We all know how much I love markets at this point. 😂 If there is one to be found, rest assured I will find it. Here in this beautiful Thai city, I have a huge selection of markets to choose from. The best night market in Chiang Mai OT or Old Town, is the Walking Street Sunday night market. It has it all, incredible food, amazing souvenirs and its huge.
Location
Walk to the centre of town, right near the Chiang Mai Arts & Cultural Centre. Very quickly, you will notice streets that have been closed off and awnings and umbrellas raised for shade. At 5pm every Sunday evening, the centre of the city is transformed and turned into an open-air street market.
Souvenirs
Wow, if you are looking for mass produced items like a pair of the elephant pants that every tourist seems to need, or a hand made treasure, this is the place for you!
From framed insects, to carved soap, you will see things here that you never knew existed. 😁Some of my favourite items are the hand embroidered bucket hats, boutique clothing, mango wood bangles and colourful little trinkets made with pompoms.
Food
Where do I start? If you have seen a Thai street food item on Tiktok or any other social media platform, you will probably find it and be able to try it here. 😂 The food looks insanely delicious and I can attest to the fact that it is (mostly). 😬
Let’s see, this is what I have tried so far. Sushi (to die for), even if it is sitting out in the warm air 🍥; young coconut pancakes (had a huge line, tasted good but were really soggy); potato chips on a stick (never a bad idea to eat fried potatoes in any form 😂); gyoza (large size, and perhaps under cooked which wigged me out cause they were the pork ones), mango smoothie (amazing!) and tiny egg tarts (perfect ratio of filling to crust, delish!).
Entertainment
Walking around at random are locals singing, a few of which are blind. Seated on each street seem to be a person or group playing traditional musical instruments. These create lovely sounds that fill the air as you stroll along.
Sore feet? You can sit down with your fellow tourists and have a foot massage right there on the sidewalk. 😂 There are multiple places to choose from and a unique experience that I have never encountered elsewhere.
I will say, arriving at 5pm when this market officially starts is the best time to see what is on offer. Most stalls are set up and ready to go. The crowds are manageable, and you will be able to see what is for sale and choose some delicious food for dinner. By 7:30pm, it is so crowded, like bumper to bumper. I am not a fan of crowds and being constantly jostled and bumped into, so this is my time to leave the market. Whether you come early or later, this market is super fun to explore and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
