Nocturnal indulgence
Bangkok’s many night markets are paradise for collectors of vintage artefacts.
Thailand is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations due to its beautiful attractions, diverse culture, ways of life, delicacies and, of course, shopping venues. Night markets are a form of flea markets. They have become popular over the past few years in Bangkok because their late hours, usually from 4pm to midnight, meet the demands of customers who want to shop after school and work. In addition, the bad economy and inflation have forced consumers to opt for cheaper goods from alternative sources.
In 2013, a survey for “Great Shopping with Amazing Bargains’’ on TripAdvisor, a global travel website, named Thailand’s 10 best street markets. Chiang Mai’s Sunday Night Market ranked 1st, followed by the Mae Klong Railway Market (Talat Rom Hoob) in Samut Songkhram, Saturday Night Market Street on Wua Lai Road in Chiang Mai, the Pak Khlong Talat Flower Market in Bangkok, Chatuchak Weekend Market (the largest outdoor market in Southeast Asia), the Night Market in Phuket Town, the Amphawa Floating Market in Samut Songkhram, Siam Square in Bangkok, Hua Hin Night Market and Chiang Mai Night Bazaar. According to TripAdvisor, street markets are an integral part of Thai culture, and are popular among both locals and foreigners.
Last year, Toptenthailand, a popularity survey website, named Train Night Market Si Nakharin, Jatujak Green, Siam Square Night Market, Chatuchak Night Market, Khao San Road, Sampeng, Yaowarat, Liab Thang Duan Ram Intra-At Narong Night Market, The Walk Kaset Nawamin and Memorial Bridge Night Market as Bangkok’s top 10 night markets.
As vintage lovers, our group of friends love to hit any of the following five night markets every weekend: Khlong Thom Night Market, Jatujak Green, Siam Gypsy Junction, Train Night Market Si Nakharin and Train Night Market Ratchada. If the night is still young, we can visit another market after failing to find what we’re looking for at the first destination.
As Khlong Thom Night Market is open on Saturday night only and closes early, around 9-10pm, you may go there early for shopping and later visit one of the other night markets.
On the way back home from either Jatujak Green or Train Night Market Ratchada, if you travel by MRT, you may want to drop by the little outdoor market of Suan Lum Night Bazaar Ratchadaphisek, opposite Ratchadaphisek MRT station, for glimpses of light shows and some goods.
According to the survey, “Behaviours and Satisfaction of Foreign Tourists for Shopping and Entertainment”, conducted by The Interactive Research Company among 500 foreign tourists between the ages of 18-45 in 2010, tourists thought of Thailand as a shopping destination because of products, places and services. They voted night markets/walking streets (70%), flea markets (42%), commodity-goods markets (18%), floating markets/community markets (7%) and food markets (2%) as their favourite shopping venues besides malls. They liked the variety, quality, low prices and uniqueness of goods, the way vendors presented their goods, the way they could bargain for better prices and the friendly atmosphere of the markets.
According to a thesis entitled “Style of Walking Street That is Appropriate for Phanat Nikhom Municipalities, Chon Buri Province,” by Thamawong Chiasawat of Burapha University in 2012, flea markets, or talat nat, can be found in both big cities and rural areas. Venues are typically temple grounds, or near public parks and on roadsides to allow passers-by and locals to buy goods. There have been traces of flea markets in Thailand since ancient times.
Major flea markets are the fruit of Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsongkhram’s government’s initiative to establish markets in Greater Bangkok and all provinces nationwide in 1948, to enable the people to buy commodity goods and food at reasonable prices or at federally controlled prices and to encourage more Thais to run businesses. The move led to the establishment of the Sanam Luang Weekend Market, which was relocated from Sanam Luang to its current location near Chatuchak Park in 1982, and was later renamed Chatuchak Weekend Market.
Many of the famous flea markets in Thailand began during the tom yum kung economic crisis. The concept became quickly popular, resulting in more markets popping up over the years, not just in Bangkok but in cities and towns across the country. Some of these markets also have a unique character. Some were created as tourist attractions.
To many, night markets also serve as forums for artists to meet people and sell their artworks, and for art students to showcase their artistic skills and earn an income. Many have been lucky to find rare goods and even masterpieces by chance at night markets, since some vendors buy antiques in bulk and may not know the real value of certain pieces. To vintage lovers and collectors, finding rare collectibles is the real charm of night-market shopping.