And we’re back with the second installment of the Chiang Mai Market Guide – don’t miss Part I here.

Warorot Market (day)

Inside one of the market halls

Located at the end of Chiang Moi Road near the river, Warorot Market is…something else.  You literally can get just about anything within this area – from jeans to furniture and kitchen ware, to fabric and medicine, to donuts and dried fruit.  There are several buildings and alley ways that make up the total area and are well worth a couple areas discovering all the nooks and crannies.  Only now, after going many times, am I able to find what I’m looking for without going around in circles and each time I go I see something new.

Pictured above is where they sell many dried and packaged goods, but there are also many individual shops along the street selling who knows what and several gold shops to buying and selling jewelry.

• When:  Daily – early until sunset
  
• Where: On the east side of town at the end of Chiang Moi Road
  

Warorot (night)

While the shops and indoor marketplace close down in the early evening, the fruit and flower stalls outside stay open  and new street vendors selling produce and prepared food stalls start setting up.

Come here to piece together your dinner, try out some Thai snacks and sweets, or buy some of the smallest clothes ever.

• When:  Nightly from around 6:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
  
• Where: On the east side of town at the end of Chiang Moi Road

Flower Market

The flower market along the river is impressive with its stalls and stalls of garlands and offerings.  We just don’t have them at home.  There are also places selling large floral arrangements, roses, orchids (incredibly cheap!) and whatever else is in season.  I like coming here during the day, but actually find it more interesting at night (while the florist shops are closed, the stalls are still open).  There’s something special about having it be 10 o’clock at night and driving down the street with burst of color and the smell of fresh flowers in the air.  You can just drive up and purchase a fresh, handmade garland, for around a dollar at any time and drive off.

• When:  Daily 24/7
  
• Where: Behind Warorot market along the Mae Ping River on the east side of town
  

Muang Mai Market – Wholesale Food Market

Pig head anyone?

There are several local fresh markets throughout town, but Muang Mai Market takes it to the next level.  This is where many restaurants and food stalls come everyday to get their produce and fresh meat.  The amazing thing here is the sheer amount of food piled up – bags of hot Thai chilies up to your waist, mounds of individually peeled garlic cloves and stacks upon stacks of vegetables.  It’s also amazing that while the walkways are narrows and there’s always carts, motorbikes and bicycles weaving through them, I’ve never seen them hit anything…

It’s best to come in the morning when everything is open and people are coming to do their shopping for the day, but it’s also interesting to stop by late, late at night because they’re still selling!

• When:  Daily – Many of the meat and fish/seafood stalls are done in the early afternoon, but you can catch a new round of produce coming in from the hills late at night (12:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.) and being sold throughout the night and early morning
  
• Where: West of Wang Singkam Road (near the river)

Student Market

As I’ve posted before, the student market located near the front gate of Chiang Mai University is a the place for cheap clothes, accessories and food.  Open nightly, the market caters to the large student population living in the area and is one of two markets along the same road.  The other, Kad Rin Kum, is on the same side of the street but further east heading into town and is the place to go if you want a cheap (sketchy…) tattoo.

• When: Nightly starting around 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
• Where: Huay Gaew Road near the university

There’s still more >> check back next week for Part III of this Chiang Mai Market Guide series!

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