Night Bazaar Touristy! Go to the Walking Market!

You been to the Night Bazaar and found it a tourist trip? Well here is some advice for some of the “real” markets in Chiang Mai. The largest fresh market is Gat Luang, Gat is Northern Thai for market and “luang” mena big or main. So, it is the main market. Outside will find all the street food for which Thailand ins famous. Inside wander the island a dn look at all of the interesting and strange types of fruits, vegetables, chili pastes and insects there are for sale. Nes to the Gat Luang is the Talat Warorot. Often they are confused as the same market. However, Talat Warorot is not a food but market but a dry goods and primarily a textile and clothing market. At Pratu Chiang Mai or the Chiang Mai Gate, you will find another smaller fresh market which turns into a “night market” around 7 PM. This means that there are many food vendors who set up to offer Thai versions of fast food, Pad Thai, friend rice, grilled chicken and coconut milk sweets to name a few. This market stays opne past midnight. Talat Ton Phayom near to Chiang Mai University is very similar to the market at Chiang Mai Gate except that as it is near Chiang Mai University it is place where a lot of university students gather to eat and socialize. Walking Markets – each weekend there are two different walking markets that take place. One is on Saturday and the other on Sunday. As the name of the market suggests these are market s for pedestrians only. The streets are blocked off and vendors are allowed to set up stalls and layout their wares. The first and small of the markets takes place near Chiang Mai Gate on Wulalai Rd. The Sunday Walking Market is expansive extending down all of the main roads in the old city: Tha Pae Gate, Rachdamneon, Phra Pokklao and Rachpakkhinai. The Night Bazaar aspires to be what the Walking Markets are. Here is where you can see local Thai people shopping local Chiang Mai handicrafts. You find almost nothing that has been made for a tourist trap or as tourist kitsch. These markets specialize in local hand made goods and locals foods. Here is where you will find the real Chiang Mai on a Saturday or Sunday evening. The markets will start to set up around 4 pm and go until midnight.