Khlong Thom Center & Night Market
There’s no one area that’s quite as synonymous with electronics as Khlong Thom (คลองถม). Up until the the beginning of the 21st century, kids would beg their parents for new toys from Khlong Thom. Today, Khlong Thom Center and the nearby Saturday night market still draws in huge crowds looking for cheap electronics, spare parts, as well as rare toys you won’t be able to find anywhere else.
Here’s our quick rundown on Khlong Thom Center and what you can expect from there.
A historic district and mall for electronics and car parts
Image credit: @eskebiiyrchaang via Instagram
Khlong Thom literally means “filled canals.” That’s because Bangkok used to be called the “Venice of the East” due to waterways being the primary mode of transport. But in the 1930s, many of those canals were filled to pave the way for roads and cars. Seeing this, locals started calling the area Khlong Thom after the canals that were being filled in.
The reason why the area is known for electronics and car parts is also quite simple. The area is home to a lot of Chinese immigrants who made a living selling electronics, machinery, and car parts.
Even today, Khlong Thom Center remains one of the best spots to shop for electronics and spare parts.
While on the outside it looks like a mall, the market is inside feels more like a flea market.
A night market on Saturday
Image credit: @supsarn via Instagram
Khlong Thom Center is open during the day from 10am until 5pm. But on Saturdays, this extends into the night as well.
Beginning around the time Khlong Thom Center closes at 5pm, the night market runs deep into the night until 1am.
Image credit: @top_toys23 via Instagram
You can find all sorts of items being sold here from the electronics you’d usually see during the day to various clothing items as well. But one thing we really like are the rare toys and collectibles that will pop up here that are absolute gems. There’ll be plenty of knock-offs and strange off-brand items. But if you’ve got the eye for it, you might just find an extremely rare and valuable collectible that’s been lost to time.
How do I get to Khlong Thom?
Image credit: @haya_toystore via Instagram
The most convenient way to get to Khlongthom is to use the MRT Blue Line and get off at either MRT Sam Yot or MRT Wat Mangkon.
Khlongthom is smack in between the two stations. It’ll be around a 10-minute walk to get there, so get ready to sweat.
If you’re lost, look for the fancy Siam Commercial Bank building that looks like a European building. It’ll be at the intersection between the famous Charoen Krung Road and Worachak Road.
Visit Khlongthom for bargains on electronics and hidden treasures
There are plenty of markets in Bangkok, but few have the history of Khlong Thom. If you’re ever in Yaowarat, this is a great place to drop by and lose hours of your day browsing and sifting through items looking for hidden treasures.
For other night markets, check out our guide to night markets in Bangkok. Alternatively, here a deep dive into Chatuchak for another one of Bangkok’s famous historic markets.
Cover image adapted from: @eskebiiyrchaang via Instagram, @top_toys23 via Instagram