Chak Ngaew Chinese Market near Pattaya: a place for a walk and banknote collecting
Last weekend I visited Chak Ngaew Chinese Market, an atmospheric Chinese market located just 20 minutes from Pattaya. The market is open every Saturday after 3:00 PM and is a great place for those who want to spend an evening away from tourist streets while combining leisure with a hobby such as banknote collecting and notaphily.
This place is different from typical tourist markets in Pattaya. There are very few foreigners here, and most visitors are locals who come for dinner and sweets while strolling along the old wooden streets decorated with Chinese signs and red lanterns. Many of the houses here were built over 100 years ago, and walking through the market feels like stepping back in time to when this Chinese community was first established.
The market offers a wide variety of street food, including traditional Chinese and Thai snacks, noodles, desserts, drinks, and pastries. Prices are affordable, and the selection allows you to try new dishes while enjoying the local atmosphere.
For collectors interested in banknotes and notaphily, several small antique shops can be found right within the market. They sell old Thai and foreign banknotes, coins, and other small antique items. I did not check the prices in detail, but based on my experience, they may be slightly higher than in specialized shops I recommend in my guide “Thailand Banknote Collecting.” However, markets like this offer the chance to find unique pieces with history and learn more about Thailand and the Chinese community through real objects from the past.
For me, this trip was a way to change the environment and spend time in a way that aligns with my hobby. If you are interested in notaphily, the history of banknotes, and collecting, Chak Ngaew Market may be an enjoyable place where a walk, local food, and the chance to find interesting banknotes for your collection come together in one cozy space.
If you want to feel the atmosphere of old China in Thailand while searching for rare banknotes for your collection, Chak Ngaew Chinese Market is worth adding to your Pattaya itinerary.
Location market: RXJ8+VFQ, Muang Pattaya, Bang Lamung District, Chon Buri 20150, Thailand
