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

This is where the locals of Chiang Rai actually buy their dinner. If you're looking for something else, you should avoid this place. There's no careful selection, no English signs, and most of the vendors don't speak English. Instead, you'll find seasonal fruit brought in from all over Thailand at prices without the tourist markup, buckets full of cut flowers from which you can have a bouquet or wreath made, as well as clothing, household goods, and a smaller selection of fish, meat, and vegetables.

A small food stall, well worth a detour, offers fried potatoes with taro, pan-fried tofu, and a pad-thai-like sauce that can be seasoned to your liking. According to reviews, a small portion costs 30 baht, a medium 40 baht, and a large 50 baht. The couple who run the stall speak good English. It's a second-generation family business and very popular with regular customers.

Come early. Opening at 5:00 am is not just for show, and the selection of fruit is greatest before it gets hot during the day.