Rong Kluea Market

The name that has become a brand. Rong Kluea opened on 15 June 1991 and now covers around 66 acres with roughly 1,380 shops spread across 40 numbered sheds, right on the Thai–Cambodian border at Ban Khlong Luek.

This is the deep end of Thai secondhand. Clothing and footwear by the sack, military surplus, handbags, brassware, porcelain, cheap electronics — sold to Thai shop owners, Cambodian traders and the occasional foreign buyer who has done their homework. Nothing is in English. Nothing is priced. Almost nobody here has met a foreign buyer before and most will assume you are lost.

It is 250 km from Bangkok on Highway 33 — about four hours by car, or the train to Aranyaprathet and a tuk-tuk. Go early, bring a Thai speaker if you possibly can, bring cash in useful denominations, and arrange transport out before you arrive with 80 kg of stock.

The brand has spread: there are ตลาดโรงเกลือ branches in other provinces, including Ban Sam Phrao in Udon Thani and the Rama 2 warehouse in Bangkok. They are not the same place and not the same prices.