Chiang Mai Night Market 

Located in the heart of town, the Chiang Mai Night Market is one of Thailand’s best in terms of variety, as it is filled with everything for just about anyone. Having visited Chiang Mai for the first time in my life, I had heard about this bustling market from friends who had been here before, and for me, it was something out of the ordinary compared to other markets I have been to.

When I first stepped into the Chiang Mai night market, located along Chang Klan Road, I was taken aback by the sheer size of the place, which spans multiple blocks in the main city area. After exploring the entire place over two evenings, I noticed that the prices here are relatively cheaper than in other parts of Thailand, especially in Bangkok or Pattaya.

Here, you can pick up everything from handicrafts, clothes, and antiques to fake watches and an astonishing variety of colourful silk, to name a few. This is highly recommended for art enthusiasts as well.

Night Bazaar along Chan Klan Road in Chiang Mai.

One of the main reasons the Chiang Mai Night Market is considered affordable is its proximity to the source of products and the lower cost of living in Chiang Mai. Please note that there are multiple markets, night bazaars, and complexes in this area. Overall, people refer to it as the night market.

Walking along Chan Klan Road, you will notice the various bazaars. One of them is Vieng Ping Night Bazaar, a two-storey mezzanine arcade where travellers or shoppers can find crafts, antiques, and clothing.

Just across the road, you will find the Kalare Centre, another covered night bazaar offering a similar range of crafts, souvenirs, clothes, and the occasional restaurant and bar.

Visitors are buying local Chiang Mai traditional crafts.

Walking along Chan Klan Road, the pavement bazaars offer a wide range of clothes and souvenirs; therefore, it is highly recommended that you bargain for the prices. One of the most popular market areas is the Anusarn Market, located towards the end of the main road.

It is here that you find the covered, hanger-style night market, which sells a wide variety of items. During my walk around the market, I counted over 100 stalls. For food, the Anusarn night market offers a wide selection of eateries, including seafood restaurants, cafes, and bars. For Muslim travellers, several halal restaurants are serving Indian, Arabic, and Thai food.

Anusarn Night Market in Chiang Mai.

For those visiting Chiang Mai on the weekend, check out the other two Walking Street markets: the Sunday Market along Ratchadamnoen Road and the Saturday evening market along Wualai Street.

I would have put all the photos taken here, but it would have looked too draggy. Therefore, I uploaded them to my MalaysiaAsia Facebook Page so you can view more photos of the Chiang Mai Night Market.

Items are sold at the night market here.

My inaugural trip to Chiang Mai was made possible by Business Events Thailand, an arm of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (also known as TCEB), a public organisation tasked with promoting and developing business events in Thailand.

We were exploring Bangkok and Chiang Mai for the MICE facilities under the Thailand Connect: HIP & Heritage Business Trip in August 2014.

Conclusion

There are many other tourist places around here, but hands down, I would happily recommend that general or business travellers visit the night market in Chiang Mai when they are here.