Pai Walking Street

About this place

The heart of Pai in the evening, when the main street through the centre closes to cars every day at around five and fills with stalls, lights and visitors from everywhere. The market has become a symbol of Pai, the small mountain town that has drawn travellers and artists for decades with its easy pace and valleys. Stalls run along the street and its side lanes: northern Thai food such as khao soi curry noodles and northern sausage, fruit and juices, and stalls from cuisines around the world, alongside handicrafts, cotton clothes, accessories, and the drawings and cards made by the town's artists. Pai has a small Muslim community and a mosque, so you will find some halal stalls; look for the sign. There is no fee, and the market runs nearly every evening from about five until ten or a little later, busiest in the high season from December to February. The street has cafés and small bars around it, but the overall mood is relaxed and family-friendly early in the evening. The finest months are November to February, with cool clear mornings; March and April are the field-burning season, when smoke fills the valley. Come at sunset and eat your way along the stalls, then stroll to the bridge over the Pai River. Prices are fair, and light haggling is fine for crafts, not for food.