Bangkok

Taking in Yaowarat Road and its surrounding area in the Samphanthawong district, the Thai capital's Chinatown is one of the oldest parts of the city and contains a labyrinth of street-stalls offering all manner of trinkets, tasty treats, clothes, toys, domestic products and antiques. Sunday market days are particularly bustling and so a good time to get the full flavor of the neighborhood. The area is also known for its gold dealers, whose shops line the road, and it has long been associated with commerce and prosperity.