Bogyoke Aung San Market

Bogyoke Aung San Market — still widely known by its colonial name, Scott Market — is Yangon's most famous and atmospheric marketplace, a sprawling complex of covered arcades, open courtyards, and hundreds of individual stalls spread across a colonial-era brick building in the heart of the city. Built in 1926 and named after Myanmar's independence hero General Aung San after the country gained independence, the market is the best single place in Yangon to shop for gemstones, lacquerware, jade carvings, traditional longyi fabrics, and artisan jewellery. Myanmar is one of the world's leading sources of rubies, sapphires, and jade, and the gem stalls here offer both certified pieces and more affordable imitations — making quality assessment essential for serious buyers. Antique dealers sell colonial-era photographs, bronze Buddhas, and teak carvings alongside contemporary craft items. The surrounding streets host food stalls offering mohinga fish noodle soup, samosas, and fresh coconut drinks. Early morning visits are most rewarding when light streams through the building's iron-framed roof panels and the market hums with local traders beginning their day. The market is closed on public holidays and Mondays.