Open markets are one of Thailand’s most iconic hallmarks and there’s no market bigger or more iconic than the Chatuchak Weekend Market. This is a cultural institution and an essential experience.

Background

This market has been around for some time, with the earliest incarnation being in 1942. The market moved around for about two decades before becoming a mainstay in Chatuchak.

File:Chatuchak Weekend Market (494651213).jpg

edwin.11, Chatuchak Weekend Market (494651213), CC BY 2.0

Markets

There are several kinds of goods that are available at the Chatuchak Weekend Market and you can find almost anything you would need, from foodstuff to electronics and exotic souvenirs. There are even art galleries to be explored within the market.

File:Chatuchak Weekend Market P1100756.JPG

Deror Avi, Chatuchak Weekend Market P1100756, CC BY-SA 3.0

Popularity

Every year, numbers ranging from 200,000 to 300,000 people visit the market, and this includes both locals and international travellers. Due to the comprehensive nature of the market, most people who arrive knowing exactly what they wish to buy end up leaving with a bounty of spontaneous purchases.

jeff_leigh, Thai Silk, CC BY 2.0

Bargaining

Haggling is a hallmark of an open market anywhere in the world, but especially so in Thailand. If you’re an international traveller vacationing at one of many Riverside hotels Bangkok has to offer, such as Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort be sure to consult a veteran and gain a crash-course in the art of bargaining.

Damon Starky is a creative nomadic travel writer, who is well informed and experienced on a wide range of interests that would connect to the needs of any type of traveler. Google+