Patpong night market

Dear all, I will be in Bangkok next week and would like some info on Patpong night market. Please don't suggest Chatachuk night market as I won't be in Bangkok over the weekend.
Can you advise how far and the best way to get to Patpong from Koahsan Rd. Also what is there. And most importiantly what to do and what not do do whilst there!
(1) What can you buy?
(2) How to get there from Koahsan?
(3) Do's and Dont's...

If you want to post telling me that it is a "crap" market, please explain why.

Thanks
Paul

PS: Stay safe all...

Patpong market is quite a fun experience. Its really busy and and loud with all the go-go bars down each side of it, all competing with each other. It wasnt as big as I thought it was gonna be though. But theres plenty of junk to buy, from crappy fake watches to the usual other stuff thats knocking around.
Patpong is quite a distance from Koahsan road. As far as I remember its about 15-20mins in a tuk-tuk when I went last year. That was in afternoon traffic mind you, but its still the other side of Bangkok. Some tuk-tuks wont wana take you from koahsan rd, (at least not for a decent price) jump in a metre taxi, it should'nt cost too much.
Your gona get guys asking you to drink in their bar and all that kinda thing, but just tell where to go!
Im not sure if you can jump on skytrain to patpong, ask around when you get there I suggest.

Enjoy mate
Sean

Quoting Paul3879

Dear all, I will be in Bangkok next week and would like some info on Patpong night market. Please don't suggest Chatachuk night market as I won't be in Bangkok over the weekend.
Can you advise how far and the best way to get to Patpong from Koahsan Rd. Also what is there. And most importiantly what to do and what not do do whilst there!
(1) What can you buy?
(2) How to get there from Koahsan?
(3) Do's and Dont's...

If you want to post telling me that it is a "crap" market, please explain why.

Thanks
Paul

PS: Stay safe all...

You can take a meter taxi to that area. When you take a meter taxi in Bangkok only pay the meter fare. If you bargain the price the fare will be more expensive! Next time in Bangkok get a hotel off Sukhumvit Road or in the Siam area where you can take the Skytrain directly to that Patpong area and lots of other places. No Skytrain stop in the Khao San Road area!

Some of the stuff you see at the Patpong market may be a little more expensive than the same items for sale by street vendors on Sukhumvit Road (lower number end, between Soi 3 up to just before Soi 19.)

Also, on New Phetchaburi Road you will find lots of street vendors and some small shops with similar items found at Patpong. Lots of street vendors from around Phetchaburi Road Soi 2 (First Hotel) to the soi leading up to the Baiyoke Tower Hotel and that entire block. The soi leading up to the Baiyoke Tower Hotel is sort of a mini garment center. Pantip (also Panthip) Plaza is on New Phetchaburi Road, it is a mall full of electronics, movies, computer stuff, etc.

MBK is another place you can find some bargains. MBK is right off a Skytrain stop too! Link:
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Asia/Thailand/Central_Eastern_Thailand/Bangkok-1445238/Shopping-Bangkok-Mah_Boon_KrongMBK-BR-1.html

Panthip Plaza info:
http://www.escapethailand.com/bangkok_shopping.html

A lot depends on what you are looking for. You can find cheap fake Rolex watches in lots of places. You can even find watches for 100 baht in some of the malls where they have private vendors (like Lotus Tesco.) I think you will get a better price for T-shirts on New Phetchaburi Road. In this area there are wholesalers (near the Baiyoke Hotel) that provide the items vendors sell.

Some stuff is crap! But some of the stuff may be a bargain to you if you think you can use it! Don't be afraid to bargain with vendors, start real low, like around 25% to 30% of the asking price. The vendors don't mind asking you for double or triple the going price. If you look wealthy (like real wearing real designer clothes, expensive purse [ladies,] real Rolex, etc. - your offered price may be more than what I get with my cut-offs and ratty T-shirt!)

Good luck.

The Patpong night market isn't really anything great compared to what else is out there for shopping, although I guess you have the atmosphere of it being amongst some night life. As for why, it's because it's fairly small, and doesn't really have much to stand out from the much larger shopping areas in the shopping paradise that is Bangkok. Even the markets in Phuket/Chiang Mai/Pattaya may be considered better or in range of Patpong

IMO the main attraction here is the "ping pong" shows, some of which may be genuine, others might start demanding more money off you than what you were inititally told the cover charge was! Nonetheless they are certainly a quirky experience.

I remember going into an "Aussie Bar" there to get a drink and after climbing a dodgy staircase it turned out to be a...err different kind of place. I never really been inside such a place but it was just a funny experience, we stuck to just buying a drink and tried to teach them how to say "g'day mate" etc. lol

Just be weary that you might enter some place (or prices) different than what you expected! But if you just stick to the stalls in the market, you'll only get hassled a little by the guys standing outside such places.

Erik

[ Edit: Edited on Jan 24, 2008, at 11:23 PM by Erik85 ]

From Khaosan Rd, take a cab to Patpong Night market. The fare is not more than 60baht(Depends on traffic conditions). Never ask a Tuk Tuk driver to take you to Patpong because they will bring you to their 'Ping Pong Show' where they get commissions.

You can get almost everything in Patpong Night Market in Suan Lum Night Baazar since you are not there on weekend for Chatuchak.

[ Edit: Edited on Jan 25, 2008, at 1:15 AM by opospa ]