Food trips and shopping are among the experiences Filipinos love most. And if the combination of shopping hauls and local flavors, with a side of vibrant nightlife is what one seeks, Thailand’s night markets are sure to give a colorful fusion for filling, picture-perfect experiences.
For starters on Thailand’s night markets, Bangkok is always a great place to be in. After all, many of the night markets in the capital cater to diverse interests.
For old souls, Rod Fai Market in Bangkok is the place for a night crawl to remember. Here, one will have their fill of household items, secondhand clothes, shoes, and fashion accessories all in vintage style. Strolling down the market, shoppers will see old cameras, bicycles, Coca-Cola collectibles, and 1960s action figures from Japan.
For fashion, art, and music junkies, the must-visit place is the Saphan Phut Night Market. Known as the top bazaar for the people of Bangkok, this night market’s stalls offer new and secondhand clothes, shoes, brand name bags in perfect conditions, and musical instruments. Shoppers can also commission a portrait or have a tattoo or henna painting. After an all-night’s stroll, grab a bite at any restaurants in the area.
For a full-blown shopping spree, Bangkok’s Asiatique the Riverfront is the night bazaar slash shopping mall that’s perfect for shopaholics. Asiatique has four districts to explore depending on what the shopper wants to buy or do.
A number of small boutique shops that sell souvenirs, handicrafts, jewelry, and clothing can be found at Chareonkrung District. Cutting-edge fashion and gadgets abound at The Factory District’s more than 500 shops. Head to the Town Square District for a meal after a long stroll.
Aside from filling shopping bags and bellies, many of Thailand’s night markets are hotspots brimming with life and culture. In Chiang Mai’s night markets, tourists can get their fill of both local art and cuisine. Its kilometer-long Sunday Walking Street, which starts at the Tha Pae Gate, is a venue for different performances, from dance recitals to beauty pageants.
Among the great finds shoppers can score here are an assortment of tourist trinkets from hill-tribe vendors. On both sides of the road, food stalls in temples offer sample of unique delicacies, including street massage, painting, handicraft, and many more.
Another can’t-miss in Chiang Mai is its night market, where one can find almost any sort of item from handicrafts and housewares to antiques and jewelry. After a night-long haul, choose from a selection of Thai seafood and noodle restaurants to dine at.
If art is the priority for going on a night crawl, Hua Hin’s Cicada Market will feel like paradise. Cicada Market has four sections: Art Indoors offers painting, sketches, and sculpture for sale; the open-air amphitheater Art of Act, on the other hand, is a venue for performances by local art groups.
Score deals on clothes, decorative items, homeware, and handmade accessories at the Cicada Market’s Art a la Mode section. Feast on salads, steaks, pastas, and seafood barbecues at the open-air food court called Art of Eating.
To know more about Thailand’s night markets, visit www.tourismthailand.org or www.facebook.com/TATPhilippines.
