Markets in the Moo Baan Markets in the Moo BaanNight Markets in the Moo Baan
Night markets provide people in the city with a chance to shop and socialize after work or school. It is an adaptation to city life. Night markets developed during a boom in public and private housing estate construction, when the provision of normal static shopping facilities lagged well behind housing constructions.
Each moo baan, or neighborhood on the outskirts of Bangkok has a night market. These markets are usually periodic, being only one or two nights a week. This allows the traders to travel and be at night markets in different areas of the city on different nights of the week.
The moo baan markets usually take place one night a week. These markets serve only the local neighborhood. They are not markets that people would travel very far to get to, and they are not geared towards tourists. Within a stretch of the road, hawkers set up their wares on portable tables. The road becomes no longer easily accessible for cars, as the street is filled with people. Little kids ride around on bicycles, while adults shop or set out chairs in the middle of the street to talk. The road becomes primarily a walking space, although cars do try to squeeze through very slowly.
A large variety of goods are sold during these night market public times. The markets are usually not geared towards tourists as Chatuchak is, so handicrafts are not sold. The pottery sold at a moo baan market is meant for use, not for display on a shelf. Most of the goods consist of clothing, household goods, pottery and toys.
Street Markets in the Moo Baan
Another type of street market that occurs nightly consists of an array of semi-itinerant hawkers. They set up their wares right out in the street in front of shop houses, crowding the sidewalks. This type of market place is more oriented towards foodstuffs, such as fresh produce, Indian roti and various cooked street food.
These markets are only set up by the middle and lower class neighborhoods. Wealthier Thais do not shop in traditional market settings. They generally prefer the malls and western style of shopping for the type of goods and opportunity to display wealth. It is a status symbol to have the money to buy something from a franchise mall.
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Markets in General