Bogyoke Aung San Market (Scott Market)

Bogyoke Aung San Market, still widely called Scott Market, stands on Bogyoke Aung San Road in Pabedan Township, Yangon, Myanmar. The covered market dates from 1926 and was built in a colonial style with long, high-ceilinged halls and arcades. About 2,000 stalls sell gems, jade, jewellery, lacquerware, longyi fabric, paintings, puppets, antiques and souvenirs, with tailors and tea shops in the side arcades. Entry is free. Stalls are organised loosely by product, so visitors often find jewellery and gemstones in one section and fabrics and handicrafts in another. Prices are negotiable, and bargaining is expected but should be polite. Visitors buying gems or jade should be cautious, compare shops and ask for receipts, since quality varies. The market is open Tuesday to Sunday from about 09:30 to 17:00, and it closes on Mondays and public holidays. A visit takes 1.5 to 2 hours, and many visitors spend longer if they are having clothes tailored. Mornings are best, when the market is cooler and less crowded, and the light entering through the roof is pleasant for photographs of the stalls. Weekends are busier, and midday can feel warm in the interior. A short walk from Sule Pagoda takes about ten minutes, and taxis cost roughly 1,500 to 3,000 MMK. Holy Trinity Cathedral is nearby, so the two can be combined. Visitors should carry small notes, since many stalls prefer cash, and keep bags closed in crowded aisles. Shops may close at lunchtime or on local holidays, so a morning visit is the safest plan.