean you’ll want to keep an eye out for traffic as you browse, but it also gives you the opportunity to spot some pretty classic bikes befitting the kind of fashionable clientele Siam Gypsy Junction attracts.
There’s little doubt that, for now, Siam Gypsy Junction exudes a rawness that quickly evaporates from most Bangkok night markets as they grow in popularity and grow increasingly mainstream. Now’s the time to explore before the crowds arrive – we think you’ll quickly become hooked.
Wednesday-Sunday, 6pm-1am; to get to Siam Gypsy Junction, take a tuk tuk from Bang Sue MRT station for around 60-80 baht (for now, the market is less well known to taxi drivers from outside the area).
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