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The Travels of BBQboy and Spanky

The Travels of BBQboy and Spanky

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People, Markets and crazy thing on wheels in Nong Khai, Thailand

Markets and crazy thing on wheels in Nong Khai

Markets and crazy thing on wheels in Nong Khai

We have lots of photos – taken over 3 months – in this post. We’ve come to love the markets in Nong Khai, especially the Saturday Night Market. It’s the one night of the week when this quiet town wakes up and brings all of its residents to the riverside promenade.

Having spent so much time here, it has become a social outing for us and an occasion to chat with our neighbors and favorite vendors. We love it.

Nong Khai is also famous for the Tha Sadet Market. It is also called the Indochina Market, due to the availability of goods from neighboring countries such as Laos and Vietnam (as well as China). It has to be one of the most interesting markets in all of South East Asia.

This photo post is a collection of our memories in Nong Khai. These memories comprise mostly of the people we’ve met along the way, the colours of the markets, and the sheer variety of goods (some of them bizarre) that you’ll see on sale. We’re also including some of the strange sights you’ll sometimes see rolling down the town’s streets.

 

Related: Bbqboy’s Ultimate Guide to the Best of Thailand

.

The Saturday Night Market

 

Saturday night market in Nong Khai   

Saturday night market in Nong Khai
The focal point of the promenade, decorated with colourful lanterns to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

 


 

 

stuff for sale at the Saturday night market in Nong Khai, Thailand

things for sale at the Saturday night market in Nong Khai, Thailand
All kinds of food, including snacks and desserts. Popcorn, cookies, chocolates, cakes…and coloured sweets made of some kind of soybean concoction.

 

Saturday night market in Nong Khai, Thailand
A section of the promenade and the stalls set up down its length.

 

musicians at the Saturday night market in Nong Khai, Thailand
Musicians.

 


 

 

Saturday night market in Nong Khai, Thailand
These are bowls made out of coconut shells. We’ve already bought 5 from this guy. Just love them…

 

babies at the Saturday night market in Nong Khai, Thailand
You’ll see lots of babies at the night market. They’re cute but not for sale though.

 

ladyboys at the Saturday night market in Nong Khai, Thailand
There’s always a ceremony and entertainment at the Saturday market. This one featured Ladyboys.

 


 

 

posing at the Saturday night market in Nong Khai, Thailand
This girl just decided she’d pose for us. Thais seem to love being photographed.

 

weird t-shirts at the Saturday night market in Nong Khai, Thailand
Weird t-shirts. I wonder if that guy even knows what it says on his shirt…

 

lanterns at the Saturday night market in Nong Khai, Thailand

 

people at the Saturday night market in Nong Khai, Thailand
This pretty lady sells all kinds of jewelry. She’s one of the friendliest vendors we’ve met.

 


 

 

things for sale at the Saturday night market in Nong Khai, Thailand
Turtle pillows and Transformers.

 

Sunset over the Mekong River in Nong Khai, Thailand
Sunset over the Mekong River with the lights of the market on the left.

 

Markets and crazy thing on wheels in Nong Khai

Markets and crazy thing on wheels in Nong Khai
More bowls. So beautiful…we might pick up another before we leave.

 


 

 

Markets and crazy thing on wheels in Nong Khai
Making a huge batch of soup

 

Markets and crazy thing on wheels in Nong Khai
You can even find plants for sale.

 

squid for sale in Nong Khai, Thailand
Squid. We bought one. Not my favorite thing but very popular with locals. We also ate fried crickets and silkworm.

 


 

 

Tha Sadet Market

Open everyday between about 7 am to about 6:30 pm. There is a long covered market (1st photo) that extends almost a kilometer. It branches off in some areas and in other areas it is uncovered. A huge amount of stalls selling just about anything you can imagine.

Tha Sadet Market in Nong Khai, Thailand

 

monks at the Tha Sadet Market in Nong Khai, Thailand
Monks shopping for Buddhas.

 

things for sale at the Tha Sadet Market in Nong Khai, Thailand
…and right next to the Buddhas you can find yourself a big penis if you’re in the mood for one

 


 

 

things for sale at the Tha Sadet Market in Nong Khai, Thailand
Candy in colourful packaging.

 

things for sale at the Tha Sadet Market in Nong Khai, Thailand
Buying time.

 

things for sale at the Tha Sadet Market in Nong Khai, Thailand
Wicker baskets, chimes, wooden spoons and forks…

 

Markets and crazy thing on wheels in Nong Khai
Tuques and a Tuk-tuk

 

Markets and crazy thing on wheels in Nong Khai
Musician and his baskets.

 


 

 

Sights around Town

 

Markets and crazy thing on wheels in Nong Khai
Mobile sales unit selling plastic flowers and mugs

 

crazy thing on wheels in Nong Khai
This guy bikes around selling brooms.

 

crazy thing on wheels in Nong Khai
I snapped this one last week. It’s one of my favorite photos of all time. The dogs in the back are the street dogs that hang out in front of our building. From left to right: On Guard, Howler, and Sleepy. We’ve thought for 3 months that they were just soi dogs with no owners. Then last week we see the man, a neighbor, with these dogs in the back. “My dogs” he said proudly. The dogs looked so happy to be taken for a drive.

