Chatuchak Market
 

I will be in Bangkok but not on a Sat or Sun. I know that the Chatuchak market is the "weekend market" but have also read that on Friday it is open for "wholesale". Does anyone know of this and whether visitors can at least walk through the market on Friday. Maybe even buy something if possible.

I do want to visit the market but cannot change the days of my visit. Thanks for the help.

David J

You can walk through Chatuchak market area any day of the week. The main difference is many of the thousands of small stalls there on the weekend won't be open. A lot of the things for sale during the week aren't always of interest to tourists.

It does depend on the day of the week you go but on Friday you can expect the plant section, the tropical fish section along with many of the more permanent outlets to be open.

If you're in the area then certainly take a look as it is still interesting, well for me anyway. No one will refuse to sell you something if you want to buy. If you have to travel a long way to get there then maybe not everyone will find it worthwhile.

The market, as most people know it, start from Friday to Sunday so you're in luck. Friday is meant as a wholesale day but many little shops and stalls will be open as well, especially late into the day and night.

On Wednesday and Thursday the whole market is transformed into a giant plant and flower market. Monday and Tuesday the market is pretty much dead.

There is also the JJ Mall(open everyday) which is not as exciting as the market proper and the prices are not as good as the main market IMO.

For more information on the market:
http://www.jjmarketplace.com/jjshopping/index-2.php
http://www.jatujakguide.com/home/index.php

But JJ Mall is a good place to go and enjoy the air con for a bit; maybe sit down and have some ice cream or a meal. A number of restaurants (mostly fast food and coffee shops) are at JJ Mall. Air con inside Chatuchak is harder to find! Many food stalls are there (what we might term as street food variety... the ones I've tried were delicious).

Depending on what you want to buy you might also consider checking out the Bobae Market and the "mini garment district" at Pratunam if it is clothing you need.
http://www.bangkokpicture.com/shopping/bobae.php

The soi leading up to the Baiyoke Tower Hotel (from Phetchaburi Road) and nearby shops are sort of a "mini garment center" where many of the street vendors buy their stuff for resale.

Check out MBK too if you haven't been there. There may be something you can use from that place. MBK is right off of a Skytrain stop too!

Good luck.