Saying there are only a few markets in Hua Hin would be a major understatement. This is true both when it comes to markets trying to attract foreigners as well as markets focusing on locals. Tourists mainly visit three markets: the Night Market, Grand Market and the Bazaar. Thai people, on the other hand, are keen visitors of Chat Chai, Pae Mai, La Kai and the Dinosaur markets.
The Night Market is one of Hua Hin’s most well-known attractions. Located in the city centre, in between the two traffic light intersections, it is open every day between 5 pm and mid-night. The Night Market provides an extensive number of goods, where the focus is on fresh foodstuffs — fruit, vegetables, meat, fish and sea food as well as local specialities such as fried grasshoppers and beetles. Furthermore, you will find clothes, CDs, DVDs and souvenirs. Since the salespeople at the market are specifically trying to sell to foreigners, the prices are generally higher than at the markets where the Thais go. This of course implies that there is a clear opportunity for you to test your bargain skills. Along the Night Market street, there are a lot of small, Thai style restaurants: plastic chairs are placed around a little table and there is normally no roof or walls (read more in our Restaurant Guide). iHuaHin.com strongly recommends that you try one of these. Here you can eat fresh dishes in exchange for small money.
Grand Market, which has received its name from the fact that is located just opposite Grand Hotel, is similar to the Night Market to some extent. It distinguishes itself by offering a great supply of, in particular, clothes, shoes and souvenirs. Furthermore, you will here find puppies, rabbits, flowers, toys as well as CDs and DVDs. A pair of jeans can easily be purchased for 199 baht and a t-shirt for 79 baht — even without any bargaining. The market is open Wednesdays to Saturdays between 5 and 11 pm. Those Thai style restaurants can be found also at Grand Market.
The Bazaar is a small market located on the soi behind City Beach Hotel and the police station. It is open every day night time and is specialised in handycrafts, souvenirs and paintings. Also clothes can be purchased here to some extent: in accordance with how it is at other markets, the products you find here in general are copies, not originals. Therefore, you can get Louis Vuitton purses and Breitling watches for a couple of hundred baht.
When the locals go out shopping, they normally do not head for one of the above described markets. Instead, the Thais normally go shopping at the markets that are located in connection with the Canal Road (Riab Khan Klong Road), which in turn is located in parallel with Petchkasem Road. During day-time, however, the number one choice is Chat Chai, which is a day market situated around the corner of the Night Market, a little bit further north on the main road, Petchkasem Road. Here you will particularly find fresh food.
You will find Pae Mai, another popular market among locals, just next to the driving range with the same name, at the end of the Canal Road just before it connects with the Pala-U Road. It can be visited Tuesday afternoons. The supply is extensive and here it is possible to find pretty much all you could ask from of a market. This market is extremely popular, which is why the Canal Road’s southern end is barely passable on Tuesdays from around 3 pm and onwards.
The Dinosaur Market, whose name no one seems to be able to explain, is located on Soi 56 right next to the traffic light intersection with the Canal Road. This market can be visited on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons. Being a foreigner (“farang”) here, you will not find many fellow countrymen.
La Kai, finally, is yet another market in Hua Hin. The name roughly means “behind the camp”. This market is located north on the Canal Road and is open during most of the weekdays. We highly recommend delicious vegetables and fruits that can bought for practically no money.
