How to Plan a Visit to the Mongkok Ladies’ Market, Hong Kong An excellent destination to explore!

Mongkok is the epicentre of throngs and crowds. It has a population density of nearly 130,000 persons per square kilometre. Mongkok literally translates to "busy corner" in Cantonese. This is currently one of Hong Kong's liveliest neighbourhoods, jam-packed with businesses, street-side vendors, and Hong Kong's most popular Mongkok Ladies’ Market. Read on to find out more about the Mongkok Ladies’ Market to have a taste of authentic Hong Kong.

Overview of the Mongkok Ladies’ Market

The most prominent and still among the most admirable markets in Hong Kong is Mongkok Ladies’ Market. It definitely is a tourist trap, but that wouldn't stop it from being among the most amusing excursions in town. It resembles a carnival in terms of colour, sound, and atmosphere. And it still has a terrific bargain to gain. The majority of the items on offer are inexpensive apparel, ranging from T-shirts to even Cheongsams, though chopsticks, chess sets, and other Asian items are also prominent. The Ladies’ Market is located on Tung Choi Street. This street is situated between Boundary Street and Dundas Street. If you would like to stay close to these vibrant places, then you ought to check out Kowloon hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui the likes of Park Hotel Hong Kong.

Bargains and Bargaining!

It is time to brush up on your business acumen, or what people call 'bargaining skills'. All pricing at the Ladies’ Market is flexible, and the vendors will not hesitate to take advantage of unsuspecting travellers. Assume all is 10 per cent, or at times 20 per cent, overpriced. Begin with a lower price and haggle with the stall owner until you achieve a fair price. If they don't seem to be compromising, take your money elsewhere because a related or identical product would not be too far away. Be aware that market vendors in Hong Kong are seasoned veterans who may appear intimidating. However, you will also find that negotiating is a necessary part of the game. If you obtain a decent deal, they will generally follow up with a compliment.

From teabags to handbags

Fakes, or replicas as they are called in Hong Kong, are aplenty. Everything, from teabags to handbags, is made in China, transported across the border, and resold at rock-bottom costs. Counterfeits and knockoffs are openly sold in Mongkok Ladies’ Market. This article does not recommend buying knockoff goods, and when you do, yo will have really no recourse when something goes wrong, which happens most often than not. Replica watches and purses are the most popular reproductions at the Ladies’ Market, and both may be produced upon request. However, keep in mind that what you are doing is unlawful, and inspections on the Ladies’ Market are not unheard of either. You will not be prosecuted, but the items and your cash will be taken away. The Goldfish Market, right up the Tung Choi Road, offers something more unusual. Multi-coloured fish, spiders, snakes, and other jungle critters can be purchased here.

Street Food

Img by Ninh Nguyen via Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Street-side food vendors, called dai pai dongs, border streets if you are looking for gifts for the troops back home. You can browse to your heart’s content and find the perfect gift items for your loved ones at Mongkok's wonderful street stalls. Food is excellent, from congee to the fish balls in a savoury chilli sauce. Don't waste time attempting to negotiate a menu; simply pick and gesture. Each item is usually priced between $1 to $2. If you're thirsty, stop by one of the neighbouring juice stands, where they'll squeeze any fruit you choose into the ultimate thirst quencher. And this is a Mongkok experience you must not deny yourself.