1. Bon Marche
Located in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district, this place has successfully proven
that markets can remain clean, vibrant, and relaxing for people of all ages in
the modern time. It has showed the market can still offer everything people in
the society are looking for, fulfilling the role markets used to have in the
bygone days.
At Bon Marche (French words for good market), there are fresh food, instant
food, food ingredients, desserts, handicrafts, clothes, gems, accessories, a
variety of products including home-decor items, and a stage for shows. Fine
eateries, fortune-telling services, and learning centres are also available.
On special occasions, there are special activities for visitors to enjoy too.
This market spans over 27,200 square metres of utility space. It is open from
6pm to 7pm daily (for eateries, their service hours run till 10pm). For more
information, call 0 2953 8980.
2. Rom Hub Market
Located in Samut Songkhram, this is a classic market with unique experiences to
offer to its visitors. They have to walk on the railway while shopping around
because all stalls are lining along a 100-metre portion of track between Mae
Klong and Ban Laem train stations. Whenever trains are running past, vendors
will quickly fold their parasols (including sunshade canvas) and move away any
containers placed too close to the tracks.
Their movement is so quick and so natural that visitors have dubbed this
market, originally known as "Rot Fai Market" and "Ratchapassadu Market", as Rom
Rub (Folding Parasols). There are eight trains coming daily at 6.20am, 8.30am,
9am, 11.10am, 11.30am, 2.30pm, 3.30pm, and 5.40pm. Local stalls are selling
fresh, quality seafood, fruits and vegetables at a cheap price.
This market is open from 6am till 6pm every day. For more information, call 0
3471 4881.
3. Sriprachan Market
Located by the Suphan Buri (Ta Chin) River in Suphan Buri, this market has
retained its good-old-day elements to a point that it won the 2008 Tourism
Award. Wooden structures here are indeed the market’s strong appeal.
At many shops, old-style decoration is still in place. Sri-Ngarm photo shop,
for example, puts framed black-and-white photos in its display window. No
modern counter is in sight. Visitors will feel they have walked back in time.
The mattress shop in the market is also famous among the locals because its
quality products have been selling well for over a century now.
The childhood home of much-respected monk PA Payutto is among the well
preserved places at the market (closed on Monday). On the first floor, the
atmosphere is as if the place was still selling Chinese charmeuse trousers and
Thai silk like in the past. On the second floor, an exhibition about the
prolific monk is on display.
This market also offers a variety of yummy food and refreshments.
The Sriprachan Market is open from 8am till 5pm every day.
4. Nakhon Nuang Khet Market
Located in Chachoengsao's Mueang district, the Nakhon Nuang Khet Market boasts
nostalgic feel as old wooden structures here have remained very much the same
as more than a century ago. This market is named after a manmade canal, which
was dug at the order of King Rama V.
At the time Thais still relied on waterways more than roads, this market saw
much thriving trade.
However, as the centre of trade shifted, the settlement along both sides of the
canal had deteriorated over time. The Nakhon Nuang Khet Municipality then
decided to breathe a new life into this community by conserving its old
charming ways of life and their simple, old houses and shops. This settlement
is then turned into an attraction drawing in tourists from far and wide.
Tourists can stroll around the community along their ample wooden alleyways,
shop for souvenirs and a variety of fares. A great selection of food is also
available, some of which are sold from boats that park right by the banks of
the canal.
For more information, call the Nakhon Nuang Khet Municipality at 038
814-444.
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5. Waroros Market
Princess Dararasmi, the royal consort of King Rama V, and Chiang Mai ruler
Prince Intaraworos co-founded this market more than a century ago.Locals have
thus referred to the place as “Kard Luang”, which can mean either, “market
owned by a royal” or “a big market”.
Although royal members have already sold their shares in the market, its name
has remained unchanged.
There are a variety of products in Waroros Market including the famous
northern-style sausage, crispy pork, fermented pork, and northern-style chilli
paste.
Northern-style and hill-tribe clothes, accessories and embroidery
are also available. It is a perfect place to find souvenirs at a very friendly
price.
The main market building is open from 6am to 7pm daily. Neighbouring shops open
from 7am and close before midnight. For more information, call 053 232592.
