Well, dear friends, are you tired of waiting? Today we will talk about the markets of Thailand and about the markets of Chiang Mai. How did it all start? It was advice, the advice of a man who understands a lot about the bright, unusual and interesting. Tired, we returned to the hotel after the zoo, looking forward to cozying up in a bungalow and taking a nap, gaining strength before climbing the rocks tomorrow. At the entrance we were met by a colorful hotel owner, a German hippie who came to Thailand for a short time twenty years ago and stayed here forever.
And now, at 70 years old, he still wears long hair, an earring in his ear, beads around his neck, baubles on his hands, and talks about everything in an original way. He told us that today is Sunday, which means that you should definitely see the Chiang Mai night market. And we went to Sunday street to get acquainted with the weekend market. The anticipation of the holiday, the shopping extravaganza, as if by hand, took off fatigue. Katya was walking beside us and chirping loudly.
Trade and markets
Imagine a primitive man, with a forehead that hangs like a balcony. Here he is sitting in his cave, twisting a piece of flint in his hands and wondering what is best to make from it - another ax, a spare spearhead, or maybe another sharp knife for his wife, which next to scrapes the skin for a new outfit. Yes, there is something to think about...
And suddenly... Eureka! “Why don’t I exchange this piece of stone for that wonderful piece of volcanic glass - obsidian, that Cuff showed yesterday from the neighboring primitive human herd!” This is how, or something like this, trade was born. And with it came markets, such special, important and significant places for people to meet in the roles of sellers and buyers.
Markets in Thailand
Trading is one of the greatest Thai pleasures. There are plenty of opportunities to get it, from visits to high-end stores to trips to markets selling local arts and crafts.
Even more than that, the markets of Thailand - this is the place where every tourist must go. For what? Get acquainted with the Thai culture of shopping, taste the local color, buy home souvenirs at a good price. It is a great pleasure even just to walk around the markets of Thailand, to watch the very metamorphosis of an ordinary street into an attractive place for trading with a wide range of goods and, mostly, negotiable prices.
There are many market options in Thailand:
- daytime, those that work all day
- morning
- night markets in Thailand. For them, traffic is completely blocked on one or more streets. On it, which has become safe and pedestrian, tourists and locals can walk for several hours, buying whatever they want: trinkets, T-shirts, wallets, jewelry, hats, Buddha statues, works of art.
- weekend market
- operating on certain days of the week
- dedicated to holidays or certain events
Street markets are an integral part of Thai culture. They are popular with both locals and foreigners.
Advice . When shopping in the markets of Thailand, do not forget to smile! And be sure to bargain! In this case, the price may drop by a third. Also remember: there is always a discount for the first and last customer!
Markets Chiang Mai
And Chiang Mai is not offended by excellent large shopping centers and the best international brand stores in Thailand, there are enough boutiques and small shops in it, but the main trading life of the city does not take place in them, but in the markets of the city.
In that sense, Chiang Mai is easy to underestimate, so remember that this whole city is markets, markets, markets, an endless number of markets open all day and night, where you can shop until you drop. Night markets, food markets, fruit markets, saturday and sunday markets, walking street markets...there are more of them than anyone could possibly need!
Incredible Chiang Mai is a city not only with an incredible number of markets, but also with a very impressive size of the territories reserved for trading places.
What markets are there in Chiang Mai
For tourists and locals to choose from:
- Muang Mai (Wan Sing Ham Road, north of Warorot Market) - large wholesale market. You will find here huge quantities (oh, how many!) of different fruits, vegetables, as well as sections with meat and seafood.
- Lively and open Anusarn night market – near Chang Khlan Road between Anusarn Sunthon Road in the north and Si Don Chai Road in the south. On its territory there are also many small Thai, Indian, Western restaurants.
- big market Cad Luang (Kad Luang) - occupies the area where Chiang Moi Road and Wichayanon Road connect, it integrates the market Warorot And Lamyai .Warorot is a large building of an old shopping center, where food is on the ground floor, and goods on the floors above that can be bought even cheaper than in the night market. Around the main building, a scattering of stalls. They are spreading, seizing sidewalks and neighboring streets. You can find and buy everything here! Products of any assortment - from shoes to precious stones. Lamyai market offers a lot of fresh products. And there is also a sea of flowers, the unsurpassed aromas of which make you dizzy, as if they were flowers from paradise. Buckets full of orchids, hundreds of color options for these lush and delicate treasures of the tropics. Roses, chrysanthemums, lotuses and marigolds… Very cheap! Flowers arrive at night, and this is the best time to buy them.
