BANGKOK, Thailand – Deputy Governor Chakkaphan Phewngam inspected market reorganization efforts in line with Governor Chadchart’s policy to regulate trading areas in Bang Kapi’s Soi Ramkhamhaeng 18-22 and Saphan Sung’s Ratchaphruek Road (Lao Market) in Soi Ratchaphruek 20-24 on October 26.
Deputy Governor Chakkaphan announced that every Saturday morning, city officials will rotate inspections across Bangkok’s 50 districts to ensure compliance with the updated 2024 trading regulations. Each site has unique challenges and requires targeted solutions; officials observed firsthand the peak hours when vendors set up stalls to meet the high demand from early-morning shoppers. This hands-on approach allows district leaders to identify specific issues and implement effective solutions that align with the new trading guidelines.
The first location, an unapproved trading area on Soi Ramkhamhaeng 18-22, has 17 vendors operating from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Vendors set up stalls in front of buildings, mainly selling ready-made meals like boxed rice dishes from pushcarts. As this area does not meet the 2024 trading criteria, which restricts trading to sidewalk spaces adjacent to traffic lanes, the Bang Kapi district office has been directed to find alternative solutions, such as relocating vendors to side streets or adjusting operations to meet the new standards.
The second site, an unapproved trading area along Ratchaphruek Road in Soi Ratchaphruek 20-24 (Lao Market), has 97 vendors, with trading hours from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM. Vendors set up stalls and pushcarts selling food, fresh produce, clothing, household goods, and plants along the sidewalks and in front of buildings. Given the market’s cultural and communal significance, Saphan Sung district officials were advised to follow specific exceptions under the new guidelines, allowing traditional community markets to operate.
Most vendors conduct business on weekends, with minimal weekday activity. To enhance compliance, district officials will hold meetings with vendors, encouraging them to limit trading to weekends and transforming the area into a community market. This approach will ensure alignment with the 2024 regulations while preserving the market’s community-oriented nature.
