Every tourist who happens to be in Bangkok at least once must visit one of the "wonders of Thailand" - the main market in the city of Chatuchak. It is here that you can find not only a huge range of outlandish and exotic goods, but also make very profitable purchases at affordable prices. Just imagine, at the height of the tourist season, between the stalls in the main market of the city, there can be more than 200 thousand potential buyers, tourists and just onlookers at the same time. And a third of them are citizens of other countries. We will tell you how to get to Chatuchak market, what to buy, opening hours.
Assortment of goods
It seems that you can find absolutely everything on the shelves. Want to update your set of personal gadgets - no question! We decided to replenish the collection of foreign clothes with new samples of the Thai textile industry - and there will be no problems with that! Or maybe you are interested in something special? For example, antiques, outlandish wood or ivory products, silk and other valuable materials? Even your requests will be met by local merchants.
But the main advantage of this place is not a wide selection of all kinds of goods. And the prices existing here, which are much lower than those that can be found on supermarket shelves, in other cities of Thailand, and even on stalls of street vendors! This is a real "duty-free", existing in the city on its own terms. It is interesting that in the Chatuchak market there are branches of almost all outlets in the country, in which similar goods are sold, but at significantly lower prices. So, you can buy a pair of shirts for the price of one - within 190 baht, trousers cost from 100 baht, and jewelry there are generally ridiculous prices - from 20 baht and above.
Learning to navigate
In order not to get lost in a noisy crowd of buyers and not to become a hostage of persistent Thai traders, you need to familiarize yourself with the layout of the huge market. Not so long ago, it was changed and the huge area is now divided into 27 sectors in which goods of a certain type are sold. Well, as an additional service, each tourist is offered to use the market map before entering, on which all sites, pavilions and shopping arcades are painted. With such an assistant, you can find the right product much faster.
You can buy detailed maps of the market, as well as of Bangkok itself, at a special tourist information center, which is a short walk from the pick-up / drop-off point for passengers from BTS and MRT trains.
Getting ready to go to the market
In order for a trip to the market to be filled with a mass of positive emotions, to bring tourists maximum pleasure from walking and shopping, we advise you to carefully prepare for the exhausting acquaintance with the rich shopping arcades. Since you will have to be on your feet for several hours in a row, it is worth choosing comfortable shoes without heels.
If you are lucky enough to be in Bangkok during the rainy season, the requirements for shoes are radically different. Since the ebb system does not have time to absorb all the water, be prepared for the fact that your feet will be ankle-deep in water. Treat fresh wounds and cover them with adhesive tape to prevent infection.
It is quite hot on the streets of the city, but the market is really stuffy. Therefore, choose light clothing, grab a hat over your head and goggles. And be sure to always have drinking water on hand.
As for the bag, it is most convenient to use a backpack with a fastening on the back. But do not put too valuable things, wallets, phones in it, because on the market you can find a lot of pickpockets and other lovers of easy money.
When is the best time to go to the market
We advise you to schedule your visit to Bangkok's main market in the morning. Thus, you can avoid the exhausting heat of the lunch, get the opportunity to wander around the market when the bulk of the buyers are still sleeping, and also get the opportunity to calmly bargain with the Thais. It is believed that the first buyer attracts good luck, so Thais will be ready to give a good price, if only you buy the product you like from them.
[tp_calendar_widget origin = MOW destination = BKK responsive = true subid = ””]
By the way, most of the shops open by 10 am. They sell the most interesting goods and souvenirs for visiting tourists. Therefore, make a shopping list in advance and correctly plan your route along the necessary lanes to save time.
There is one more trick: postponing the purchase until later, as is customary in our country, is not worth it. Chatuchak is the most dynamic market in the world, where shoppers often go on a hunt for the best goods, as well as take excellent examples of Thai products right from under the noses of gaping tourists. Since the prices on the rows are about the same, you should immediately buy the product you like, not hoping that you can find half the price on the next row.
Is it possible to bargain
In the Chatuchak market, it is not only possible, but also necessary to bargain! Thais respect customers who have this valuable quality and are happy to reduce prices. Yes, and initially "pale-faced tourists" merchants will announce higher prices for goods, gradually discounting their cost 2, 3 or more times.
It was noticed that if a potential buyer speaks the local language, and also comes to the market accompanied by other Thais, the chances of obtaining a significant discount increase several times. After all, local residents know the real price of the goods sold on the shelves.
To get a discount on your purchase, you need to follow simple tips. We will list some of the main rules for trading in the Bangkok market:
- approach traders with charming, wide smiles, show genuine interest in their products
- speak in an undertone, because Thais are not used to introducing other merchants into their commercial affairs
- if you want to buy several products, do it from one dealer - wholesale is always cheaper
- after you hear the price, offer half the price. At the same time, there is an unspoken amount, less than which you should not offer. It's 30 baht
- be sure to say thank you when there is general consensus on the price of the item
These rules will help you get a discount when buying any product. This rule does not work except in catering establishments.
Toilets
A few words should be said about the invariable attribute of every market - toilets. In total, there are several paid toilets on the huge territory of the market, the cost of visiting which is symbolic and is only 2-3 baht. Separately, you should buy toilet paper, not hoping to find it in the stall. It costs 4 baht.
Working hours
Tourists should also know about the days and hours of the Bangkok market. So, the best days to visit and shop are Saturday and Sunday. Most of the shopping pavilions start working from 7:00 and remain open until 18:00. Some traders start trading from 6 am. But sellers of souvenirs and other products, which are in demand among European tourists, go to work only at 10 o'clock in the morning. This is due to the fact that their customers do not appear among the shopping malls earlier than this time.
If you want to buy a plant as a souvenir, we recommend visiting the market on Wednesday or Thursday. It is on these days that the trade in flowers and other exotic representatives of the plant world takes place here.But when buying, pay attention to the fact that the plants are not placed in the ground, but in a special substrate. The fact is that the export of land from Thailand is prohibited (as is its transport to Russia). Therefore, in order to avoid misunderstandings, carefully examine the pot of a living plant and its contents.
How to get to the market
And finally, we will consider the options for the route from the center of Bangkok to the main market of the city. The easiest way is to use the subway. In this case, you will need to get off at the Kamphaeng Phet station or leave the subway car at the Chatuchak Park stop.
You can give preference to a more exotic type of transport - tuk-tuk. But in this case, as in the case of a taxi ride, you can get stuck in a traffic jam and spend precious time on the road. But if you have chosen this particular type of transport, it is enough to tell the driver the cherished words "Suan Chatuchak" and he will take you to the place you need.
Alternative modes of transportation are the BTS air express or ground buses. Almost every one of them makes a stop at the coveted shopping pavilion.
