Street Markets

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The streets of Chiang Mai are an ongoing market. Stalls and carts all down each street of the city sell iced coffee, spicy noodle soup, chicken and rice dishes, sweet waffles, and other delicious treats. Small stands sell other snacks and meals, as well as books, toys, clothes, and other souvenirs.

Street markets are an integral part of the culture and a way of life in Thailand. The variety and volume of products bought and sold at Chiang Mai street markets rival that of any major department store in the United States.

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In most cases the individual stands are family owned and operated, and open mostly in the evenings and on weekends. The merchants take pride in the products they sell since, for many, the market represents their only source of income.

Food, kitchen supplies, and clothing are some of the more common items found for sale at the street markets. Some of the most popular souvenirs that tourists can find in the market include T-shirts, jewelry, carved wooden items, artwork, lanterns, scarves, and teas.

The best market in the city is the huge Sunday market. The Sunday Walking Market is the largest and best-known street market in Chiang Mai and features a wide selection of local arts and crafts alongside hundreds of food stands.

Strings of colored lights line the streets, which are closed to traffic to make room for the merchants and crowds of shoppers.

The whole city, both locals and tourists, comes out to shop, eat, meet with friends, and enjoy the warm night weather. The Sunday Walking market starts in the afternoon and goes on late into the evening.

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Our visit will be a great opportunity for souvenir shopping and for students to sample the delicious foods found at the market. Eating at the markets offers students to see and sample the whole gamut of Thai cuisine while supporting local businesses and families.

We also have a student market nearby that provides quick meals, snacks, shakes, and a shopping area of clothes, shoes, and sunglasses to Chiang Mai University students. The student market is a short walk from Spicy Thai and a great place for a quick dinner or some outdoor mall shopping for T-shirts on a cool evening.