- Near Kad Luang there is a small hmong hill tribe market . Here they sell their products and goods self made. The women of the tribe make very beautiful clothes for sale, decorated with silver and beautiful embroidery. Craftswomen also offer to buy woven and embroidered scarves, pillowcases, towels, tablecloths with national patterns. Men for sale make various products from rattan, wood, bamboo. Also here you can meet sellers from Shan and suppliers of Burmese goods. Come here on Fridays.
- Somphet Market - Works during the day. Located in the Old City 5 minutes north of Tha Phae Gate. Offers a lot of fresh fruits, vegetables, spices. Come here for homewares and inexpensive tailoring. One of the smallest markets for tourists!
- Khamtien Plant Market - North of the Old City on the Super highway behind the Tesco Hypermarket. Pets, tropical fish, plants, trees, garden accessories. Works during the day.
- JJ Market - located north of the Old City on Assadathon Road, near Khamtien Plant Market, open on weekends. There are fresh fruits, vegetables, plants, used goods, designer goods, antiques, pubs and restaurants.
- Thipanet Market - operates during the day, located south of the Old City near the Gate - the gate - Chiang Mai. Applied art.
- Saturday Night Market Walking Street - C sabbath - This market happens every Saturday on Wualai - the street that starts from the south gate of Chiang Mai. It closes to traffic every Saturday evening. Are you looking for lacquer or silverware? Then you have come to the right place. Here, graceful old wooden buildings keep the glory of local silversmiths. A full kilometer of a colorful and vibrant market for handicrafts, clothing, musical instruments and the work of young artists. See and choose! And, of course, there is a lot of food here!
- Sunday Night Market Walking Street - In Sunday market - originates from the Tha Phae Gate and goes along Ratchadamnoen. Under it, traffic is blocked immediately on four large streets passing through the entire old city. Open from 4 pm to midnight every Sunday. The sun is setting, the streets are packed with stalls, vendors, pedestrians - tourists and locals. Many families with children, Thai youth walking. What can you buy here? Anything! From an incredible variety of materials: wood, silk, glass, metals, ceramics, fabrics, paper, coconuts and so on. Fresh smoothies, beautiful home decorations, clothes, handmade soaps and candles, accessories, fun figurines, shoes, jewelry, bags… the list goes on and on. Plenty of food and drinks.
- Night Bazaar stretched out along Chang Khlan Road, between Thaphae and Loi Khro Road. This is the most famous tourist market in Chiang Mai. Trading starts around 6pm and ends around midnight, although some of the shops are open all day. The market, with hundreds of street stalls, has everything: souvenirs, clothes, watches, Thai silk, shoes, DVDs, handicrafts, video cameras, jewelry, household appliances, fine local textiles. There are many items made in China here. However, goods here are often more expensive than in places where there are not so many tourists.
In fact, there are many more markets in Chiang Mai: there are student markets, there are markets that work only on a certain day of the week, for example, on Wednesday, or Thursday, or Friday, markets near hypermarkets, markets at the gates of the old city, and so on. There is even a market for amulets.
Even from such a truncated list as the one above, travelers who come here choose one, maximum three. Statistically, this is:
- night market Night Bazaar, open every night and focused exclusively on tourists,
- Saturday Night Market on Walking Street
- and Sunday Night Market, the longest market, on a pedestrian street in the heart of the old town.
Most of the foreigners never get to the rest, and they serve only the needs of the locals.
Market ranking
The well-known travel site TripAdvisor, based on millions of its visitors, their opinions and reviews, has compiled a ranking of Thai street markets.
