Joanna James
You might not be thinking of Yangon as a shopping destination on par with places like Singapore and Dubai. Now while it is true that the scale is quite smaller, Yangon is not without its charms as a shopping experience. Here's where you should go for the action.
Known formerly as Scott Market after a colonial municipal commissioner. Bogyoke Aung San Market was renamed to honour General Aung San later on. The market is located in a colonial building that dates back to 1926 and is considered to be the most famous of markets in Yangon. There are over 1600 stalls and shops within the building and you can get anything from ivory and wood carvings to lacquerwares, clothing, food and fabrics. It is open every day from 9 am to 5 pm.
An upscale shopping mall, the Blazon Shopping Centre was open in the year 2000. It showcases well-known brand names such as Espirit, Adidas, Wacoal and Shiseido among others. At the time it was first opened, it was the only shopping centre in Yangon to be selling brand names. It is located in the Kamaryut Township, to the north of People's Park. The mall is open every day from 9 am to 9 pm.
The Ocean Super Centre is where locals in Yangon go for the complete shopping experience. You can buy anything from furniture to electronics, clothes, toys and other utensils. There are also cafés and restaurants inside a large food court that offers a variety of dishes from all over Asia as well as Western cuisine. It is a great place to spend the day, window shopping and spending some time catching up with friends over a coffee at the food court. The Ocean Super Centre is located on the corner of Thiri Road and Pyay Road and is about a 15-minute drive from Sedona Hotel Yangon.
The River Gallery is one among many galleries in Yangon. It is an exhibit of over 30 contemporary local artists and their works. The gallery was first opened in 2005 and has been solely responsible for taking local artists into the art scenes of Toronto, Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai among others. It has created many opportunities for exposure for local artists. If you are a lover of art you should check this gallery out and if you have time the following galleries: New Zero Art Space, Myanmar Traditional Art and Artisan Association, Gandamar Gallery and Ayeyarwon Art Gallery are some of the recommended places.
Tourists staying in hotels in Rangoon are often directed here. J's Irrawaddy Dream is a boutique that showcases locally made silk fabrics, Buddhist statues, lacquered betel boxes, books, clothing and handicrafts among others. The quality is quite good in comparison to other places and the clientele is mostly tourists. It's definitely something you should visit once to complete your shopping experience in Yangon.
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