Bang Tao Night Market

A small market offering goods and food, open on Mondays and Thursdays. It often attracts many locals. This is more of a goods market, making it a convenient place to buy souvenirs, Thai cosmetics, clothing, and other little things.

Thai cosmetics are a real treasure for those who love natural products and exotic touches. Their main advantages are natural ingredients, affordable prices, and multifunctionality.

What to pay attention to when buying:

• Famous Thai brands: Oriental Princess, Mistine, Snail White, Tropicana, Abhaibhubejhr (herbal pharmacy), Banna – these are safe and reliable.
• Ingredients: Look for natural extracts at the beginning of the list and avoid products with lots of silicones and alcohols (especially for facial care).
• Labels: Check for GMP/ISO/FDA Thailand on the packaging – this is a mark of quality.
• Packaging: Sometimes cheap packaging doesn’t mean low quality, but still try to choose items with factory seals and barcodes.

The variety of food here can also surprise you: seafood and meat delicacies are cooked right in front of you, vendors offer samples of fresh exotic fruits, and there’s a wide selection of ready-made meals and Asian sweets.

Fruits here are cheaper than in other tourist areas, and clothing sellers are open to bargaining. In fact, bargaining at Thai markets isn’t just allowed – it’s expected, as it’s part of the culture. But it should be done correctly:

1. Don’t show too much excitement about the item, or the seller may raise the price.
2. Start bargaining by offering one-third of the stated price.
3. Be friendly and smile – that’s the only way Thais do business.
4. If you can’t reach a deal, thank the vendor and walk away. Often they’ll offer you a better deal when they see you’ve lost interest.

At the Bang Tao night market, it’s best to pay in cash and have small bills on hand.

Food you must try at the night market includes: all kinds of mini skewers with pork, beef, chicken, and seafood; Pad Thai and Tom Yum (absolute must-tries); tropical fruit smoothies and juices; mango sticky rice; and coconut ice cream. Read more in the article Top 10 Thai Dishes. To find the freshest seafood on the island, check out the article Seafood Markets in Phuket.

Looking for more places to buy memorable souvenirs? Visit the page List of Souvenir Shops in Phuket.