Why should you go there and how do you do it right?

Come for the artisans, stay for the food. The Cicada Market is Hua Hin's weekend art market, held Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM in Suan Si Park, opposite the entrance of the Hyatt Regency near Khao Takiab, about 4 km south of the city center. Admission is free. Here you'll find a more relaxed and carefully curated atmosphere. Independent artists offer clothing, jewelry, decorative items, and original paintings in the "Art A La Mode" and "Cicada Art Factory" sections. The stalls are fully set up by about 4:30 PM.

The performances are the other half of what's on offer. Street performers take to the stage at 7:45 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. in the Cicada Amphitheater, and the weekend music show starts at 7:00 p.m. on the open-air stage. Therefore, a visit is better suited as an evening out than a shopping trip. The food court, "Cicada Cuisine," offers the usual fare like Pad Thai and Mango Sticky Rice, as well as fresh seafood, Thai specialties such as crispy oysters, and some international dishes. Prices are higher than those of a typical local market—reasonable for what's on offer, but don't expect street food prices. It's busiest between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

The Tamarind Market is right next door. It has a food court with live music in the evenings. According to most listings, it's open Thursday through Sunday evenings, so you can shop at one market and eat at the other on the weekend. A ride in a green songthaew along Phetkasem Road towards Khao Takiab costs about 20 to 40 baht per person. It's best to ask the driver for the price. After 10:00 PM, there are fewer songthaews, so it's easier to get back using a Grab. If you're arriving by car, you'll find a parking lot opposite the market.