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Thewet Market

Whether you’re passing through or a fulltime resident, markets are a must-do in Bangkok. Several tourist agencies advertise excursions out to the floating market, which is pretty far from town. Within city limits, there are many markets to explore without the hassle of tourist buses. Three I’m quite fond of are the Pak Khlong Talat, Or Tor Kor Market and the Thewet Market.

Pak Khlong Talat: Bangkok’s largest wholesale flower market offers a whole lot more than orchids and roses. I have a special affection for this one because I spent my first week in Thailand wandering through the market in a haze. Healthy bunches of bright, fresh orchids are available for 30-60 baht ($1-2). Beyond flowers, there are loads of wholesale fruits, vegetables and herbs to check out plus plenty of food vendors serving up tasty fare mixed in.
Directions: Take a river taxi to Tha Saphan Phut/Memorial Bridge or ask a taxi to take you to the Pak Khlong Talat.
Nearby Sights for Visitors: Wat Pho, Grand Palace
Activities for Locals: Purchasing Cut Flowers

Orchids at the Pak Khlong Talat

Knives at the Pak Khlong Talat

Galangal at the Pak Khlong Talat

Or Tor Kor Market: The Whole Foods of open-air markets, Or Tor Kor is well-lit, well-ordered and mighty clean with prices to match. A wide variety of carefully selected meats, seafood and produce is displayed with great care. The organized, clean food court and khanom stands offer a vast selection of eats from northern sausage to coconut cream puddings to salty peanut snacks to bottles of fish sauce. Though the market is an excellent place to browse a wide selection of high-quality products, it’s missing some of the hustle and bustle of its more disorganized, though sometimes quite lively, counterparts.
Directions: Take the MRT to Kampaeng Phet and leave through the 3 Marketing Organization of Farmers exit or ask a taxi to take you to the Or Tor Kor Market.
Nearby Sights for Visitors: Chatuchak Market (weekends only)
Activities for Locals: Chatuchak Market (weekends only)

Rose Apple (Chompoo) at the Or Tor Kor Market

Chili Crabs at the Or Tor Kor Market

Snails at the Or Tor Kor Market

Butchers at the Or Tor Kor Market

Thewet Market: Distinctive for its potted plants and flowers, it is also known to some as “the wet” market, which proved to be true on one of the days I visited. It was so flooded that the restaurant, a favorite just left of the pier exit among some UN friends, was closed. I had better luck down the street where I picked up two leafy potted plants and a yellow and burgundy orchid for 350 baht ($10). Around the bend from the flower section, is a smaller produce and meat market with a few items that aren’t easily found in other markets, including water lily stems and frogs with their organs hanging out, and a much larger morning market that empties out earlier in the day.
Directions: Take a water taxi to Thewet or ask a taxi to take you to Thewet/Samsen Road and get off at Thanon Krung Kasem near the bridge.
Nearby Sights for Visitors: Dusit Park, Dusit Zoo
Activities for Locals: Shopping for Houseplants

Thewet Market

Frogs at Thewet Market

Child in a Pot at Thewet Market

Water Lily Stems at Thewet Market