Rating: 3.8/5 (4 votes)

Open Days: Every Friday

Opening Hours: Approximately 05:00 – 12:00 (best from pre-dawn to mid-morning for the fullest selection)

 

Kad Chin Ho (Chin Ho Market / Ban Ho Market / Yunnan Market Fair) is a Friday-morning market that pulls you out of “tourist Chiang Mai” and drops you straight into the living rhythm of the Ban Ho community on Charoen Prathet Road, Soi 1. It’s not just a place to buy things — it’s a hands-on snapshot of the city’s cultural variety, from spice aromas and halal food to unusual local greens you rarely see in supermarkets. Most importantly, the market’s rhythm is tightly tied to “Friday morning,” so if you want to catch it properly, you have to plan around the day.

 

The charm here is that it feels like stepping into a different world. The market sits within a Muslim community of Yunnanese Chinese heritage (locally known as “Chin Ho”), one of Chiang Mai’s long-established inner-city communities. That’s why what you find leans into real everyday staples — fresh foods, dried goods, and strong-flavored seasonings that reflect living traditions. In one walk you might see pickled vegetables sold by the tin, fermented tofu, bold pantry staples, a wide range of meats, and niche ingredients that some shoppers come specifically to hunt down because they’re not easy to find elsewhere.

 

If you want to do it efficiently, start at the food zone near the entrance. Early morning is when the market is most alive and the displays are still “full-faced.” Then work your way deeper for fresh produce, dried goods, and specialty ingredients. Going unhurried works better here — some items are worth asking about, checking quality, and choosing carefully so you can finish in one clean loop before things thin out later in the morning.

 

What many people remember most is how “work-in-progress” the market feels — sellers arranging, cutting, weighing, and cooking right in front of you. Because it happens only once a week, a lot of visitors arrive with a clear mission: sourcing ingredients for Yunnanese/Muslim cooking, picking up fresh mountain vegetables, stocking up on pickles and dried goods, or grabbing a simple breakfast before continuing on to other parts of the city.

 

Getting There The simplest route is to head to “Charoen Prathet Road, Soi 1 (Ban Ho area),” close to the Night Bazaar – Chang Klan Road zone. If you’re using a red truck taxi (songthaew) or tuk-tuk, say “Kad Chin Ho / Ban Ho Market, Charoen Prathet Soi 1.” For private cars, it’s usually easier to park at an approved lot around the Night Bazaar/nearby area and walk in, because Friday mornings can get busy and parking right at the entrance isn’t ideal for long stops.

 

 

A: It opens every Friday from pre-dawn until around noon. For the best selection and the easiest walk, go around 05:00–09:00.

 

A: It’s known for fresh ingredients, dried goods, spices, and specialty items linked to Yunnanese/Muslim food culture, plus ready-to-eat breakfast options.

 

A: Start at the entrance food zone early, then move deeper for fresh produce and dried goods. Going in one steady direction helps you avoid backtracking.

 

A: Park at an approved lot around the Night Bazaar/nearby area and walk in. Friday mornings can get busy, and stopping right at the entrance isn’t ideal.

 

A: Easy follow-ups include the Night Bazaar and Anusarn Market (later in the evening), Wat Uppacut, Nawarat Bridge, or Tha Phae Gate — all nearby.