🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
If you're driving down to catch the boat at Ban Phe pier for Koh Samet, set aside an hour to walk the markets. The area around the pier is a dried-seafood souvenir district that Rayong locals themselves come to shop. What it's really known for is dried squid, dried shrimp, krill shrimp paste and real fish sauce made from local anchovies. The goods here are fresher and clearly cheaper than buying in Bangkok.
Where to buy — Ban Phe's two main markets
Ban Phe has two main souvenir markets right next to each other, and most people walk both in one go. Just pick based on what time you arrive.
100-Pillar Market (Talat Roi Sao)
A large covered market with long rows of dried-goods and souvenir stalls. Easy to walk, plenty of choice, and good for knocking out all your souvenir shopping in one stop. Open morning to evening.
Ban Phe Market (Municipal Market)
An older market near the pier with a mix of fresh seafood and dried goods. A local market vibe, and a good spot if you also want to browse the fresh stuff.
Before you buy
Most prices are tagged but you can haggle a little — a shrimp paste tagged at 100 THB will often come down to 90 THB on its own. Compare 2–3 shops before you decide. Prices are similar between sellers, but quality can vary.
Want to taste deeper? Try a Rayong food tour or cooking class
Half a day with a local who knows the lanes — or cooking a dish yourself — teaches you more than just eating. Book ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide.
Dried seafood & seasonings worth taking home
If you're not sure where to start, these are what Rayong locals and tourists buy most often, ranked by popularity and how worthwhile they are, with rough 2026 prices (which move with the season and the grade of the goods).
Dried squid
Ban Phe's most famous product, in several grades from tiny baby squid up to big ones. Pick pieces with thick flesh, a natural pinkish tint (not dark and dull), and a clean sea smell with no musty odor. Great grilled or stir-fried.
Real krill shrimp paste
Shrimp paste made from krill (tiny shrimp); the local stuff has a smooth texture and a fragrant aroma. There's the salty kind for chili dips and curries, and a sweet kind you can eat straight with vegetables. The regular stalls usually let you taste before you buy.
Real fish sauce
Rayong is a source of real fish sauce from whole anchovies, with long-established factories in Phe sub-district. Good-grade fish sauce is a clear amber-brown, fragrant, and not harshly salty. A glass bottle keeps longer.
Dried shrimp
Pick a natural orange-red color, not an unnaturally bright red (that may be dyed), with firm flesh that isn't mushy. Large dried shrimp have more meat but cost more. Use them in som tam, stir-fries, or dried-shrimp chili dip.
Salted king mackerel
Firm, big slabs of salted fish — a specialty at the souvenir shops around here. Comes both heavily salted and lightly salted; fry it up with rice porridge or hot steamed rice. Just tell the seller whether you want it very salty or mild.
Seasoned squid snacks
Ready-to-eat seasoned squid sheets in several flavors — three-flavor, four-flavor, honey — in both crispy and soft styles. A snack kids love, easy to buy and easy to hand out. Each shop's flavors differ, and you can taste first.
Sweet-cured mackerel / Ryukyu fish
Processed fish to round out the main items. The sweet-cured mackerel is lightly salted and herb-fragrant, while Ryukyu fish is a sweet-salty fish strip snack. Good add-ons to make your souvenir haul more varied.
Fried durian & dried fruit
Rayong is a fruit town, so the souvenir markets also mix in crispy fried durian, durian paste, mangosteen paste and banana chips. Handy for anyone who doesn't eat seafood but still wants something to take home.
Shops people mention often
There's no single "best" shop here — stalls in the market have similar prices and goods. But a few get mentioned in reviews more often and offer tastings. Stop by one as a starting point, then compare with the neighboring stalls.
- Je Waen's shop (100-Pillar Market) — reviewers mention the krill shrimp paste, sweet shrimp paste, big slabs of salted king mackerel and dried squid. Plenty of processed options to choose from in one shop.
- Je Tan Souvenirs (Ban Phe Market) — an all-in-one souvenir shop with snacks, dried seafood, salted fish, seasoned squid, shrimp paste and fish sauce. Good for finishing your shopping in one place.
- Fish sauce factories in Phe sub-district — Rayong has long-established factories making real fish sauce from anchovies. If you want good-grade real fish sauce, look for local brands in the market; glass bottles keep longer.
How to pick dried squid without missing
Good dried squid should be fully dry but still slightly pliable, with thick flesh and a natural pinkish to light-brown color — not bleached-pale or too dark and dull. It should smell of the sea. A thin white powdery coating is natural crystallization, not spoilage.
Storing & carrying it home without stinking up the car
- Ask for vacuum packing — most shops can vacuum-seal or put items in zip-lock bags. Ask for it; it keeps the smell in and the goods fresh longer.
- Separate the strong-smelling items from snacks — shrimp paste and salted fish are pungent, so bag them separately and put them in an extra box. Don't pack them with sweets.
- Freeze dried squid and dried shrimp — once you're home, pop them in the freezer and they'll keep for a month or so, with no mold or weevils.
- Choose glass bottles for fish sauce — they keep longer and don't pick up a plastic-bottle smell. Wrap them in paper when packing so they don't break.
Plan a full Rayong–Ban Phe–Koh Samet trip
See the Rayong travel guide →