More than 200 years ago, Bangkok had one massive wholesale market, known today as Sampeng Market, that was largely made up of Chinese merchants and traders. When business was booming, the market spilled over to fill a narrow pocket between Sampeng Market and Yaowarat Road, an area that later became known as Talat Noi, or “small market”. 

Today Tatat Noi is no longer a crazy-busy business hub but rather a laid-back, residential area along the Chao Phraya River that still shows nostalgic traces of the bustling Thai-Chinese commercial district of days gone by. It’s a pleasant, pedestrian-friendly area where visitors can observe the local way of life, sample homemade Thai street food, buy traditional Thai snacks, sip Thai-style coffee and enjoy colourful graffiti. 

You can easily spend a whole day here exploring, sampling food and hanging out at vintage cafés in centuries-old houses along the river. You can also make it a quick stopover as part of a visit to the Charoenkrung Creative District visit, or on your way to Yaowarat night market in the early evening.