Suan Lum Night Bazzar, Bangkok

Expect to shop till you drop in Suan Lum Night Market. Bargain, negotiation and comparing is essential in this market. Some VT members posted some good remarks about the food stalls in Suan Lum, unfortunately we didn't give a shot. Maybe next round.

1 more image

The night Bazaar is anything but Bazaar. It usually has live music and serves a cold beer. There are many shops to go around shopping the market. Most are the normal shops that you see in Thailand, but you can find some new things that are out of the norm. It is hard to miss because of the Ferris Wheel along Wireless road. There is a good and cheap outside patio that serves some good Thai meals. Enjoy while you can because it is scheduled to be turned into a huge retail skyscraper. What a shame I really enjoy the atmosphere.

1 more image

we reach here around 6pm, and the sky was so dark as you can see from one of my photo.
I can say this is a more organized and arranged version of Chatuchak Weekend Market. You can see all the shops and stalls are properly line up, with proper path way for visitor to walk around. But here you can see most of the visitor are tourist instead of local people compared to Chatuchak Weekend Market. And of course the price i believe is slightly higher.... My advice is go for Chatuchak Weekend Market first if you have anything to buy, and only come here if you miss out something that you really need to buy.

The newest of Bangkok's night markets Suan Lum not only offers the more usual fare of fake designer goods, Thai silk scarves and incense sets but also small shops selling arts and crafts from local designers and artists. The pottery and paintings are particularly worth a look. There is also a large food court and beer garden area featuring live music (the Thai equivalent of Busted when we were there!) and - more bizarrely - re-runs of three year old Premiership football matches on a big screen.

In the beer garden either go to the bars or look for the waiters selling Chang or Tiger beer, which are at fairy reasonable prices (50 to 100 Baht, 0.70 to 1.40 sterling per bottle). Otherwise you may be offer Western imported beer at an exorbitant price (Erdinger and Heineken for the equivalent of about 5.00 stertling per litre)

4 more images

The market it's like the XiangYang Market locate in Shanghai City, China. Since it's Night Market, the open time is from 19:00 to 24:00. There are lot of good can choice as gift to friends. But when you want buy something, please ask price at least three store, then you will got price. Normally, you can reduce the 50% of the quoted price and you can got the special price after midnight.
And you can't image is there are a big outdoor bar in the center of market, the area of the bar like a stanared football field. And you also can see the band show during you in the bar.
Only one thing is not good, if you leave the market after midnight, you have to negotiate with the tax driver. Usually, you need add 30% than the normal price.

You may have read the rave reviews that a place called ?Chatuchak Market? receives from so many visitors to Bangkok. A huge complex of market stalls around the Mor Chit / Chatuchak Park area of Bangkok to the north.

There are three problems tourists face with the Weekend Chatuchak Market; 1. It is only open at the weekend AND 2. It gets incredibly hot and therefore tiring to stay for longer than two hours AND 3. It is only open at the weekend AND and a fourth... 4. It is not open weekdays - just the weekend.

HOWEVER... The Suan Lum night market IS open every day (i.e. evening), and is plonked slap next to Lumpini Park on Rama IV Road. GREAT as this gives the mid-week heat avoiding tourist what does history in the light bits of the day a great get your holiday shopping stuff alternative. Yes it does look touristy, in that the majority of stalls offer crafts and gifts, and all are advertised by Thai Airways. But so what ? if you are looking for crafts and gifts, advertised by Thai Airways. Indeed, a great many Thais enjoy evening shopping, eating at the many cafes and the boozing at the many outdoor beer gardens. And it is a pretty large area all right. (A "meet you back in half an hour" sort of area.) And there's that Joe Louis Puppet Theatre to gawp at if you wish. Show times 7.30 / 8.00pm.

I have no idea where the photographed Khmer entry gate in the shape of an ancient Angkor library came from, but do I mind? Nup. It is beautifully Thai in its playfulness. And when you get there, look out for the marvelous way "official" is spelt over each of the entry gateways? And if you stub your toe on the Khmer temple it doesn't hurt. As it is made of fibreglass stuff.

The lasses can go shopping while the lads go Thai Boxing next door at Lumpini Stadium. Meet back for refreshments afterwards. And sexist comments like that are uncalled for Ian - editor

4 more images

I didn't know what to expect while on my way to Suan Lum Night Bazaar, I hoped it wouldn't be like some of the other touristy markets in Bangkok that sold fake goods at rip off prices. I was glad I'd made the journey out there because It is a great place to go, loads of stalls selling mostly arts and crafts, a lot of designers selling there own goods. Beware though, it can get a little hot while browsing through the shops/stalls so take plenty of water and have a break every now and again. If you're all shopped out then there are lots of foodcourts where you can get something to eat and drink, some of the courts seemed to be themed. I noticed a Tiger Beer court and a Chang Beer court, what appeared to be the main food court was absolutely huge! With so many food and drink stalls to choose from and lots of tables to sit and take a rest. There was even a big stage at the front with performances on to keep you entertained. It's great to just sit and have a cold beer and take in the atmosphere here. All you need to do is sit down and one of the girls will come over and ask if you'd like to order a beer etc.
I also tried the Tiger Beer area which was good, it had a big screen showing English football (which was GOOD). It also had a DJ playing music and a stage which was empty at the time but looked like some bands might play there sometimes.

Compared to the Chatuchak Weekend Market, there are less stalls here. But it is still a good and convenient place to shop at night. It is located just beside the Lumphini MRT Station, the new subway in Bangkok. Remember to look around and bargain before purchasing the goods here as the prices quoted at first are usually quite high and there are many stalls selling similar items.