Phuket is a historic island city in the southwestern part of Thailand. It’s a small landmass located off the coast of Krabi, but it’s also one of the most profitable provinces in the country. This is because of its vibrant culture, splendid architecture, natural beauty and abundance of fun activities. There’s always something to do here, whether in broad daylight or the dark of night.
One thing that many people enjoy doing in Phuket is to stroll around the many markets on the island. These markets are like nothing most foreigners have ever seen, as they can find just about anything here. From freshly-cooked street food to handmade souvenirs to exotic goods, you name it. What’s more, the things you can buy here, you won’t find anywhere else. Lard Yai is one of the most popular markets in Phuket and if you’re planning to go there, this is all you need to know about it:
What does the name mean?
Southern Thai people have a tendency to shorten words down to one syllable and that’s how Lard Yai got its name. Lard Yai is the shortened form of the words “talad,” which means “market,” and “yai,” which means “big.” Therefore, the name of the market literally means “big market” in southern Thai. Although there’s an “r” in the official pronunciation of Lard Yai, it’s actually silent. (Now you know how to say it correctly when you’re talking to a taxi driver in Phuket!)
How do I get to Lard Yai?
Lard Yai is located in Thalang Road, which used to be where all the major fresh markets were. Nowadays, most of the markets have moved to different locations, which makes Lard Yai the last one here.
It can be rather difficult to find a parking spot near Lard Yai, so it may be a better idea to park near Wat Mongkon Minit on Dibuk Road, which is located just north of Soi Romanee. It’s a short walk away from Lard Yai and it only costs around 20 baht to park your car there. Keep in mind that Lard Yai gets a lot busier at night, so it’s best that you come a little before 5:00 PM to be sure that you can get a parking spot. You can walk around the city for a while before going back to the market to make sure that everything is open when you get there.
What can I buy in Lard Yai?
Pretty much everything, including food, goods, and souvenirs. There’s a street food section in Lard Yai where you can try some of the best dishes in Thailand, including to exotic products that are only available in this country.
But if that’s not your thing, there are also some American food stalls where you can buy burgers, pizzas, and even authentic chilli dogs! If you come here in the evening, there will be some street performers on both sides of the road. You can see all kinds of acts here, from dancers, jazz musicians, to traditional Thai performers. That makes it an excellent experience for anyone who’s not familiar with these types of performances.
Lard Yai Market is open every day, but it’s especially busy on Sundays, which makes that the best day to go there, as there will be more stalls and more things to see and do on Sundays.
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