Life Changing Shopping

Every night Chiang Mai comes alive with the massive Night Market, or Night Bazaar that stretches for miles and includes cafes, ice cream parlours, restaurants, bars and and of course thousands of market stalls. Few people visit Chiang Mai without picking up a few bargains, this must be the bargain epi-centre of the world. In fact, the stalls that are squeezed on to the pavement and in the purpose-built arcades of Chang Klan Road are one of Chiang Mai's biggest attractions.
In addition, there are two 'Walking Street' markets each week - the Sunday Market along Ratchadamonoen Road (right through the heart of the old town), and the Saturday evening market along Wualai Street (through the traditional Silversmith quarter that leads onto the south side of the old city). It's worth planning your trip to coincide with one of these, since the products on sale are more authentic arts and crafts.

At the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar you can pick up everything from antiques to fake Rolex watches and an astonishing variety of handicraft souvenirs, or sample the smoothness of the colourful silk on sale everywhere. You can have a suit measured up, ready for your collection the following evening and browse exquisite Asian silver jewellery.

This market is legendary and certainly one of the cheapest places for tourists to shop in Thailand, owing to its close proximity to the source of products and the lower cost of living in Chiang Mai. It is situated along a three-block stretch of Chan Klan Road in the heart of the city, and within walking distance of most hotels.

Clustered around it are many restaurants and other useful services, such as camera shops, travel agents, internet cafes, massage and more. One popular activity is to have your portrait done all dressed up in traditional Thai costume. A word of warning; it does get crowded in the high season and the narrow lanes between the stalls become a human traffic jam. Many of the more traditional handicrafts can be found at the more pleasant Sunday Walking Street in the old town.
The Night Bazaar is one of the top tourist attractions of Chiang Mai.

The actual Vieng Ping Night Bazaar is the main locus of trade and comprises a two-storey mezzanine arcade where quality antiques, clothing and crafts can be found. Across the road is the renovated Kalare Centre, where you can settle your appetite after all the bargaining and haggling. It has a more upmarket appearance and better selection of local goods than the pavement vendors. There is an international selection of food in an open-seated area with entertainment provided by traditional Thai dancers and music - though the food here is mediocre at best!

After many of the properties in the area were bought up by one of Thailand’s richest tycoons, there has been a gentrification that is otherwise quite shabby in the daylight. The Chang Klan Plaza offers indoor shopping centre-type shopping at the northern reach of the Night Market area, while the busy Anusarn Market, towards the southern end, offers the largest selection of eateries, particularly seafood.

Thai market traders tend to price their wares at about twice what you ought to pay. The longer you persist with a 'friendly' argument, the better your final price. However, please be aware that these goods are already cheap and the vendors earn only modest incomes and work long hours.