Chiang Mai Night Bazaar

The Chiang Mai Night Bazaar is a large evening market area along and around Chang Klan Road in Chiang Mai, Thailand, offering a dense concentration of stalls selling handicrafts, clothing, souvenirs and street food. It is one of the city’s principal night-market areas and operates nightly.

Stalls and small shops line several adjacent streets and alleys, and many vendors sell northern Thai textiles, silverwork, woodcraft and tourist goods; food stalls and small restaurants provide local dishes and snacks. The market is also a focal point for street performers and occasional live music, and it caters to both tourists and local shoppers.

The market grew in scale with Chiang Mai’s expansion as a tourist destination in the late 20th century and remains a major commercial and social hub after dark.

It lies just east of Chiang Mai’s Old City, along Chang Klan Road and the surrounding blocks, within walking distance of many downtown hotels and roughly a short walk from Tha Phae Gate.

• Opening hours: Market stalls generally open from early evening until around midnight, with peak activity after 8pm
• How to explore: Best explored on foot along Chang Klan Road and the market’s adjoining lanes to experience the full range of stalls and food vendors

The main section of the Night Bazaar occupies an enclosed building with many well-established shops, but over the years it has spilled out onto Chang Klan Road and now fills the northern section above Sridonchai Road. Most of the surrounding streets are overcrowded, but this is one of the best and largest bargain shopping areas in town, with everything from t-shirts for 60 baht to ornate wood carvings for many thousands of dollars.

The market can be a good place for silver and hill tribe ware, but be wary of rip-offs and give anything you buy a good look over, as substandard goods are not uncommon. Bargain hard - the initial asking price may well be a mark-up of 300 percent or more - and be prepared to walk away. If you are sick of shopping, sit back on a terrace and watch the circus unfold.

For antique silks and quality weaving and embroidery, try the boutiques and small shops along Rachamankha (southeast end) and Loi Kroh roads. You may pay a little more, but you are guaranteed knowledgeable shop owners. The market stays open until around 23:00.

The Night Bazaar is in Chiang Mai’s eastern district near the old city; it is a short walk from the River Ping and Thapae Gate, or reachable by tuk-tuk and local songthaews. Chang Khlan Road is the spine of the market area.

• Go after 8pm when the market is in full flow - the best people-watching and food stalls cluster late.
• Bring small change for bargaining and snacks; watch for fixed-price shops that do not haggle.
• Try grilled skewers and sticky rice from the food alleys along Chang Khlan Road.