 


 

 

Markets and crazy thing on wheels in Nong Khai

Markets and crazy thing on wheels in Nong Khai
these are mobile coffee stands, built on the frame of a motorcycle. We couldn’t believe our eyes the first time we saw one driving down the street…

 

Markets and crazy thing on wheels in Nong Khai
This man pushes a cart, selling baskets that are piled up high.

 

 

We hope you found the above interesting. For us this post represents 4 months of memories.

It’s a place we’re going to miss.

 


 


Related: Guide to Nong Khai

Related: Photos of Nong Khai, Thailand. You’ll see why we love this town…

Related: Bangkok: Me luv you not so long time

 

.PS. Looking to book flights, hotels, tours, or rent a car? Have a look at our Travel Resources page.

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Filed Under: ASIA, THAILAND

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dee (Dee's Butterfly Garden)

    September 12, 2015 at 4:14 pm

    The pictures are awesome! I saw a whole bunch of things I would have bought at the market, the tie dyed shirts and I love those bowls! I love the picture of the dogs in that mobile with their owner! I wonder why he doesn’t have them at home instead on front of your building, I guess it’a a Thai thing. Love the photos!!

    Reply
    • Frank (bbqboy)

      September 12, 2015 at 7:52 pm

      Thanks Dee! I think Thais believe in keeping dogs outside, especially with the warm weather. We passed these dogs every day and Lissette was always nervous. But they were well behaved and would usually be sleeping next to this lady who made soup all day long on the street. Thailand a unique place.

      Reply
  2. Patrick

    August 11, 2015 at 9:27 am

    Thanks for the photos. Reminded me of many happy days in Nong Khai.
    Booked again at the Pikul for 3 months from November. Or is that Pikun….?
    Best wishes
    Patrick

    Reply
    • Frank (bbqboy)

      August 11, 2015 at 9:59 am

      Hi Patrick! Actually, it’s Pikul: http://pikulapartment.com/
      If we were going to go back we would try to find something different, a nicer apartment. Lissette works, so it’s a lot of time in the apartment. And I’d love a little stove or something to cook.
      Other than that it was fine and the price certainly right. But accommodation options (or lack thereof for shorter term travellers) was the one downside to Nong Khai.
      Glad to hear you are going back. Lovely place…and Nov, Dec, Jan good months (it was only in mid Feb that started getting hazy and cloudy..)

      Reply
      • Patrick

        September 29, 2016 at 4:20 pm

        Frank – I know the apartments are called and spelt Pikul. The point I was making was that if you want to pronounce the word to a tuk tuk driver or to get directions, you will need to say ‘ Pikun’ – which is how theThai people say it. Best wishes Patrick.

        Reply
        • Frank (bbqboy)

          September 29, 2016 at 7:47 pm

          Ahh, that’s interesting. Thanks for the useful info!
          Are you back there this year Patrick? Nong Khai still the same? I imagine they’ve completed the rest of the promenade that they were working on when we were there in Dec 2014?

          Reply
  3. Natalie

    March 20, 2015 at 6:59 am

    Night markets are the best and they all look like wonderful people as well

    Reply
  4. John

    March 19, 2015 at 3:40 am

    Frank, I have enjoyed following your adventures and photos, so much so that our next trip to Thailand will include Nong Khai. A couple of questions, in your opinion what is the best time to visit there, would 2 weeks be enough and which area is best?

    Enjoy the rest of your time.
    John,
    Tasmania.

    Reply
    • Frank (bbqboy)

      March 19, 2015 at 4:11 am

      Hi John,
      Our favorite time is definitely mid-December to mid-February. The weather was cool about 25-28C, down to about 15C at night, with constant blue skies. For us that’s perfect weather. Others might like heat…right now (late March) highs range between 35-40, goes to about 25C at night. But skies constantly hazy so not ideal.

      It’s a small town and if on vacation 3, 4 days will easily do it (make sure to come over a weekend so you don’t miss Saturday nights). In our case we are slow travellers and needed a base – and for that Nong Khai is perfect. We’ve been here about 3 1/2 months and have enjoyed it. But it really depends on how you travel, people on vacation might find Nong Khai too out-of-the-way and short on sights.

      I’m coming out with a detailed guide next week before we leave. You might find it interesting.
      Frank (bbqboy)

      Reply
  5. chantal

    March 18, 2015 at 11:30 pm

    Love the photos – colors are amazing – the lanterns and jewelry would make great souvenirs if you ever come back – hint, hint lol

    Reply
    • Frank (bbqboy)

      March 19, 2015 at 2:34 am

      I don’t think we’ll come back 😉

      Reply
  6. Kemkem

    March 18, 2015 at 8:39 am

    Love these images! All very beautiful, but my favorite one is the monks shopping for Buddhas.. 🙂 and the man and his dogs, what a colorful vehicle he has. Glad you enjoyed your time there.

    Reply
    • Frank (bbqboy)

      March 18, 2015 at 12:30 pm

      Thanks for the input Kemkem. The Tuktuks here in Nong Khai unlike others we’ve seen in Thailand. Here’s a full sized photo.

      Reply

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Hi! We are Frank & Lissette from Canada. We sold our home in 2014 and have been travelling the world ever since.

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