Chiang Mai has numerous markets – most aimed at selling food and daily supplies to local residents. I’ve previously described a visit to one of these day markets on this blog. The hotel we stayed at in Chiang Mai was near the city’s most famous evening market, their Night Bazaar (also called Night Market), so one night after a busy day of seeing tourist sights, we visited the popular Night Bazaar.
There is a main several story building anchoring the market, filled with hundreds of kiosks, but the market also sprawls onto the surrounding streets and alleys – to the point where it can be difficult to get through as some of the walkways are very crowded.
This is definitely a market which caters to tourists. There’s a variety of clothes, many with an elephant motif, including several custom tailer shops….
Many of the goods sold are souvenirs and gift items; textiles with elephant-themed patterns seem popular….
You’ll find handicrafts, jewelry, carvings, magnets, keychains and the like.
A special note regarding the art you can buy. Most of it is original, and you can often watch the artist work right in front of you. Prices are very reasonable and the quality is high. I have several pieces in my home which I bought in Thailand years ago during my travels there.
There are a variety of health supplements available, many making wildly unreasonable claims as to their usefulness….
There are arcade games….
And live entertainment acts….
Bargaining is expected as prices aren’t fix. Be polite. Usually you can get an item for 2/3’s to 3/4’s of its asking price, so counter their initial offer with about half the money they asked for and go from there. You can probably afford a few baht more than the poor Thai person running the kiosk, so my advice is not to squeeze too hard. A good deal involves two satisfied parties. Cash is customary. Most vendors don’t accept credit cards.
There is a large assortment of fast food available including pad thai, spring rolls, Thai sausage, juices, local beer, etc. Courts with lots of tables are available for you to enjoy your food in comfort:
If you visit the Night Bazaar:
- The market is centered on Chang Klan Road, east of the Old City moat. It’s easy to reach by tuk-tuk or taxi, or on foot as we did.
- The market generally starts around 5–6 PM and runs until 11 PM–midnight (food stalls often open later). It is open every day of the year, including all holidays,
- Watch your step! The ground can be very uneven in spots and it’s easy to trip. One person in our group sprained their ankle here.
- Watch your belongs in crowded spots – pick pockets can be a problem.
It’s a fun place to visit and explore, and great place to people watch. I’m sure you’ll pick up a snack or some gifts to take home with you when you visit.
