Chatuchak Market in Bangkok, Thailand is possibly the world’s largest weekend market. It has thousands (estimates run between 9,000 and 15,000) of booths featuring a wide array of items for sale. It is a must-see stop for anyone in Bangkok!

Many of the booths are food stands, and include all types of food: Thai, western, fast food, and food from many other nations can be found easily and inexpensively. It is also a lot of fun to watch the food get cooked on the street!

Street performers grace the crowds at Chatuchak hoping to earn more money. The long instruments in the picture are didgeridoos—wind instruments native to Australia. The weekend market is also a great place to meet local Thais and other travelers. People as diverse as the shops gather to buy everything from goods to use at home to souvenirs!

This sandal shop is typical of the thousands of different stands in the market. Some of them are just big enough to display their merchandise; others are big enough to contain dressing rooms. Merchandise ranges from antiques to traditional Thai souvenirs to home furnishings to books to statues to jewelry to clothes. You can find seamstresses and authors and cooks and artists. Beautiful silks and wood carvings are available. Many designers first display their new products at the market. Of course, many “fakes” are also available.

Once you find something you are interested in, you should be prepared to bargain for the price. Most sellers will speak enough English to barter with you, and if they don’t they will have a calculator or a notepad on which you can write down prices. How much you spend really depends on your bargaining skills!

Most of the shops are only open on Saturday and Sunday, so you need to save your market trip for the weekend. Getting there is easy-take the sky train to the exit at Mo Chit. From the Mo Chit station there are signs showing the way to the market.

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