Bangkok night markets - market guide
Shopping in Bangkok is far easier and cooler by night. As well as the much appreciated drop in temperature, the sights, sounds, colours and smells always seem somehow more vivid once the sun has set. The range of markets is quite large and each one has their own various specialities and unique features.
The Suan Luam Night Bazaar is a good place to start your shopping odyssey. Its modern and intimate stalls are home to a good range of products shipped in from all corners of Thailand. Another great feature of this night market are the beer stalls and restaurants dotted around it. Visitors can rest their weary legs and enjoy a much needed cold beer while listening to some of the live music on offer here. The food available here ranges from Thai and Vietnamese to Italian and Middle Eastern cuisines.
In 2008 the Crown Property Bureau, who owns the land, announced plans to close the market so that a mall could be developed on the site but evidently this has not proceeded since the market remains open, alive and well in late 2009, even if it’s unclear for how long.
The Pratunam Market Complex, situated near to the famous Pantip Plaza is a great place to seek out those designer goods. Huge amounts of stalls offer a large range of handbags, accessories, T-Shirts and fashion. This indoor market enjoys the cooling relief of air-conditioning. As well as this indoor market, the surrounding streets are full of interesting stalls that also have a good range of designer goods such as handbags and purses. The inside market is open 24 hours a day.
Patpong Night Market is very popular with tourists. Situated within the notorious district of Patpong, a place of sex shows and go-go bars, the Patpong Night Market is full of stalls selling fake designer goods at rock-bottom prices. Bargain hard and visitors can bag themselves a very cheap ‘Rolex’ watch or ‘Armani’ handbag. The goods here are of decent quality but tend not to be the real thing. You will unfortunately be on the receiving end of some hard sell in this area, both from stall owners and proprietors of the notorious bars whose glittering neon lights dominate the landscape.A concerted effort to clamp down on the sale of pirated goods began in late 2009, particularly on vendors in this area, they’re likely to appear and disappear, but there’s still plenty of genuine goods at bargain prices. We certainly don’t condone the practice.
The Banglamphu area of Bangkok is home to the backpacker mecca of Khao San Road, which is lined with some great stalls and markets. There is a huge amount of goods on offer here, all at reasonable prices. From swimming shorts to gold, Khao San Road is a great place to pick up some bargains and soak up the atmosphere at the same time. Books, CD’s, movies, trainers, flip-flops, bags and traditional Thai goods can all be found here. Stalls here tend to close around 1:30am.
Buanglamphu Market is also positioned within the area. Mainly used by locals, the market is a good place to buy food and clothing. Another notable market near here is Bo-Be Market, a bustling place that is great for wholesale clothing and fabric.
The Memorial Bridge Night Market is another night-market which sells a large range of different products. Very good bargains can be found here, as the market is less popular with tourists than some of its fellow markets.
Note! The 1stop guides do not condone nor wish to promote the selling or buying of fake goods and labels.
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