One of the fun things about living in Thailand are all the night markets you find all over the country. Bangkok has hundreds.The latest trend in night markets is what we at Tasty Thailand call the “Student Night Market”, where Thai university students and other young Thais will all congregate in one area, put blankets on the ground and settle in to sell things they’ve either made themselves or bought to sell.
Many of Bangkok’s malls and shopping centers have them. They’re informally set up outside the mall and feature different people selling every day or week night. Some are on every night, some just a couple of nights a week.
One of the newest is the outdoor market right outside the front door of Union Mall on Ladprao, in northern Bangkok. Since Central Ladprao mall closed for renovations earlier this year, Union Mall has become incredibly busy. At night, it’s packed with young people who come for all the cheap clothing, shoes and IT stalls. They then spill out of the mall to the front steps where Thai students have set up their ‘Blanket Night Market’.
The photo at the top of the page was taken last night (Friday, July 8th) and gives you a good idea of the crowds. Things are cheap too. T shirts as cheap as 100 baht ($3) and things like costume jewelry, scarves and make up bags for only 69 baht ($2.20).
You can get to Union Mall by taking the underground to Pahonyothin station. The outdoor student night market is right at the top of the underground steps and fun to check out. They start setting up around 6pm and are there till around 10.