Discover the best day and night markets across Asia, organized by country and location to help you find local treasures.
Ywama Floating Market and Inle Five-Day Market
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Ywama Floating Market and Inle Five-Day Market
A boat market on Inle Lake that is one stop on the lake's rotating five-day market cycle, with trading from small boats and a pagoda compound.
Ywama is a stilt-house village on the western side of Inle Lake. It is part of the lake's five-day market cycle, in which the market moves to a different place on the lake each day. At Ywama, the market is held on the grounds of a pagoda complex, and much of the trading happens on the water from small boats.
What is sold
- Local produce, including tomatoes grown on the lake's floating gardens.
- Handicrafts, woven goods, metalwork, wood carvings and umbrellas from village workshops.
- Fish, vegetables, tofu and garlic at the wider lake markets, the region's main crop.
Getting there
The easiest way is by boat from Nyaung Shwe on the north of the lake. Many visitors arrive by boat, so the boat park can be crowded on market days. Homes sit on stilts and you move by canoe or along bamboo walkways.
Good to know
- Check the rotation schedule before you go, because the market moves daily. We did not find a reliable list of the five sites, so confirm locally.
- It is largely a market for local people, so it suits looking and photography more than shopping.
- A March 2025 report noted falling water levels on the lake, which have caused travel difficulties.
- The coordinates are approximate. Check current travel advice before visiting Myanmar.
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