Sunday Night Walking Street in Chiang Mai, Thailand

By the time I made it to Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, I had seen my fair share of markets. Day markets, night markets, weekly markets, art markets, wet markets, flower markets– you name it, I had probably visited. I wasn’t quite prepared when I hit the Sunday Night Walking Street, however.

A 1 km stretch of Ratchadamnoen Road from Thaphae Gate in the old city is closed to traffic Sunday nights at 4:00 pm and vendors line the roads with all sorts of wares. The one difference I noticed was that this market was 100% aimed at tourists, both Thai and foreign, and the goods were significantly more upscale. Unlike the night bazaar, there are no knockoffs. Most of the goods are made by the vendors and the craftsmanship is high quality. There is also a great selection of wares, from paintings, paper arts, lanterns, jewelry, scarves, pants and sarongs, wooden sculptures, fashion accessories, ceramics, herbal remedies, umbrellas, musical instruments, carved soap, and many more I’m likely forgetting.

There is also plenty of entertainment along the route, aside from the ever-enjoyable people watching. I watched girls and women perform dances and songs atop a stage set up at the end of one of the roads, hip-hop Thai kids performed a dance, handing out free cans of pop afterwards, impromptu bands set up playing everything from traditional music to more modern beats, an artist blew glass, another soldered some jewelry. You’ll never get bored at the Sunday market!

The only downside to this market was the crush of people. Sometimes the roadways were so congested it got a bit claustrophobic, however most people were considerate and the crowd eventually lessens.

One highlight I encountered along my stroll was the 14^th century Wat Phan Toa on the main street. The garden area was beautifully lit with colourful lanterns around a central pond. It was a very pretty respite from the clogged streets. Several other temples set up outdoor food courts offering all manner of Thai street snacks. It’s a great place to grab some cheap local fare. After grabbing your dinner, find a place among the temple grounds to plop down and enjoy the activity while eating.

I treated myself to a banana roti during the night and watched in wonder as the young man turned the dough, getting it paper thin in a few flicks of his wrist. It was pretty incredible. After it is fried in copious amounts of oil, bananas are sliced over the pancake and it is folded up and slathered in condensed milk and chocolate. Sweet and greasy and loaded with carbs, but oh, so delicious.

If you’re in Chiang Mai on a Sunday, I highly recommend checking out the Walking Street. It is a place full of fun and energy and a great place to pick up some authentic Thai souvenirs while supporting the local craftspeople.

Information

• When: Sundays from 4:00 to midnight.
• Where: Ratchadamnoen Road from Thaepae Gate and several streets in the vicinity.
• Cost: None but bring money for shopping!

If you’re interested in more Thai markets, check out these:

• Lopburi night market
• Ayutthaya floating market
• Ayutthaya night market
• Damnoen Saduk floating market
• Bangkok flower market

Buddhists praying as the market takes place