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

This is the kind of market you stumble upon while in Pai on a Saturday – not the kind you'd plan a trip for. It takes place once a week from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm and is a real community celebration with fresh produce, local snacks, handcrafted items, and household goods. The stalls cater to locals, not tourists browsing the pedestrian zone for souvenirs.

Go early. The selection is greatest before midday, and Pai heats up quickly, so a pleasant stroll can easily turn into a sweaty affair. The entire area is compact, so you can do a complete circuit, return for that snack you missed, and still have most of the day left. If you're looking for fisherman's trousers and batik, head to the night market, not here. Here you'll find a quieter, less commercial version of Pai, and part of the charm lies in watching the town evolve at its own pace.