- Chiang Mai Sunday Night Market Walking Street
- Maeklong market on railroad tracks near Bangkok in Samut Songkhram province
- Chiang Mai Saturday Night Market Walking Street
- Bangkok Pak Khlong Talat Flower Market
- Bangkok Chatuchak Weekend Market
- Phuket Night market Phuket Town
- Samut Songkhram Amphawa Floating Market
- Bangkok Siam Square
- Hua Hin Night Bazaar Hua Hin Night Bazaar
- Chiang Mai Night Bazaar
Why are we going with Piglet
Night markets are a combination of shopping, food and entertainment. For local residents, it is also a place of meetings and communication. We walk through the busy Sunday evening streets for:
- shopping by good prices. T-shirts - 50-100 baht, bags starting from 200 baht, paintings for 100 baht, elephant tusk jewelry - 150 baht.
- to plunge into the atmosphere of fun and joy. Music is playing, there are some contests, costume processions, schoolchildren perform ...
- watch performances by street talent. Here street musicians tune the guitars, here - singers, there - Thai dancers perform.
- to admire the skillful works of masters and artists, the creativity invested in every thing and knick-knack. It's amazing what can be done even from ordinary plastic bottles!
- delicious and beautiful Thai street food - a real gift from heaven. Fragrant smells of garlic, fried fish, sausages, scrambled eggs from quail eggs on palm leaves, a special Chiang Mai sausage ... A range of flavors - spicy, sweet, salty ... People eat and smile. For those seeking new experiences - placers of fried crickets, cicadas, mealworms and other insects.
- And at the end of the evening massage of tired legs. Right on the street, sit back in a cozy easy chair with a reclining back and enjoy! A whole hour of absolute bliss!
- Plus, unforgettable photos!
We're walking through the weekend market
This is a city landmark, not just a place for shopping. Oksana, our friend, and I are still happily and pleasantly remembering this evening of shopping. We walked, looking at knives and sabers, watches and plates, vases and hats. Tourists flowed in a thin and unstoppable stream between the merchants.
We braked near a little dog in a cap. We have already met her photo on the Internet in Chingmai reports. We were delighted with her, almost like a native, clicked and wanted to stroke. But the proud girl only barked at us.
Then we moved on past deodorants, T-shirts, umbrellas, dolls, pillows, paintings, curtains, colorful hill tribe outfits, jewelry, eyewear from “leading” manufacturers. The eyes ran on their own, the body did not keep up with them. And the hands that were pulling this wooden fruit bowl towards them were two trays behind the body. I wanted to buy everything! Bought: a rotunda fruit bowl, some silver jewelry, an owl-shaped clock, a lime crusher, soap, incense sticks, a pretty old-fashioned notebook.
The holder of the family egg-box - Sanya - lost us near the caskets ... Otherwise, there would have been much more acquisitions.
Legs no longer walked, but I wanted to eat. We sat down on the plastic chairs of the first food establishment we came across. We ordered without expecting any culinary masterpieces from this shabby place. But we got a string of incomparable dishes, the portion sizes of which were calculated on the capacious stomach of a very hungry and adult elephant. What we ate. Incomparable Divine Inimitable Tom Yum ... What french fries! What fried shrimp! And the prices .. For a masterpiece - 30 baht, for all the deliciousness plus rum and cola per person came out 70 baht.
Have you ever been to the market in Chiang Mai on a Sunday night? If so, please share your experience!
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The Chiang Mai Night Market or Sunday Bazaar is a truly amazing event and one of the main attractions of the city. On the evening of the last day of the week, the central streets turn into an incredible shopping space, bright and lively. The Chiang Mai Night Market is one of the largest in Asia and leaves a lasting impression on your first visit.
The history of its appearance is associated with Chinese traders who came from Yunnan through Laos to northern Thailand. Now the vast majority of sellers here are Thais. It is noteworthy that almost any local resident who does something with his own hands has the right and opportunity to find his buyers in this market.
The main advantage of the Chiang Mai night market over the rest in Thailand is that it presents a lot of handicrafts. Unique and soulful things are found here all the time, moreover, they are different from case to case. Northern Thailand, and in particular Chiang Mai, are considered throughout Asia as the mecca of craftsmen and needlewomen.
In addition to goods, you may be surprised by musicians and actors who perform the most unexpected numbers with you. Many item sellers handmade do not break away from business even behind the counters. They melt glass, embroider on fabrics, paint pictures and paint boxes.
