This extensive market sprawls along several blocks. Roofed concession areas, regular shops and street vendors offer a huge variety of Thai goods at bargain prices. Designer goods - real and fake - are also on offer. The Night Bazaar attracts foreign importers, impressed by the discounts given to bulk purchases.

Good buys include Phrae-style sêua mâw hâwm (blue cotton farmer's shirt), northern- and northeastern-Thai hand-woven fabrics, yâam (shoulder bags), hill-tribe crafts (many tribespeople set up their own stalls here; the Akha wander around on foot), opium scales, hats, silver jewellery, lacquerware, woodcarvings, iron and bronze Buddhas, as well as many other items.

The origins of the market date from the days when the Yunnanese trading caravans used to stop near the Ping River along the ancient trade route between Simao (China) and Mawlamyaing (on Myanmar's Gulf of Martaban coast.

The oldest wat in the city, Wat Chiang Man was founded by King Mengrai in 1296 and features typical Northern Thai temple architecture with massive teak columns inside the bòt (central sanctuary).

There are two important Buddha images in a cabinet to the right of this area. The first, Phra Sila, stands about 25cm (10in) tall, and reputedly came from Sri Lanka or India 2500 years ago. Chances are it isn't quite that old (Buddha images weren't created for about another 500 years), but it's still an extremely impressive and revered artefact. The other, a crystal seated Buddha only 10cm (4in) in height, is about 1800 years old. Known as the Phra Satang Man, it was shunted back and forth between Thailand and Laos for centuries before finding a permanent home at Chiang Mai.

This gleaming octagonal facility houses a large collection of handicrafts, costumes, jewellery, ornaments, utensils, tools, musical instruments and ceremonial paraphernalia, all offering insights into the cultural features of the major hill tribes of Thailand.

There is also an exhibition on activities carried out by the Thai royal family on behalf of these tribes, as well as slide and video shows.