Jingjok
Chatuchak and the weekend-market rhythm
jà-dtù-jàk
Chatuchak (จตุจักร), next to BTS Mo Chit and MRT Chatuchak Park, is one of the world's biggest markets: well over ten thousand stalls of clothes, ceramics, plants, pets, art and food, open mainly on Saturday and Sunday. Thai shoppers go early, from about nine, before the covered alleys get hot, and treat it as a day out with iced drinks and snacks. Bring small notes, a bag of your own, and a landmark to meet at, because phones and directions get lost in the maze. Chatuchak is the biggest example of a pattern you'll see everywhere: each neighbourhood has its ตลาดนัด on fixed days, and many people plan their week around which market is on today.
Try this today
Find out which day the ตลาดนัด near your home opens, and go.
The words that carry it
Learn this in “Shopping and the market” →
Your first 90 days of Thai
Culture cards in Jingjok are tied to the words that carry them, each ending in one thing to try today.
- WEEKS 1–2 · SURVIVEGreet anyone, pay, and order food and 7-Eleven exactly how you like it.
- WEEKS 3–6 · SETTLE INGet around by taxi, Grab and skytrain, find anything, and handle your landlord.
- WEEKS 7–12 · RUN YOUR LIFEPharmacy, bank, SIM and apps, how you feel, and a weekend away, all in Thai.
The first week is free.