Lucky enough to be spending some time on the tropical Thai island of Koh Samui? We’re not jealous at all, swear. 100% not jealous of the fact that you will be in absolute paradise, with amazing places to eat and drink.
Okay fine. We’re jealous. But we also want you to get all the inside scoop on what to do in Koh Samui. While many people barely venture outside of the party hotspot that is Chaweng, you’d be crazy to miss the Lamai Sunday Night Market.
Just 30 minutes from Chaweng, you’ll find a buzzing street food market every single Sunday night in the laid-back town of Lamai.
What’s the night market all about?
Lamai Sunday Night Market is an authentic experience of Thailand’s market culture, with local food stalls selling everything from Thai to Italian, cocktails to sip on the go, knock-off designer good and handicrafts.
Four streets get closed off to vehicles every Sunday from 3-11pm to transform into a beautiful market with glowing red lanterns and street performers.
The food is cheap – and delicious – and the atmosphere is unbeatable.
How to get there:
If you don’t have a moped or want to enjoy a few cocktails at the market, there’s two options to get here from Chaweng. You can take a private taxi (which should cost no more than 400-500baht).
You can also hop into a songthaew – Koh Samui’s version of public transport, which is a brightly lit pick-up truck that circles the main ring road of Koh Samui. The songthaews will pick you up from the side of the road once you stick your hand out, and will bring you to Lamai Sunday Night Market for 150baht.
They pass by every five minutes and run until after midnight. The market is located on Had Lamai road and the adjoining streets, so ask the driver to drop you there.
What to eat:
The short answer? Everything. We’ve put together a guide to 7 Amazing Things You Have To Eat At Lamai Night Market.Â
There’s a huge range of dishes to try, and all are incredibly good value. Crispy roasted chicken on a stick to nibble while you stroll around is always a good starter. Pad Thai is cooked in front of your eyes and you can eat fresh crab and grilled seafoods.
We recommend getting something small at the start of the market to eat while you walk down the full length of the food stalls, and then go back and take your pick from the stalls that caught your eye. There’s plastic tables at certain points that you can sit down and eat at.
What to buy:
Once you’ve finished eating, there’s two streets of clothes vendors and craft stalls to explore. You can pick up a bargain fake designer handbag here, as well as decent quality gym wear. It’s a great spot for souvenirs, but be wary of the quality of some of the electrical goods.
Just don’t forget to haggle for a better price!
Where to check out after the market:
A lot of people stay on in Lamai after browsing the market, as there’s some great places to enjoy a drink on the main street. You’ll reach the main strip in less than five minutes from end of the market.
Big 7 Travel’s favourite bars are Marine Bar for a game of Jenga and a Singha, and Cocktails by Pik which has colourful car booths and 70baht cocktails.
View this post on Instagram
Need to know:
- The market can get exceptionally busy in High Season, so if crowds aren’t your thing then you need to arrive before 7pm.
- Bring smaller notes of cash so you don’t have to keep breaking big notes for a 10baht piece of sushi.
- Arrange a meeting place with your friends incase you get split up, as it’s easy to lose people in the flow of the crowd.
- Pro tip: don’t leave without a bowl of the homemade coconut ice-cream – there’s just one stall, so you can’t miss it.