6. Kao Hong Market
With its history tracing back more than one century ago, this market has
combined three trade areas together. The oldest area is known as Talad Lang. It
sprang into operations after a tragedy struck a Chinese merchant’s family.
Its founder Hong or Boonrod Liangwanich survived the robbery at his bustling
raft shop-cum-house but his wife was killed.
Following that tragic incident, Boorod moved his shops to a riverside plot of
land in Suphan Buri and erected a watchtower to prevent his place from bandits
and robbers. The tower has holes for guns to fire out.
Some 30 years later, Talad Klang and Talad Lang were set up. Together, they are
known as Kao Hong Market. If visitors want to learn about the market’s long
history, they can browse into the Kao Hong Market Museum where utensils of the
old days are also on display.
Many wooden structures in the market have reflected local wisdom. For example,
one of them has transparent holes at the exact positions on the roof and the
floor of the second story. Curtains are then used to control whether the
occupants wish to let the sunlight in.
7. Samchuk Market
This old market in Suphan Buri is world famous because with its great heritage
conservation, it has won an award from the United Nations Educational
Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco). Till this day, 19 patterns of
gingerbread work have still adorned old local houses and shops here.
Visitors are promised exceptional experiences when browsing around. This
riverside marketplace even has a museum telling about the Samchuk community and
its market. There is a long history for the visitors to learn about. The red
old post box in front of the market was erected since 1911.
Old toys, old games, and old-style dishes are available here. If you are
nostalgic, you are bound to fall in love with this place. At the Silp
Thammachat photo shop, you can even have your pictures taken with a camera aged
over 100 years old. Other shops are also equally fascinating.
A boat tour is available at just Bt59 (S$2.35) per person.
The Samchuk Market is open from 8am to 5pm daily. For more information, call 0
3557 1571 or visit www.samchuk.in.th
8. Jed Samian Market
Located in Ratchaburi, this market is often associated with arts because
Patravadi Theatre has made it a mission to deliver “All about Art” to this
place in the evening of every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Nearby is an art
garden or Suansilp Baan Din, which is created and run by Patravadi Meechuthon’s
prot?g? Manop Meejamras. Those who wish to indulge in the atmosphere can book a
stay inside this art orchard too.
Lan Pho inside the market is also lively, because children and elderly locals
have taken turns staging cultural shows to entertain visitors every now and
then.
Sweetened radish is a must-buy product at this market. Various food items are
also available. Buyers can grasp some and enjoy the food on tables placed right
next to the Mae Klong River.
The Jed Samian Market is open in the evening every Wednesday, Saturday and
Sunday. For more information, call 0 3239 7015.
9. Kong Khong Market
Located in Ayutthaya, this small market is very charming because all vendors
wear traditional Thai costume and name tags. The vendors sit on the floor to
sell their fares. Most customers thus bend down or “Kong Khong” to talk to the
vendors and buy stuff. It is a polite gesture.
There are a variety of products and food for customers to choose from.
If the customers show up in the morning, Thai traditional dance is performed to
the tune of tall, narrow drums at 10am in front of the shrines of Luang Por Pu
Saengsoam and King Naresuan the Great. For tourist groups, they can enjoy a
warm welcome with a Thai dancing troupe if they inform relevant staff of their
visit in advance.
The Kong Khong Market is open between 9am and 4pm from Thursday to Sunday, and
also official holidays. For more information, call 0 3572 8286 and visit www.talardkongkhong.com
10. Plearnwan Market
Developed under the theme of eco-vintage village, this market in Prachuap Khiri
Khan fills its atmosphere with the good-old-day elements such as old songs,
old-style advertisement posters, old stuffs, old desserts and temple fairs.
Shops and stalls are operating inside wooden two-story houses. There is an
outdoor screen to entertain people with old movies too.
Nostalgic souls are bound to fall in love with this place. If shopping and
strolling are not enough, they can book a hotel room to stay inside this market
too.
PlearnWan comes from Play and Learn from Wan Warn (Old Days).
The PlearnWan market is open between 10am and 10pm from Monday to Thursday,
between 10am and midnight on Fridays, and between 9am and midnight on Satrudays
and Sundays. For more information, call 0 2712 8891 or browse into www.plearnwan.com
