Question 1

What is the "Counterfeit Lacquerware as Authentic Bagan Craft" scam in Bagan?

Accepted Answer

Bagan is famous for its lacquerware tradition, but a large portion of goods sold in the tourist market and at temple-adjacent stalls are mass-produced items from Yangon or China, presented as handmade Bagan lacquerware. Some shops display a workshop at the back of the store to suggest on-site production, but the displayed goods were made elsewhere. Prices for fake lacquerware are set at genuine handcraft levels. Visit the genuine Bagan lacquerware workshops clustered on the road between New Bagan and Myinkaba village, where you can observe the multi-step production process firsthand. Authentic Bagan lacquerware has visible layering marks and slight imperfections from hand application. Be skeptical of perfectly uniform items sold at temple stalls.

Question 2

What is the "Counterfeit Gemstone Sales" scam in Bagan?

Accepted Answer

In the open areas between temples and along the main tourist tracks, vendors approach cyclists and walkers claiming to sell genuine rubies, sapphires, and jade at very low prices, often presenting them as locally sourced or family-owned stones. The gems are invariably glass, dyed quartz, or low-quality synthetic material with no resale value. The pitch exploits Myanmar's genuine reputation as a ruby- and jade-producing country to give the fraud plausibility. Never purchase gemstones from itinerant vendors in temple fields or on roadsides. Authentic gem purchases in Myanmar require licensed dealers in established shops. Treat any approach about gems in a non-commercial setting as a scam regardless of how credible the seller appears.

Question 3

What is the "Overpriced Paintings and Carvings with Fabricated Backstory" scam in Bagan?

Accepted Answer

Vendors near temple entrances and on the roads between sites sell paintings on canvas and carved lacquerware panels while claiming the items are handmade by a family member — a disabled relative, a struggling artisan, or a child — to create an emotional obligation to purchase. The same mass-produced paintings appear at dozens of stalls throughout Bagan at prices far above their actual value. Buyers who show any interest are subjected to sustained guilt pressure and the story escalates the longer they engage. Walk away immediately if a vendor introduces a personal or family hardship narrative to sell goods. Identical paintings appearing at multiple stalls throughout Bagan confirm the items are not unique. If you genuinely want to buy art, visit a fixed workshop rather than purchasing from roadsides.

Street Scams in Bagan

Counterfeit Lacquerware as Authentic Bagan Craft

Counterfeit Gemstone Sales

Overpriced Paintings and Carvings with Fabricated Backstory

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