Chiang Mai Night Bazaar

The Chiang Mai Night Bazaar has operated on Chang Klan Road since the mid-20th century, when the strip catered to trade caravans coming in from Yunnan. Today it stretches between Tha Phae Road and Sridonchai Road, directly east of the city moat, and opens every evening regardless of the day of the week — which sets it apart from the weekend Walking Streets. The street-level stalls on Chang Klan itself sell the usual array of elephant-print trousers, lacquerware, carved wooden elephants, silk scarves, and phone cases, at prices that start roughly double what you would pay at a local shop. Bargaining is expected on the open-air stalls; fixed-price signs in the permanent shopfronts mean what they say.

Two covered complexes sit just off the main road. The Kalare Night Bazaar holds a food court that operates on a prepaid coupon system (minimum 100 THB top-up), permanent clothing and craft shops, and a Muay Thai stadium with fights most nights except Sunday. The adjacent Anusarn Market is smaller and quieter, with vendors selling home décor, clothing, and cooked food at slightly less aggressive prices. Food on the street stalls runs 30–80 THB — khao soi, sai oua (northern pork sausage), and mango sticky rice are all straightforward finds. Peak hours are 7–9pm when the footpath narrows considerably; arriving just after 6pm gives you a calmer browse.

Insider Tip: If you are in Chiang Mai on a Sunday, skip the Night Bazaar entirely and walk the Sunday Walking Street on Ratchadamnoen Road instead — the craft quality is noticeably higher, the prices are fairer, and the atmosphere is far less tourist-focused. The Night Bazaar is most useful mid-week when no walking street is running.

Watch out: Persistent hawkers at the entrance offer “free” shows, tuk-tuk rides, or restaurant menus that lead to commission-heavy gem shops. Decline politely and walk on. The Kalare Muay Thai tickets sold at the gate (600–1,000 THB) are not cheap for what is a tourist-tier event rather than a local fight night.