Chiang Mai Night Market — Attraction in Chiang Mai Province

I’ve been to 3 night markets here in Chiang Mai and can say, without a doubt, that this is the worst. In addition to being the most crowded, it was the 1st really bad food I had in Thailand. I have been here for 2 weeks (5 days Bangkok, 4 days Phuket, 4 days Chiang Mai) and, while there were some meals that were better than others, I had not truly had bad food until today. I got some Gyoza to go. I realized after I paid for it that it didn’t look super nice so I set out to find someplace else that had it so I could try both and compare. I did find a better looking one. Got some dumplings also. BOTH of the Gyoza’s, from the two different places, and the dumplings were actually disgusting. I took one bite out of each flavor from every tray, and they all made me want to barf. Really really bad experience. The mango sticky rice was ok. Have had better here. The Nutella banana rotti was the most expensive that I’ve gotten here in Thailand, and they were really skimpy with the Nutella. The brownie was a solid 7/10. I did get a really good Japaneses strawberry box for a good price. The tanghululu and chocolate covered strawberries were very good, with the chocolate covered ones rivaling Godiva. All in all, save your money and time and go to the Saturday market or Gate Market. Jing...

🌆 Chiang Mai Sunday Market – massive, chaotic, and definitely not for everyone

As the name suggests, the Sunday Market takes over the center of Chiang Mai’s Old Town every Sunday evening. Main roads are shut down, and a huge night market fills the streets.

You’ll see rows and rows of people getting foot massages right on the sidewalk — a very Thai street scene and fascinating 😄

for me… this market was just way too much. It’s massive — but not in an exciting way. More like… chaotic. I didn’t know where to go or what to look at. If you enjoy places like Chatuchak in Bangkok, you’ll probably love it. But for me, it felt overwhelming and uninspiring.

Most of the stalls sold the same kinds of factory-made goods you see at other Thai night markets.

As someone who gets drained quickly in dense crowds, I left early — I just wanted to get back to my quiet little room and breathe.

📝 My personal summary of Chiang Mai markets: 1️⃣ Coconut Market – for palm tree views and tropical vibes 2️⃣ Jing Jai Market – for hunting beautiful, handmade finds 3️⃣ Cham cha Market – for peaceful strolls and lovely photo spots 4️⃣ Sunday Market – for… well, surviving...

First off, if you're in town on a Sunday, plan to come here. You'd be stupid if you skipped this event.

Be prepared, it's going to be hot and busy. People move slower than snails and it's just packed to the gills with locals and tourists alike. There are TONS of food options with multiple food court areas all up and down the street. The market literally cuts the town in half from east to west.

There are tons of vendors selling crafts, art, and cheap mass produced gifts. People are playing live music almost every 10 feet. There is one young lady who plays guitar almost in the center of the market. She is very talented. I don't think many people are her age would be confident enough to play for that many people. There were also two young ladies playing guitar and singing when I went last night and I legit was almost in tears thinking about how well they were playing. There were also two groups of old men playing and that just put the biggest grin on my face.

Overall, it sounds like a terrible idea to go. Hot, shoulder to shoulder busy, 20 minutes to walk 10 meters. But it truly is worth the visit, even just once if you're here for more...