Chiang Rai Night Bazaar
The prominent destinations mostly visited by tourists are the famous White and Blue Temple, Singha Park or Golden Triangle.
Those tourist sites can be visited during the day. At night on the other hand, tourists usually gather at the night markets of the city, one of the most well known one is Chiang Rai Night Bazaar.
Chiang Rai is not as famous as a tourist city compared with Chiang Mai. However, the city has a lot of undiscovered things to serve visitors. The prominent destinations mostly visited by tourists are the famous White and Blue Temple, Singha Park or Golden Triangle. Those tourist sites can be visited during the day. At night, on the other hand, tourists usually gather at the night markets of the city, one of the most well-known one is Chiang Rai Night Bazaar.
Most tourists from Chiang Mai book a day tour to Chiang Rai to visit the Golden Triangle, the White Temple and then return to Chiang Mai during the day, but few stays in the city overnight. Try once staying in Chiang Rai on the weekend at night, as the Chiang Rai night bazaar will surely get you all excited.
Situated on the two streets in central Chiang Rai, the night bazaar market opens daily from 5pm onwards. The entrance gate of the market, designed in a very unique style, will impress tourists from first sights. Compared to the Chiang Mai weekend night market, the bustling Chiang Rai night bazaar is relatively more local.
The market is divided into a separate dining area, a souvenir shop, and a local product selling area. The market is also packed with people, yet the atmosphere is quiet and not as bustling as other markets.
Thai people are inherently gentle and friendly; while people in Chiang Rai are even friendlier so going to the night market here is very comfortable and pleasant. Tourists won’t have to be afraid of being scolded for not buying and taking pictures.
Food station is one of the most interesting areas in the market. I have to say that the food is even too much as you can find any kind of Thai dishes here. They sell all signature Thai food in a northern flavor from somtam, padthai, mango sticky rice, vermicelli noodles, green curry, tomyum... to foreign ones such as sushi, dumplings, octopus pancake... all are cooked hygienically and displayed in a very attractive sense.
Chiang Rai night bazaar also has a large area served as a food court for tourists to conveniently enjoy their amazing meals. This is a difference compared to other night markets that make visitors excited as everyone wants to sit there to enjoy delicious street foods at cheap prices but excellent quality from processing to decorating.
As the night goes on, the market becomes more bustling, where talented artists perform excellent dancing and singing competition to entertain guests.
It is easy that you encounter everyone visits the market to eat and drink, to buy some souvenirs, to try a cheap foot massage along the road and most importantly, experience the friendly and comfortable feeling of Chiang Rai people. If you come to Chiang Rai, be sure to visit the night bazaar market. You can actually stop by the clock tower at 7pm, 8pm and 9pm for a colorful light show with great music.
Mueang Chiang Rai District
Chiang Rai 57000