🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Trat locals don't just grab dried seafood from roadside stalls. Most have a regular shop or head to the fresh morning markets, because they know the stock turns over fast and the prices run cheaper. This guide spells out where each item actually comes from, which ones are genuinely well known, and which spots suit which kind of shopper — from local markets to souvenir shops with easy parking.
Trat dried seafood worth buying — ranked by how take-home-worthy it is
If you're not sure where to start, here's the order of Trat seafood souvenirs people carry home most often, with rough prices you'll see around the province's markets and souvenir shops. Prices move with the season and the grade, so treat these as a benchmark before you bargain.
Khlong Yai / Koh Chang shrimp paste (kapi)
The star souvenir of Trat, made from tiny krill caught around Koh Chang and the Khlong Yai coast, fermented with nothing but salt — no coloring, no added scent. The texture is smooth with a pinkish-purple tone and a savory aroma that isn't overpowering. Pound it into nam phrik kapi chili dip or use it in a stir-fry.
Real Trat fish sauce
Fish sauce fermented from anchovies over several months — clear, fragrant and rounded, without that sharp over-salty edge. The brand Trat locals mention most is the Three Rabbits label from the Koh Kood area; you'll find it in souvenir shops and town markets.
Dried squid
Sun-dried and fully dried squid are popular grabs. Pick the ones with thick flesh and a reddish-pink color rather than dark and dull, smelling clean rather than fishy. Grill it over low heat, then tear it up and dip in seafood sauce.
Dried shrimp
Trat dried shrimp are firm and a natural orange — not so red it makes you suspicious. Use them in yam salads, som tam, or stir-fries. The genuine ones peel easily and don't have a musty smell.
Salted fish & sun-dried fish
Salted king mackerel, sun-dried sea bass and various dried fish — fry them up with rice porridge or hot steamed rice. Choose pieces that aren't too hard and stiff yet, and they'll fry up softer.
Chili dips & processed seafood
Shrimp-paste chili dip, crab chili dip, mantis-shrimp dip, krill dip and sweet fish sauce are processed items several makers in Khlong Yai sell. Easy to carry and ready to eat straight away — good for anyone who doesn't want to buy raw kapi and pound it themselves.
Fried durian & cashew nuts
The sweet, snacky side of dried souvenirs, usually shelved alongside the seafood in the same shops. Crispy fried durian, pineapple toffee and roasted cashews — handy for anyone at home who doesn't eat the savory stuff.
How to pick shrimp paste without getting it wrong
Genuine kapi has a natural pinkish-purple color, not an unnaturally bright red. The texture is smooth and holds together when you shape it, and it smells savory-salty without stinging your nose. If you spot kapi that looks too good to be true on color, or is unusually cheap, ask what's mixed in. Well-known names like Koh Chang kapi usually carry a production-source label and an OTOP mark.
Want to taste deeper? Try a Trat 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.
Where to buy — the markets and shops Trat locals really go to
The same item can cost noticeably different amounts between a local market and a roadside souvenir shop. Here are the main spots both locals and visitors shop, sorted by style — whether you want the cheapest price or easy parking to knock it all out in one stop.
Khlong Yai Municipal Market
The source for Khlong Yai district's shrimp paste and processed seafood. Browse fresh and dried goods straight from local fishers; source prices run cheaper than buying in town. It's near the Ban Hat Lek border, so it's a good stop when you head down to the far eastern tip.
Trat Town Municipal Fresh Market
The big market in the town center. Early on you'll find both fresh seafood and dried goods — dried shrimp, dried squid, salted fish — usually at the cheapest prices in the province. Go before 9am while the stock is still full and fresh.
Je Oh Souvenirs (Bang Phra)
A one-stop souvenir shop with everything together: dried seafood, kapi, fish sauce, ready-to-eat processed items and dried fruit. Easy parking and open late into the evening — good for anyone who wants to wrap up all their shopping in one go before heading home.
Je Daeng Souvenirs, Laem Ngop
Near the Laem Ngop pier, the crossing point to Koh Chang. They sell dried squid, dried shrimp and salted fish; stock turns over fast and prices tend to be gentler than the shops in town. Handy to stop in before or after the island.
- Koh Chang kapi — Mae Riam / Mae Rabiap — OTOP shrimp-paste brands people mention often, made from real krill with a production-source label. Available on Koh Chang and at souvenir shops in town.
- Ban Lung Daeng (Koh Chang) — homestyle hand-made kapi, a bit easier on the price with decent quality. Good for buying a few jars to eat yourself.
- Ban Ta Neuk Community Seafood-Processing Enterprise (Khlong Yai) — a villagers' group making dried fish, salted fish, dried squid and several processed chili dips. You can buy straight from the community.
- Three Rabbits fish sauce — real fish sauce from the Koh Kood area, long-fermented and rounded, stocked at souvenir shops and markets in Trat town.
How to get it home in one piece — packing and storing
Strong-smelling dried seafood and kapi take a little planning to haul home, especially on a long drive or a flight, so you don't end up with the whole car reeking or your bag a mess.
- Kapi and chili dips — have the shop vacuum-seal the bag or pack it in a tight screw-top jar, then a zip bag as a second layer to block the smell and stop spills.
- Dried squid, dried shrimp and salted fish — bag them separately and well; these scents cling to clothes easily, so wrap in several layers and keep them apart from everything else.
- Glass-bottled fish sauce — if you're flying, it has to go in checked luggage; wrap it well against breakage, or pick a plastic bottle for peace of mind.
- Keep kapi and dried goods somewhere dry and out of the sun. The regular fridge compartment works fine and helps them last longer.
On prices and bargaining
The prices in this guide are rough ranges seen around the markets and shops, and they can move with the catch season and the grade. If you're buying several things or buying in bulk, ask about a wholesale price — many shops will knock something off — and the fresh morning markets usually beat the roadside shops on the tourist routes.
Plan your full Trat eat-and-shop trip end to end
See the Trat travel guide →