Shoppers head to Chatuchak
The new weekend market near Chatuchak Park officially replaced the decades-old Sunday Market at Sanam Luang, fulfilling years of planning halted by persistent protests against the relocation.
Selling the same wares as before, 979 vendors opened shops in the new market. Nearly 5,000 additional businesses planned to set up at the 79-rai Chatuchak location with designated areas for plants, furniture and other specialist stalls. City authorities had been planning to move the market from Sanam Luang since 1978 but numerous vendor protests delayed the relocation. The former market area at Sanam Luang was to be renovated for use in the Rattanakosin Bicentennial celebrations in April.
Chatuchak Market director Witoonphant Wannachamrae said the new site was far cleaner than the malodorous, muddy mess of Sanam Luang, and that more vendors were moving over every week.