A guide to Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok

Chatuchak Weekend Market is certainly an assault on all five senses. Food stalls will bombard you with wafting aromas of seafood and sweets. Techno music blasts from trendy clothing stalls. Herds of people shove their way through the market, one stall at a time. That being said, Chatuchak Weekend Market is one destination you cannot miss visiting. Being that Chatuchak is the largest market in Asia, navigating it can be confusing. That is why we’re here to offer you a guide on Bangkok’s massive market.

Can you barter?

Bartering is a must. That being said, everything is already cheap, so don’t feel as though you must fight with a vendor to get a certain discount. One great way to get the best deals is to arm yourself with some Thai, for example, knowing a few numbers or two. Otherwise, brush up on your calculator skills. You can also ask a vendor, thao rai (how much). The more Thai you use, the less likely you are to be ripped off.

What to buy?

You can buy anything and everything your heart desires at Chatuchak Weekend Market. Are you on the hunt for a rare, one of a kind piece of art? There is a section for that (section 7, to be exact). Do you need a new wardrobe before returning home? There’s a section for that. One of the best ways to approach exploring this massive market is to venture in not knowing what it is that you want. If you go in with hopes of purchasing jewelry, odds are you won’t be able to find the clothing and accessory section. Getting lost is easy to do here, so arm yourself with one of the free maps from one of the information kiosks. These maps break down where the sections are, as well as what you can buy there.

When should you go?

Chatuchak Weekend Market is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The market opens Friday night at 6PM and closes at midnight. On Saturday and Sunday, it’s open all day from 9AM to 6PM. Many of the stalls disregard these hours and stay open much later. The best time to go shopping is in the morning, or when the market first opens. Many shopkeepers believe that the first sale of the day is good luck. Because of this, they’re more than happy to bring the price down more than usual!

Desserts

If shopping isn’t your thing, be sure to check out the endless stalls of food throughout the entire market. Chatuchak Weekend Market has a wide array of dessert options. Some of these desserts include chocolate-dipped bananas, crepes and brownies. The market is also well-known for its many coconut ice cream stands, served in its own coconut. You can also add an array of toppings, including nuts or strawberry syrup. If you don’t like ice cream but like coconuts, be sure to find the man with the machete selling them. He can be found near the main entrance. If you don’t see him, just listen for his booming voice, screaming, “coconuts!”

There are many different ways to get to Chatuchak Weekend Market. Take the BTS Skytrain to Mochit and follow the signs or the crowd. You can also take the MRT Subway to Chatuchak Park. A taxi driver should also know where this is. If a driver seems to have trouble understanding, pronounce Chatuchak like Jatujak.

Chatuchak Weekend Market, 587/10 Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900

Read more: Must-visit art museums in Bangkok, Thailand

Source Kelly Iversion/ The Culture Trip

How to spend your weekend in Ho Chi Minh City

People may think that they understand it, explore all or its corners but someday they find out that this city offers more things to feel, taste, smell or do than they have ever imagined.  It is chaotic, crowded, tiring with traffic jam every day. If you have a weekend in Saigon, just try 5 following things then you will gradually feel the lure that only it has.

Take a city tour by yourself

Start your sightseeing with a walking tour of District 1. The Notre Dame Cathedral is at its best in the early morning, and right across the street is the old Saigon Post Office, a worth-while stop with photogenic tiled floors and ancient phone booths. Cut a path through the park on your way to the Reunification Palace to see how young Vietnamese enjoy their downtime. After scoping out the Reunification Palace, let your legs carry you back toward Dong Khoi st., the city's main shopping throughfare, toward the Saigon Opera House.

Soul-treatment alongside Saigon river

A week full of stresses, busy with work will be drifted away after a weekend at An Lam Saigon River- a brand new place for people who love the peacefulness, spa and some moments of enchantment in this crowded Saigon. Nestled under a shaded tropical canopy, An Lam Retreats Saigon River is a 15-minute boat ride from Saigon’s busy centre. You can make an idyllic escape with 19 spacious suites and villas spread across a lush garden, enjoying the delicious Western and Vietnamese restaurant, luxurious spa, and meditative plunge pool.

Enjoy Nguyen Hue Walking Street

Photo Pham Duy Thien

An alternate people watching option for crowded Bui Vien or Pham Ngu Lao street is Nguyen Hue Walking Street. It is a 60m wide pedestrian strip that runs from the colonial era People’s Committee Building, with its Ho Chi Minh statue, 900 meters down to the Saigon River.

Nguyen Hue walking street put officially into operation on 29 April 2015. As scheduled, on weekdays, vehicles are still allowed to run along Nguyen Hue street, but from 6 pm to 1 am on Saturday and Sunday, all kinds of vehicles are banned to travel here. The old Nguyen Hue Flower Street now becomes a square and the first walking street of Saigon. It just likes Saigon that is changing in every breath and in every moment. However, despite changes, Saigon remains deep impression in the heart of tourists.

Dine with the locals

One of Ho Chi Minh’s more decadent eateries is Hum Café in District 3, a highly-rated vegetarian restaurant so popular that a sibling, Hum Lounge, has also opened up in District 1. Dine at the original Hum for an intimate vibe, attentive staff and pretty fairy lights twinkling in the trees outside. The meat-free menu is so extensive that even carnivores should find something they fancy. 

Learn to cook Vietnamese dishes

A food tour with splendid of Vietnamese dishes does not satisfy you? Let’s try something more challenging, Vietnamese cooking class. Unlike any other culinary style in South East Asia, Vietnamese cuisine is a mixture of Vietnam traditional style with China vibe and Western-inspired trait, which reflects in a variety of dishes from the South to the North of Vietnam. Saigon is a land of immigrants from all provinces in Vietnam, thus, it is smart choice to take a cooking class here.

Read more: The most impressive architectures in Ho Chi Minh City

Source Internet