You are invited to shop, taste, chill, live the slow life and learn the way of life of people in 3 very chic Art & Craft markets in Chiang Mai.
Baan Kang Wat
This community is like an artisan village which has a collection of shops and studios for handicraft enthusiasts. Each studio has its own signature style; cute, raw and cool. Each house gives a different vibe but still maintains the proper aesthetics and harmony – which when combined together, makes the community alive. It is worth a visit, and you can shop for clothes, bags, hats, woodwork, jewelry, ceramics, fabric, dyeing and all sorts of creative knick knacks – there is a small art gallery corner as well.
There are houses that have been turned into chic cafes which will allow you to relax, enjoy coffee and live the slow life. There is a restaurant that serves the ubiquitous Khao Soi dish and Khanom Jeen Nam Ngiao, the latter, a simple dish but packed with rich flavors from the local Red Cotton flower, tomatoes, minced pork and pork blood gelatin. Also, on the weekend there is an open space for artisan vendors who come to sell handcrafted goods. In addition to shopping for handicrafts, there is a Terrarium workshop on miniature plant aquariums in small glass containers or bottles at Kaptor Store. Anyone interested in learning the art of choosing lucky stones can stop by Kee-Sa-Lak shop and try making a Lucky Stone Bottle.
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10.00-18.00
Facebook: Baankangwat
Loang Him Kao
A tourist attraction that draws people who are passionate about handicrafts is the “Loang Him Kao” community. The word “Loang” means neighborhood while “Him Kao” translates into the “along the Kao River”. Houses along the Kao River have been turned into shops or studios for tourists and visitors to experience the charm of the Lanna people’s identity through various arts and handicraft products. There are cotton fabrics which won the coveted Geographical Indication (GI) sign for quality and reputation for its traditional method combined with contemporary fashion. In addition, there are chic handmade handicrafts, tie dye products and accessories to choose from.
