Lat Na Phrathat

Lat Na Phrathat is a Saturday-only night market that sets up in front of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan in central Nakhon Si Thammarat town, running roughly 16:00 to 22:00. The name literally means “market in front of the Phrathat” — a reference to the temple’s revered chedi rather than a separate place name. It doesn’t run any other day, and entry is free.

Food is the main draw: stalls selling southern Thai curries, grilled seafood, and snacks like kanom krok line the route, alongside a smaller run of handicraft and textile vendors. Occasional nang talung shadow-puppet stalls turn up too, a nod to Nakhon Si Thammarat’s status as the traditional home of that art form. Prices are typically posted rather than heavily negotiated, though some stallholders will still talk a little on bulk food orders.

Crowds build through the evening as the heat drops, so the busiest stretch runs from around 18:00 once temperatures cool and stalls are fully set up. It’s a market for locals doing a weekly food shop as much as it is for visitors — expect Thai families browsing alongside the occasional tourist rather than a market built around foreign visitors.

Insider Tip: Arrive by 17:00 if you want the popular food stalls before they sell out — some of the better-known southern dishes run out well before the market’s 22:00 close.

Combine a visit with the temple itself during the day, then loop back for the market once it opens — Nakhon Si Thammarat’s old town core is compact enough to cover both on foot.