The most interesting items at the Chiang Mai night market are: traditional bamboo umbrellas, which have a unique hand-painted with national motifs; furniture and crafts made of teak wood, one of the most beautiful on the planet; mango wood dishes have amazing natural patterns and shades; silver jewelry has a relatively low price and often a unique design; craftsmen make carved soap in the form of the finest flowers of various colors right in front of you.
The Saturday market is one of the attractions of the city and it is absolutely impossible to miss it, especially if you are in Chiang Mai for only a week and you won’t be able to get here next Saturday.
Every Saturday Wualai rd. turns into a pedestrian one from 16-00 to 22-30. The Saturday market takes place near the War Sri Suphan Silver Temple.
On the map in green Circled is Saturday walking street and purple is Sunday walking street.
opening hours: 16:00 - 22:30 (every Saturday)
location: Wualai Rd (south of the old city, starts from the Chiang Mai gate)
As in any weekend market, it is not overcrowded here - the streets are packed with both merchants and buyers.
Even if you don't need souvenirs, at the Chiang Mai Saturday Night Market you can find truly original handmade items that will decorate you, your home. Craftsmen from all over the city and its environs bring here amazing fruits of their labors. Clothes, fabrics, dishes, leather goods, watches, posters, shaped frames, etc.
And the food! What are the manifestations here! For every taste, wallet, size. Fried, steamed, boiled, stewed, for vegans, for meat-eaters, seafood at very reasonable prices! In general, there are few places to find such prices as in Chiang Mai in all of Thailand.
I want to try everything! Therefore, personal advice - take one dish for two or three - so there is a chance to test more)
I would advise you to buy and bring home from Thailand something for memory from the Saturday or Sunday markets of Chiang Mai. Firstly, there are a lot of exclusive things here that cannot be found in other cities of the country, and secondly, ceeeeeens - they are very tasty here!
Wualai street. famous for its artisans who migrated here from Burma many years ago. On both sides of the road, here and there, you can find "silver" shops offering goods made of pure (92.2%) silver. Fine handicrafts are represented by jewelry, tableware and sets, as well as home decor items.
In addition to silver, there are several shops selling gold, made in the form of jewelry, decoration of vases and goblets, etc.
There are a lot of wood products, mainly home decor items, figurines, women's bracelets, masks and all sorts of knick-knacks. Other stalls are filled with handmade shoes, including children's shoes, dresses, t-shirts, pocket shoes and wrist watch, paintings, toys and funny souvenirs, knives and decorative metal products, leather wallets and purses, knitting and spa cosmetics .... in general, the choice is very large and you will have to spend more than one hour before you find the thing you need.
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all photos were taken with a phone
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When you live in one place for a relatively long time, and not as a tourist for a few days in a hurry, you involuntarily start looking for where it is tastier, cheaper, more profitable. We love to eat very much, so during the whole month of life we went to different places in the city, including the markets. After all, this is not only an opportunity to buy high-quality local products at attractive prices, but also to feel the flavor!
In this article we will make a small overview of the markets, shopping streets and centers of Chiang Mai. We think this information will be useful for winterers who are going to come to the northern capital of Tai for a long time. To get your bearings, see the map at the bottom of the post, where the markets are marked with a basket sign.
Markets Chiang Mai
The peculiarity of Thai (and all Asian) markets is that you will always find a place to eat there, and real local cheap food, sometimes quite exotic. There are many markets in Chiang Mai, but we will tell you about the cheapest and most interesting ones. In the beginning - food markets.
Muang Mai Market
The best food market in the city, in our opinion - all cheap fruits and vegetables are sold here! It occupies several blocks and is a real anthill in which brisk trade is in full swing. It looks like everything is here: fruits, vegetables, seafood, meat, spices, mushrooms and much more, which is difficult to define :-)
Muang Mai market - it is better to come here early in the morning
Muang Mai Market, Chiang Mai
It is best to come here early in the morning, although the market is open until dark and even more. Simply the freshest products and low prices are usually in the morning.
Food market in Chiang Mai
Magic mountain of pumpkins :)
By the way, many restaurants buy provisions in this place, you can see how vegetables, for example, are sold in bags and bodies!
