Best Street Markets to Visit in Southeast Asia

When one is visiting the Southeast Asian regions, one of the most recommended things to try is the various street markets. It is here that you'll get to see the different elements and characters of people, culture, food and of course merchandise that is hard to find elsewhere. The markets of Southeast Asia all have such unique offerings that can vary in quality and type depending on the region you are visiting. The toughest choices one would most likely have to make is to pick which of these places to visit. From massive warehouse like markets selling wholesale "genuine" knock offs to smaller traditional markets located in regional villages and tourist spots that offer everything from asian spices to ethnic goods. Here in today's travel article I would like to highlight the most highly recommended markets in the Southeast Asian regions that offer a rich cultural experience and also give you something worthy to spend your travel money on.

Luang Prabang Street, Laos

As the sun starts to sen on the main street of Luang Prabang, it is hard to miss the night market that gets magically set up with hardly any effort. Here you'd get to see the red and blue tents envelope the street as the indigenous Hmong women flock to the town to sell their locally crafted wares. The setting around Luang Prabang is also quite picturesque as it is surrounded by Wats and several other temples. I particularly enjoyed the antique snuff bottles, hand made jewelry, and colorful paper umbrellas that you can find in ever direction you would look. It is also recommended to get to buy their Hmong pants as a souvenir but the first couple of washes would make the color fade out a bit.

The vibe that one gets here is not what one would normally encounter in a hawker market. There is no hard selling, no worry some crowd, it is basically just chill and relaxed all throughout. It is also notable to see that the sellers are quite good conversationalist and shall give you tidbits about their way of living. A few walks away from the main street and you'll find a market of food that is prepared from freshly caught fish and bamboo rice which is just amazingly fragrant and very deliciously sweet to taste.

Malacca Night Market, Malaysia

This Malaysian-Protuguese market is quite one of the most amazing market places in the Southeast Asia as it offers the widest range of souvenir items, local produce, cheap but very stylish fashion items, and so much more. This would mean that you might have to purchase extra luggage space or get some these items shipped back home, but as you contemplate on all that, it is going to be easy to simply take a bit of a breather and sit back and relax as you sample the Malaysian Street Food as you plan and look out for other items that you might want to add to that already growing list.

It would also be good to take a bit of stroll around the Jalan Hang Jebat(Jonker Street) which is just a short walk from the central square. It is surrounded by numerous World Heritage Buildings and is definitely a feast for culture hungry tourists as one gets to delve into the rich chinese-portuguese history. You shall also get to see a variety of oriental products, and even chinese medicines artworks and house hold items. There are even a variety of electronic gadgetry that one can check out for fun. The Jonker Street Night Market is only open Friday, Sat and Sun.

Bugis Street, Singapore

Bugis street is definitely one of my most favorite places to shop in Singapore. It was once a hotspot for Transgender culture but has now become a very colorful and sleek shopping street. Here you shall find the most youthful designs made locally by young Singaporean designers and offers an amazing array of great bargain buys and not to mention food. Best time to visit Bugis would be at night.

Lantern Market in Hoi An, Vietnam

If you are the type who just loves exquisite Asian themes especially in terms of lighting fixtures, and most especially if lanterns are you thing than the Lantern Market in Hoi An is definitely going to have you drooling and reaching deep in your pockets.

The Lantern Market of Hoi An is popular to both tourist and locals as this is a place that just comes to life at night as paper lanterns of all shapes, sizes and designs begin to light up the night sky. The River become something of a romantic setting and gives that mystical magical feeling that brings two lovers much closer together.

The Hoi An Market is a mix of many street hawkers and historical shops selling local artworks, house ware,  and much much more. If you get tired, simply look around and you might find pretty amazing local desserts that a definite must try.

Divisoria Street Market, Manila Philippines

Lastly of course is a street market that is a bit closer to home and is a very famous shopping destination for both local and tourists. Once you walk into the streets of Divisoria, one will immediately be overwhelmed with just the massiveness of the place. If you aren't used to chaotic shopping I would recommend to travel light and only bring the necessary cash you think you might use for shopping. Once you get there, you'd see though that hardly any place can match Divisoria's price and variety of goods. Name it and there is a high chance that it would most likely be there. Divisoria is however more well known originally for its textiles and that many of the items that one would find there are in wholesale prices. Cool thing about it is that you can still haggle for a bit more in terms of discounts depending on the bulk of what you are buying. If ever you do decide to come to Divisoria, best to go as a group or better yet with a local that can speak the language and have them do that haggling, a plus factor of having a local guide or friend to take you around Divisoria is that you'd be less likely to get lost.

To wrap everything up, I guess what I want to convey is that if you really want to get a feel of what the locals love and in essence get to see the core of their culture it is best to look for places like this. In each one of these street markets you'll find a unique story that each one has to tell and yet everything is all bound up together in a collective that if only one would find time to explore can see that there is so much beauty in each and every one of them. Plus you get to shop like a madman and eat the best tasting food this side of the continent. If you have other market places you have experienced in your travels here in Southeast Asia do share them here? I am sure that many including myself would love to hear about it as well as the adventures you have had in them.

The world is such a big and wonderful place - Just take time to see through curious eyes.

Till Next Time...

-Metz-