Thailand night markets, weekend markets, and malls
Thai shopping is known for Chatuchak weekends, air-conditioned Bangkok malls, and walking-street nights in Chiang Mai and Phuket. Use it for a Saturday stall grid or a VAT refund on 2,000 THB+ receipts.
Chatuchak Weekend Market is known for the Saturday and Sunday grid, 09:00 to 18:00, at MRT Kamphaeng Phet Exit 2. Go early. Sections sprawl. Full stall maps live on [Chatuchak](/attractions/chatuchak-weekend-market). Weekdays, use the air-conditioned malls: Siam Paragon, CentralWorld, and ICONSIAM (SookSiam is the indoor market wing).
Chiang Mai Saturday Walking Street runs Wua Lai. Sunday Walking Street runs Ratchadamnoen from Tha Phae Gate toward Wat Phra Singh, 17:00 to 22:30. Phuket Sunday Lard Yai shuts Thalang Road in Old Town. VAT refund for tourists: ask for the P.P.10 form in stores with the "VAT Refund for Tourists" sign on purchases of 2,000 THB or more per store per day. You claim 7% VAT minus a fee at the international airport desk.
Weekend stalls, malls, and the P.P.10 form
Chatuchak is a weekend. Walking streets are evening. Malls take the heat and the VAT paperwork. Do not stack Chatuchak and a Sunday Walking Street on the same trip unless you have two cities.
| Place | Clock | How you use it |
|---|---|---|
| Chatuchak | Sat and Sun 09:00 to 18:00 | MRT Kamphaeng Phet Exit 2 |
| Siam Paragon / CentralWorld | Daily mall hours | BTS Siam / Chit Lom |
| ICONSIAM / SookSiam | Daily; indoor market wing | Boat or BTS plus shuttle |
| Chiang Mai walking streets | Sat Wua Lai; Sun Ratchadamnoen 17:00 to 22:30 | Old City walk |
| Phuket Lard Yai | Sunday on Thalang Road | Phuket Old Town |
| VAT refund | 2,000 THB+ per store per day | P.P.10 form; airport claim; 7% minus fee |
Keep going
Book
Common questions
- Which Chatuchak MRT exit?
- Kamphaeng Phet Exit 2. Mo Chit dumps you on the park side. Hours are Saturday and Sunday 09:00 to 18:00.
- How does the VAT refund work?
- Buy 2,000 THB or more in one store in one day at a shop with the VAT Refund for Tourists sign. Get the P.P.10 form. Claim at the international airport. You get 7% minus a fee.
- Saturday or Sunday in Chiang Mai?
- Saturday is Wua Lai. Sunday is Ratchadamnoen, 17:00 to 22:30. They are different streets.