To find the Muang Mai Market, follow Muang Samut Street - when you see the stalls, go deeper into the quarters.
Somphet Market
Unlike the previous one, this market is located within the old city, in the northeast of the square, not far from the Thapae gate. Working hours: from morning until dark, although it is better to come in the morning for shopping. And for gastronomic delights, the evening is also suitable - the macaroons and other eateries are just opening.
Seafood prices
Food Street and Chang Pueak Market
Near the gate of Chang Phueak, on the north side of the square of the old city, there is a market of the same name. More precisely, this is not even a market, but a food street that unfolds at nightfall and closes closer to midnight. Here they cook excellent roti pancakes with bananas and other fillings, serve delicious pad thai with various sauces. Right there, on the contrary, there is a store 7-11, you can buy sweets))
Food Street in Chiang Mai - before opening
Night Market
The largest market in Chiang Mai. It's easier to say what is not here :-) All kinds of clothes, souvenirs, trinkets, furniture, watches, handicrafts, jewelry, art ... Geographically, it is located between the eastern side of the old city and the river, on Chang Klan Street.
Night Bazaar in Chiang Mai
The bazaar includes open areas, and ordinary shopping malls and stalls. Of the interesting things that we found: the traditional clothes of the mountain tribes and the products of artisans, for which the north of Thailand is so famous.
Night Bazaar, although it is called a night one, actually works from dusk until midnight.
Cafe at Night Bazaar
Shopping pedestrian streets Chiang Mai
Sunday Market Sunday Market
On Sunday in Chiang Mai, several central blocks are blocked, mainly centered around Ratchadamnoen street, stretching from Wat Phra Singh to Taphae gate. Guys, this is tin! All open space filled with merchants with goods, buyers, food stalls. Here the most attractive prices for clothes and souvenirs, with most of the handicrafts created by locals. The choice is simply incredible - you can walk endlessly :-)
Sunday market in Chiang Mai
There are also such unusual works
All this trading madness collects decently for the people - several blocks are filled with people
Sunday Market Crowd
Cute passport covers for 10 baht!
But this is just a dream of a tea drunkard - a mountain of teapots and tea utensils
Thais are willing to bargain, so kindly. This guy is cooking something delicious...
Street food at the Sunday Market
We walked around the Sunday market for a long time and naturally got hungry. You can choose from all kinds of dishes of northern Thailand, freshly squeezed juices, necks, sweets. Bought a plate... no, I would call it a bowl, with rice and vegetables for 40 baht.
And what delicious necks ... mmm))
future necks
As you already understood, there are a lot of interesting things in the Sunday market - the place is worth visiting at least once. Anya constantly looked at sweets, but ... the figure :-)
We already bought the pants in Bangkok at Chatuchak Market, so in Chiang Mai we just stared
Working hours: from 17.00 to midnight (every Sunday)
Saturday Market
We didn't go to the Saturday market, it's a bit far from home - it's about the same as the Sunday market. It is located on Wualai Street southwest of the main gate on the south side of the square.
Working hours: from 17.00 to 23.00 (on Saturdays)
Shopping malls Chiang Mai
In addition to food and traditional markets, the city has large shopping centers for Thai and international networks: Big C, Tesco Lotus, Carrefour and others. It so happened that we lived very close to the complex Kad Suan Kaew (Central) and only go there for shopping.
It is located at the northwestern corner of the old city and is a huge building with multi-level parking lots, hundreds of boutiques, cafes and restaurants. On the lower floor there is a Tops supermarket, where we buy products, with the exception of vegetables (for more information about prices in this store, see the article ""). Also on the lower floor there are several food courts and restaurants with a rich selection of Thai, Chinese, Japanese cuisine.
It is very convenient to use ATMs, and if you want to withdraw cash without commission, then several offices of Thai banks, as well as mobile operators, are at your service.
One of the floors in the Central shopping center is given over to sports shops, goods for tourism and outdoor activities - I bought myself trekking sandals for 400 baht - excellent! Each time we walked around this complex and each time we found something new, either a hairdresser or shoe repair - everything you need for life is here :-)
There are a few more in Chiang Mai shopping centers: Airpot Plaza near the airport, 2 hypermarkets Tesco Lotus, Big C and others, but these are the most popular.
Are you going to Chiang Mai? Read these articles, you might find them useful
There are many markets in Chiang Mai where all sorts of things are sold, from food to clothing and other accessories. Moreover, some markets are not stationary, but appear on a street specially fenced off for this purpose only on certain days, for example, Saturdays or Sundays. In the markets you can find Thai handmade, which is brought from all over the province. There are some pretty interesting things.
Prices in Chiang Mai in the markets are quite normal, especially those on weekends. But in the southern part of Thailand, it seemed to me that on Wallking Street on Koh Samui and in Ao Nang everything was the same or more expensive than if I took it somewhere else nearby. True, I mostly compared food. After all, every market is primarily Thai fast food :)
The list shows the main markets, as well as all the markets in the center. On the outskirts, of course, there are other markets.
| Market Name | What to buy | Opening hours and location |
|---|---|---|
| Night market (night market) | Clothing, bags, mostly factory-made, but there are also handicrafts (paintings, souvenirs and carvings in the central trading building). Fakes of famous brands: watches, T-shirts and mobile devices. Lots of bars, cafes and restaurants. | From 19:00 to 24:00 daily. Located along Chang Khlan road. |
| Saturday market (Saturday market) | Interesting handicrafts: souvenirs, clothes, bags, shoes, paintings, rice paper lamps, toys, wood carvings, etc. | Every Saturday on Wua Lai road. |
| Sunday market (Sunday market) | Similar to the Saturday market, with a slight difference: the choice of handicrafts is larger, but the prices of some goods may be higher. Sellers explain that this market is the most popular and attracts many tourists. As well as in other markets, you can try to bargain. | From 16:00 to 22:00 Every Sunday, at Thapae Gate. |
| Muang Mai Market | The largest food market in the city, covering several blocks, not far from the waterfront. Lowest prices, great selection. locals are purchased here for themselves, both retail and wholesale for their hotels and restaurants. | around the clock. |
| Warorot market | They sell a variety of goods: watches, bags, gold, clothes and shoes, household appliances, etc., as well as vegetables and fruits. Part of the market located in the building is open daily from 8 am to 5 pm. Later, during the hours of darkness, street food and clothing vendors turn around. | around the clock. Located in Chinatown in Chinatown. |
| Thanin (or Siri Wattana market) | Small food market. Vegetables, fruits, sweets, pastries, ready meals, meat. Prices for some products are normal, for some they can be very high. The quality of fruit is lower (offered watermelons, mangoes or bananas are mostly unripe). | From 5:00 to 21:00 |
| Chamni Norakan (or Somphet market) | A small market for fresh vegetables and fruits. The choice is not great, but if you live in the center and not for a long time, this market is the most successful for buying food. A strange phenomenon: prices are not stable - they can change quickly, both in one direction and in the other, it depends not on the quality of the products, but on the holidays and the mood of the seller. | From 6:00 to 18:00. Located on Moon Muang road lane 6, at the intersection of Mun Mueang Road. |
| Ton Lamyai market | A large selection of bouquets of freshly cut tropical and mountain flowers, the market is also called the “wet market”, because. there is always a lot of water on the ground that flows from flowers after watering or according to the local Gakht Dor Mai. Basically, flowers are offered at night, when there is no scorching sun, from which the flowers lose moisture. | Open in the evening after 18:00. Located near the Ping River. |
| Market | A small covered market located near the stop (congestion) of minibuses. Meat and fish products. | unknown |
| Market in the north of the square | Literally a row of stalls along the street with food, fruits and vegetables. There are still many monks, they are given food. Only early in the morning, in the afternoon and evening there is no one. | Early in the morning, 6-7 am. |
| Market near Tesco | The market is adjacent to Tesco, they sell food and clothes, for example, T-shirts for 50 baht. | Works in the evening and not every day. |
Market map
Not only markets are marked on the map, but also some shops and cafes. If you are interested in hotels and guesthouses in Chiang Mai, I recommend the RoomGuru hotel booking service and ours in the historical center of the city (in the square).
Photos from the market
Mostly a photo from the Sunday Market, which is the Sunday Market, because we have been there more often than anything.
